Murder and suicide in town centre

Police were alerted just before midday last Friday and made the grim discovery in a flat overlooking a small courtyard in Reginald Road.

They found Jessie McLaughlin, 36, and boyfriend Paul Courtney, 32. Both had stab wounds.

A scene guard was immediately put in place while the major crimes team continued their inquiries.

The bodies were removed at 4pm on Saturday.

Police are not looking for anybody else.

It is understood Jessie McLaughlin, who was from Northampton, had been in and out of safe houses in recent years.

Paul Courtney, of Cornfield Terrace, was unemployed and had lived in the Eastbourne area for several years.

Detective Inspector Tim Nunn, heading the investigation, wrote to close neighbours.

He told them the incident was being treated as murder but police were not looking for anyone else.

"It is recognised that this is a difficult time for residents in the area and police are grateful for the patience and support shown during this sensitive period," he said.

The couple were found in one of 14 studio and one-bedroom flats known as St Barnabas Court.

It is owned by Rother Homes and since opening about 14 months ago has gained a reputation locally for trouble.

An elderly resident said: "It has been hell ever since it opened.

"My wife sent a letter to the Bexhill Observer saying the police had attended over 40 times.

"There has been trouble from the time it started."

Another local said: "It is a terrible place. One neighbour has complained about it a lot.

"You see the police go in there a lot. They take people out in handcuffs. People chop and change there a lot, but I think they are quite nice flats."

One of the court's tenants, Anthony Huette, 31, said he had been there ever since it opened.

He came from London to make a fresh start as his mum lives in Bexhill and for the first six months it was fine.

"Now there are parties and fights and violence."

He was burgled about three weeks ago and among items taken were 20 and his late grandad's watch.

"I only really know a couple of people here. I wouldn't want to be associated with other people here.

"I am not frightened, well I am a bit, when people get murdered, it does put you on edge.

"I know the girl downstairs sleeps with a knife under her pillow."

He says he was woken up one night about three or four in the morning by knocking on his front door.

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"I opened the door and found this lad about 15 asleep on my doorway and the banging was his legs kicking the door."

He says if he moved, he knows he would not get a nicer place.

"But some of the tenants they put in here just wreck it. It's like a s***hole.

"You see blood all up the stairs from the fights and violence."

He felt there should a be a system where tenants started in poorer housing and if they showed they could look after it, they could be upgraded to "somewhere better and nicer."

Police appealed for anyone with information about the crime to contact Sussex Police on 0845 6070999 quoting Operation Hasp.