A MAN has appeared in court charged with murder following the discovery of a woman's body in Taunton earlier this week.

In the early hours of today, Artur Parys, 44, was charged with the murder of 37-year-old Justyna Miszczyk.

Mr Parys appeared at Taunton Deane Magistrates' Court at 10am this morning.

Speaking through an interpreter, he confirmed his name and age. He was charged with murdering Justyna Miszczyk some time between September 27 and 29.

He was remanded in custody to appear before Exeter Crown Court on October 16.

He was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday after a woman’s body was discovered in Compton Close, Taunton, at about 7pm on Tuesday night.

Both are Polish and several members of the Polish community have been assisting police through an interpreter.

The house is now being guarded by Reliance crime scene guards - see pictures.

One Polish woman said: "I didn't know the woman, but she had a lot of friends and was quite well known.

"She worked in the Taunton area, but her family live in Poland.

"It's a big shock for the Polish community in Taunton and it's very rare for something like this to happen in the town.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the woman."

Police say a post mortem revealed that the woman died as the result of a "violent assault"

On Tuesday, police took control of two areas - as well as a house, a grassed area was also cordoned off.

A force spokesman said: "We are keen to hear from anyone who may have seen or heard anything suspicious in that area.”

The spokesman added: "We are looking into a number of aspects that will form part of our investigation."

Anyone with information can call Taunton CID on 0845-4567000 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800-555111.

Earlier this week, a reader of this website posted comments on this story claiming that police were called to the house where the body was eventually discovered following a 999 call on Sunday evening (September 27) - two days before the discovery.

The reader said two officers attended the house following reports of a female screaming in agony and shortly after crying for help and questioned whether anything could have been done to prevent the death that followed.

Regarding the reader comments, an Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said: "We have referred the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission who have decided that the force should investigate the circumstances of an earlier police contact - an investigation which the IPCC will oversee."