Bentilee family's agonising wait to bury woman allegedly murdered by girlfriend

THE grieving family of a woman allegedly murdered by her girlfriend have been forced to wait three months to hold her funeral.

The body of 42-year-old Wendy Thorpe was found in the back garden of her semi-detached home on July 15.

Her girlfriend Tracy Ashfield, aged 43, has been arrested and charged with her murder.

A post mortem has revealed that Wendy had died from head injuries.

Cheap Car Insurance For Drink Drivers -Contact Insure365 01782...

Insure365

View details

Print voucher

Cheap Car Insurance For Drink Drivers -Contact Insure365 01782 898188, Free Legal Protection Included valued at £25.00

Terms: 1 Voucher Per Customer

Contact: 01782 898188

Valid until: Friday, June 21 2013

Now her devastated relatives have been told they can go ahead with a service to celebrate her life.

The funeral is due to take place at Carmontside Crematorium, in Abbey Hulton, on Monday at 11am.

Wendy grew up in Bentilee where her brother Roy still lives in Chelmsford Drive.

It is believed she moved to Walsall two years ago and had been living there when she died.

She was the daughter of Stanley and Betty Thorpe and had five siblings – Roy, Edwin, Angela, Pamela and Brian.

The family remained too upset to speak to The Sentinel but friends of the family today spoke of the shock at her death.

Retired pottery worker Dorothy Burton, aged 86, of Winchester Avenue, Bentilee, who knows the family as she lives near to Wendy's brother, said: "It is an absolute tragedy and I am very sad to hear the news of Wendy's death. I knew that something had happened but I didn't realise the circumstances.

"The whole family were from Bentilee and most of them still live here.

" I just hope that the funeral can give them some peace. It must have been awful to wait so long."

Alan Joinson, aged 64, chairman of East Bentilee Residents' Association said: "I knew her father and used to go drinking with him.

"They are a nice family who have lived around Bentilee for a long time.

"It is terrible what has happened to Wendy, and I feel for the family."

Wendy's partner Tracy Ashfield was charged with murder on July 16.

She appeared before Walsall Magistrates Court the next day and then went before ajudge at Wolverhampton Crown Court on July 19.

Pay your tributes to Wendy Thorpe below/