A 24-YEAR-OLD man was due to appear in court in Bournemouth on Friday charged with murder.

The body of Gerald Daniel Madine was discovered in a ground-floor flat in Westby Road, Boscombe, on Tuesday after an ambulance crew was called to the property at 8.15pm.

John Michael Healey, who lives locally, was charged by detectives on Thursday night.

A 17-year-old woman who was also being questioned was released without charge.

A post mortem by Home Office pathologist Dr Sue Cook at Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester revealed that Mr Madine, a married man, had died after suffering a single stab wound to his abdomen.

The 48-year-old's name was released on Thursday by Dorset Police.

Detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Mr Madine's death.

On Thursday afternoon, scenes of crime officers were still carrying out investigations at the flat block where his body was found.

Neighbours told the Daily Echo how Mr Madine, who is believed to have been unemployed, had been a resident at the rambling Victorian property for several years.

A 43-year-old local woman, arrested 15 minutes after Mr Madine's body was discovered, was quizzed in connection with his death.

But police said on Thursday that she had been released without charge.

A Dorset Police spokesman said the search for the weapon involved was continuing.

An inquest will be held.