Jacqueline Grant house fire death: Victim was strangled
A woman found dead in a burning house in Northumberland had been strangled, a post-mortem examination has revealed.
The body of Jacqueline Grant, 48, of Ponteland, was found in the house in Meadowbank Drive, Choppington, on Tuesday afternoon.
Northumbria Police said magistrates had granted detectives more time to question a 49-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder.
Ms Grant was found in a bedroom of the semi-detached house.
Det Ch Insp Ian Bentham, who is leading the murder inquiry, said: "A post-mortem examination was carried out yesterday and cause of death was determined as ligature strangulation.
"The victim also appears to have been assaulted and had a number of facial inquiries.
"I am asking that anyone who has any information about this crime to contact police."