BREAKING NEWS: Man arrested on suspicion of murder after death of Chichester woman

A man was arrested after the body of a woman was found at a house in East Ashling, near Chichester, on Monday morning (January 28).

Police were called to Cherry Tree Cottage on the B2178 road through the village at 7.59am by the ambulance service. They had attended a report of a 44-year-old woman found dead in the house by a colleague who had arrived to take her to work.

The woman has been named locally as Debbie Levey.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Pollard from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: “While initially it was thought that we were dealing with a sudden death, officers became increasingly suspicious of the circumstances. As yet, the cause of her death is unexplained and we are awaiting the results of a post mortem that will take place on Tuesday. However, our enquiries lead us to believe that this was not a natural death and a murder enquiry has been launched.”

A 45-year-old man from Selsey, who was known to the woman, was arrested on Monday evening on suspicion of her murder and remained in custody overnight.