A MAN has been charged with murder after his flatmate of a week was found dead early on Sunday morning.

As reported in the Daily Echo, the body of Stela Marisabel Domador-Kuzma was discovered at a property in Richmond Gardens.

The 34-year-old Venezuelan national had been living at the address for just a week. Her flatmate, 20-year-old Ryan Justin Thornton, has been charged with murder.

Police were called to Richmond Hill at 5am by paramedics after a man was found with stab wounds to his leg.

After making a number of enquiries, the detectives went to Ms Domador-Kuzma's property. A knife was also recovered from the scene.

A post-mortem examination was held on Monday, July 9, during which it was found that Ms Domador-Kuzma died as a result of stab wounds. Formal identification took place today, Wednesday, July 11.

Her family is being updated and supported by specially-trained officers.

The injured man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder but was taken to hospital.

He was released from hospital on the evening of Tuesday, July 10 and was questioned by officers.

This afternoon, Thornton, who is 20 years old and from Bournemouth, was charged with murder. He is due to appear at Poole Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.

The investigation is being led by detectives from Dorset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team.

Detective Inspector Richard Dixey said: “Stela had only lived at the flat for a week and Ryan Thornton was a tenant renting a separate room.

“Following a fast moving and detailed investigation, we have consulted with the Crown Prosecution Service who authorised the charge.

“Family liaison officers have updated Stela’s family with this development and our thoughts are with them all at this extremely difficult time.

“It is important to stress – as is typical in such circumstances – that it would be entirely inappropriate for Dorset Police to comment further ahead of the trial. It is vital that the justice system is allowed to follow its course.

“I continue to appeal to anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious or out of the ordinary, or has information that could assist our investigation, to please get in touch.

"The timings that we are focussing on in particular are between 7.30pm on Saturday evening and 5am on Sunday morning in the area of Richmond Hill, Richmond Gardens and Dalkeith Lane steps."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at dorset.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 8:125.