Son, 55, is charged with murdering his 75-year-old mother who was stabbed to death at her south London home

  • The murdered woman, 75, was named locally as grandmother Maureen Watkins 
  • Metropolitan Police have charged her son Edward Watkins, 55, with her murder 
  • Retired accountant Mrs Watkins died at home after being repeatedly stabbed

By Danyal Hussain For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

A son has been charged with murdering his elderly mother who was found stabbed to death at their home. 

Edward Watkins, 55, is accused of repeatedly stabbing his mother, named locally as Maureen Watkins, 75, at the house they shared on Ethnard Road, Peckham in south London. 

Police and paramedics were called to the address just after 4pm on Friday afternoon.

The grandmother was pronounced dead half an hour later and her son, who suffered a stab wound, was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Police could be seen at the scene following the death of a 75-year-old woman at her home in Peckham

Police could be seen at the scene following the death of a 75-year-old woman at her home in Peckham

This morning, he was charged with her murder,

Scotland Yard said: 'A man has been charged with murder following the death of an elderly woman in Southwark.

'Edward Watkins, 55, of Ethnard Road, was charged with murder on Sunday, 18 November.

'He will appear in custody at Camberwell Magistrates' Court on Monday, 19 November.

'Formal identification of the victim is yet to take place. Next of kin have been informed.'

A neighbour said Mrs Watkins, a retired accountant, had lived in the ground floor two-storey flat of the four-storey block on a housing estate for 30 years with her son.

The woman said: 'She was a lovely, kind woman and a grandmother.'  

One friend, who asked not to be named, said: 'I have lived here since 1971 so I knew Maureen. She was a lovely lady, a very nice lady indeed.

Neighbours left flowers near the house of the woman, who has been named locally as retired accountant Maureen Watkins

Neighbours left flowers near the house of the woman, who has been named locally as retired accountant Maureen Watkins

'She has other family who lived down in Kent and Edward lived with her.

'We both lived here for a long time so we knew each other, although we wouldn't sort of go into each other's houses or anything.

'I didn't see what happened. But it is very sad.'

Another neighbour, who lived nearby for about 25 years and stopped to lay a bouquet of flowers at the property, said: 'Maureen was lovely.

'I've been here since I was about four years old and she was here the whole time. I've always known her to say hello and that. Her son was quiet. Very quiet.

'I'm just shocked really.'

A 75-year-old woman was found stabbed to death in a home on Ethnard Road in Peckham (pictured)

A 75-year-old woman was found stabbed to death in a home on Ethnard Road in Peckham (pictured)

A police cordon remains in place at the property, which is on the corner of a row of houses and flats, next to a children's playpark.

Forensic officers were seen entering the property while three bouquets of flowers were tied to a tree outside. 

Scotland Yard said the man and women were 'known to each other' and murder squad detectives are now investigating. 

Mrs Watkins is the 122nd London murder victim of the year.  

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