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Family 'devastated' at Stourbridge stabbings as daughter visits scene

A teenager whose mother and young brother were stabbed to death at the family home has visited the scene to pay tribute to them.

Lydia Wilkinson laid flowers and read scores of cards left by friends and neighbours of her mother, 50-year-old Tracey, and 13-year-old brother Pierce.

They were attacked at their house in Stourbridge, West Midlands, on Thursday.

A 23-year-old homeless man whom the family helped in the past, Aaron Barley, has been accused of their murder.

Ms Wilkinson, an 18-year-old student at Bristol University, was accompanied by her boyfriend as she visited the scene, where a police tent remains outside the house.

In a statement, the family said it was "devastated" by the loss of Mrs Wilkinson and Pierce.

"They were extremely loved by all of their family and friends.

"Pierce was a fun-loving, friendly and happy boy, who loved computer games and made everyone smile.

"Tracey was loving, caring and a wonderful mother and daughter. Always putting others before herself."

The statement said that, while Barley had never lived with the family, he had been assisted by them in the past 12 months.

Barley is due to appear in Birmingham's Crown Court on Monday.

He is accused of the murders of Mrs Wilkinson and Pierce as well as of the attempted murder of Mrs Wilkinson's husband Peter, who was injured and remains in hospital in a serious condition.