Chelsea killing: two held

Two men were arrested today by police investigating the murder of financier John Monckton.

One was held in north London and the second in south London. They are being interviewed at separate police stations.

Police sources described the arrests as a major breakthrough as it emerged that Mr Monckton's wife has been released from hospital but is still too traumatised to talk about the killing.

Homeyra Monckton, 45, suffered severe stab wounds, broken ribs and a punctured lung. Her 49-year-old husband died in hospital.

They were attacked after two burglars tricked their way into the couple's ?3 million Chelsea home on 29 November.

Mrs Monckton is still so devastated that detectives have been unable to interview her in detail. She is said to be terrified for her two daughters.

Nine-year-old Isobel, who was in the house and called the emergency services, is said to be in an equally fragile state.

Doctors at St Thomas' Hospital, where Mrs Monckton was operated on, said she was minutes from death and was only saved by her daughter's intervention. "She is absolutely devastated by this," said a source close to the investigation. "They were a very close family unit who have been torn apart.

"At the moment she needs time and peace and quiet to repair.

"She is still very weak and very upset. She is not in a fit state to go into the details of what happened."

Detectives fear the trauma of revisiting the events could trigger a relapse in her condition-he said. The source added: "I have seen it happen. She is a very poorly lady. She is in bits and Isobel, who was there at the scene, is very fragile."

Mrs Monckton is now under police guard with Isobel and sister Sabrina, 12, at the home of family friends.

Mrs Monckton and her daughters are not expected to return home for at least three months although she has told neighbours she is determined to return to the family home soon.

One neighbour said: "She has said she wants to come back for one of her daughter's birthdays which is in March."

The family also face a distressing wait until Mr Monckton's funeral can take place, as his body will not be released by the coroner for at least 28 days after the murder.

"For a very religious family it is very, very difficult for them not being able to have a funeral," said the source.

He dismissed speculation that the raiders had targeted the family because of Mr Monckton's high-profile position as director of bond dealing at Legal & General, responsible for assets of £34 billion. The source said: "They were not socialites, they were not highprofile. John Monckton was a very devout, very charitable man who spent much of his time with his family.

"They were not widely known outside their immediate circle.

"Mrs Monckton is petrified for her children, for the impact on them. They are from a very tight family unit, a very religious family that relied on each other. She hates being in the spotlight because of this."

Anyone with information should call 020 8358 0400, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.