Donald Ralph: Two charged with murder of Aldham elderly man

Two people have been charged with the murder of an 83-year-old man found strangled at home.

The body of Donald Ralph was discovered by police at his home in Halstead Road, Aldham, near Colchester, on Tuesday.

A post-mortem examination found Mr Ralph died from strangulation.

Leighton Snook, aged 28, of no fixed address, and a 16-year-old boy have been charged with murder and are due to appear at Colchester Magistrates' Court on Monday.

The pair have also been charged with the theft of a motor vehicle, and Mr Snook faces an additional charge of possession of an offensive weapon.

Two men aged 30 and 39, and a 21-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender have been released on bail.