A MAN has been charged with the murder of aristocrat Sir Richard Sutton, who died of stab wounds to his chest at his north Dorset home midweek.

Thomas Schreiber, aged 34, and from the Gillingham area, was arrested in London on the evening that Sir Richard, a multi-millionaire hotelier, was killed.

In the early hours, this morning, Dorset Police confirmed Schreiber had been charged with murder, attempted murder and dangerous driving.

Schreiber is the son of Sir Richard's partner, named in reports as Anne Schreiber, who was also critically injured in the incident.

Dorset Police received a report at 7.30pm on Wednesday, April 7, raising concern for the welfare of the occupants of an address in Higher Langham near Gillingham.

Officers said they attended the address and found Sir Richard and a woman aged in her 60s, both with serious injuries.

It is believed both had sustained stab wounds.

Paramedics attended but 83-year-old Sir Richard was pronounced dead at the scene at around 9.15pm.

A post-mortem examination, conducted two days later, indicated that the cause of death was stab wounds to his chest.

The victim has now been formally identified by Dorset Police as Sir Richard Sutton, a baronet and one of Britain's richest men.

The injured woman, who was airlifted to Southmead Hospital in Bristol, remains in a critical condition.

Detectives from Dorset Police's Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT) say the family of the victims are being kept fully updated.

Schreiber was arrested in Hammersmith, London, on the evening of Wednesday, April 7.

He was taken to hospital for treatment to injuries, not believed to be life-threatening, and subsequently taken into police custody on his release from hospital.

Detective Inspector Simon Huxter, of Dorset Police’s MCIT, said: “Our thoughts remain with the victims’ family and all of those affected by this terrible incident.

“Following a detailed investigation, we have consulted with the Crown Prosecution Service.

"As a result, Dorset Police have been authorised to formally charge Thomas Schreiber with the murder of Sir Richard, attempted murder of the injured woman and dangerous driving.

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

“I would like to remind the public that this matter is now the subject of active court proceedings and the individual charged in connection with this investigation has a right to a fair trial.

"It is important that there should be no commentary or sharing of information online or on social media that could potentially prejudice these proceedings.”

Schreiber is due to appear at Poole Magistrates' Court on Monday April 12.