DETECTIVES investigating the death of a woman have charged a man with manslaughter.

Officers were called at 12.53am on Tuesday, May 3 by staff at Poole Hospital to reports that a woman was found with serious head injuries shortly after 8pm the previous day at any address in Clarence Park Road in Pokesdown.

Sadly, Julie Cook, 44, of Bournemouth, died on the evening of Wednesday, May 4 as a result of her injuries.

The post mortem gave the cause of death as a head injury.

An investigation was subsequently launched by Dorset Police's Major Crime Investigation Team.

Ms Cook's family have been informed and are being kept updated by specially-trained officers.

Last night, Thursday, May 5, 36-year-old Daniel Bragg of Bournemouth was charged with manslaughter.

He will appear before magistrates in Bournemouth this morning.

Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Neil Phillips said: "Following a fast-moving and through investigation, we have consulted with the Crown Prosecution Service, who authorised the charge of manslaughter.

"Family liason officers have updated the victim's family with the development and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.

"It is also 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.

"Detectives continue to work on this investigation and I would appeal to any witnesses who are yet to speak with police to contact us urgently.

"As part of my investigation, I am trying to establish Julie's movements in the hours before she was found seriously injured.

"We know that she was on the London Waterloo to Weymouth train on the afternoon of Monday, May 2.

"She left the train with a man at 3.37pm at Pokesdown Railway Station and the pair arrived at an address in Clarence Park Road some time between 4pm and 4.30pm.

"I have released these details in the hope that someone may have seen Julie and a man travelling on the train, getting off at Pokesdown station or walking towards Clarence Park Road."

Witnesses and anyone with information should call Dorset Police in confidence on 101 quoting Operation Oxbow.