TORONTO - An elderly man and woman beaten to death in a Niagara Falls house were killed by an acquaintance, police alleged yesterday.

Amy Bell, 82, and James Don Mitchinson, 88, were found badly beaten in Bell's Pine Grove Ave. home at 12:50 p.m. on Tuesday. Bell was pronounced dead at the scene, while Mitchinson died in hospital, Niagara Regional Police say.

The two had known each other for several years and Mitchinson visited Bell almost daily.

Paul Mellor, a 38-year-old acquaintance of the victims, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

TAMARA.CHERRY@SUNMEDIA.CA