A YOUNG Edinburgh couple who lived next door to a convicted child

molester who was allegedly murdered in his maisonette nearly six weeks

ago were yesterday found dead together in their home.

Last night, police were treating the couple's deaths as a coincidence.

The detective leading the inquiry into the latest tragedy at No 18

Southhouse Medway, a sprawling housing estate on the city outskirts,

indicated that the deaths could be the result of a drugs-related

accident. He ruled out any link with the death of their neighbour, Mr

Lawrence Leydon.

They leave a three-year-old daughter, Charmaine.

Detective Chief Inspector Ronnie Turnbull named them as Steven

Charleston, 26, and Karen McMillan, 25, who was four months' pregnant,

and said: ''Initial forensic inquiry indicates that this is a tragic

accident.''

Police were called at 4.20pm to the couple's home, Flat 9 in the

block, by relatives concerned for their welfare. Officers forced the

door when they got no response.

Relatives stood by anxiously as the police checked out the situation

and until news of the deaths was broken to them.

The couple, whose daughter, Charmaine, is now with her father's

parents, Mr William Charleston and his wife, Pat, at their home in

nearby Burdiehouse, Edinburgh, had lived in the house for a year.

Neighbours, who did not wish to be named, expressed shock. One man

said: ''They didn't deserve that. They were not bad people. They liked a

wee thing like everyone else, but they didn't deserve to die.''

Ms Karen McMillan's uncle, Mr James McMillan, of Magdalene area in

Edinburgh, said: ''She was a great girl.''

An aunt, Mrs Mary Haig, 35, of Gracemount, Edinburgh, said: ''It has

just turned out to be tragic. Karen kept herself to herself and minded

her own business.''

As the relatives and neighbours comforted one another in the street,

Chief Inspector Turnbull said: ''It must be very upsetting for the

residents.''

Last night, the local district councillor, Mr John Wilson, said he was

shocked by the death of the couple.

''It is very sad when anything like this happens, especially coming so

close after the tragedy a few weeks ago.

''It is just coincidental that it has happened in the same block.

Unfortunately, people have been given entirely the wrong impression

about Southhouse, that it is a no-go area, but this is an insult to all

the decent people who live there.''

The body of 36-year-old Mr Leydon, a joiner, was found last month in

his home in Flat 7 of the No 18 block in Southhouse Medway.

Earlier this month, Mr Paul Strathearn, 33, of Buchanan Street,

Edinburgh, appeared on petition at the city's sheriff court charged with

the murder of Mr Leydon at his home in Southhouse Medway on February 11.

Sheriff John Horsburgh continued the case for further inquiries and

remanded Mr Strathearn in custody.