Family of Bentilee woman killed by lesbian lover's swan statue attack speak of grief
THE family of a former Stoke-on-Trent woman murdered by her lesbian lover have spoken of their anguish over her death.
Wendy Thorpe – who left Bentilee to move to the West Midlands in 2010 – was killed after being hit on the head with an ornamental concrete swan in July.
The 42-year-old was attacked by Tracey Ashfield following a row over cash at their Walsall home.
Now Ashfield must serve at least 13 years in prison after admitting Wendy's murder at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
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Wendy's funeral service was finally held at Carmountside Crematorium in October after delays in carrying out medical tests on her body.
Brother Roy was unavailable for comment at his Chelmsford Drive home, in Bentilee, yesterday.
But Wendy's niece Rachael Bratt said: "We all miss Wendy terribly every day but can hopefully now begin to deal with what happened."
The court heard 43-year-old Ashfield killed Wendy after striking her with the seven-kilogram decorative bird.
The killer then stayed with her lover's body for the rest of the night before dragging it to the bottom of their garden and covering it with an old sofa cover in an attempt to hide it. Ashfield then wrote a confession before handing herself in to police.
Judge John Warner told Ashfield: "Miss Thorpe was horribly beaten to death by you."
Following the case, West Midlands Police officers said they hoped the guilty plea and sentence would bring closure for Wendy's family.
Detective Constable Jeff Neal said: "This was a tragic case where an argument went too far. We received a call from Ashfield the day after the incident after she became wracked with guilt about what had happened. We hope this result will bring some comfort and closure to Wendy's family."
Comments
by dougalcross
Thursday, January 17 2013, 7:36PM
“@defjamrcs: The headline briefly describes the savage killing of a lady. The only word you picked up on was 'lesbian'. That indicates the level YOU'VE descended to. Leave the lady to rest peacefully. You should be ashamed.”
by Jobeeone
Thursday, January 17 2013, 2:58PM
“Wendy liked to read peoples palms with some accuracy, had a lovely singing voice and worked very hard on a factory floor. She was a proud person who had her hair longer when I first met her. She liked to dress well even though always worried about her weight and had a raucous laugh and teasing sense of humour. She liked a bevvy usually lager and didn't smoke. Oh yeah, and she preferred to have sex with women more than men and indeed came from a council housing estate. Get what I'm saying?”
by defjamrcs
Thursday, January 17 2013, 10:37AM
“'Family of Bentilee woman killed by lesbian lover's swan statue attack speak of grief'
Dougal, If you are happy with that as the headline - I think you have found your level.
I propose that many people would expect something a little better even from their local rag and hence have commented on it.”
by dougalcross
Thursday, January 17 2013, 7:21AM
“What's the matter with you guys? You get all hot and bothered because the poor lady is described as 'lesbian'. The word adds immensely to the story, indicating a possible motive. The French would regard it as a possible 'crime passionnel'. Well done, Sentinel sub-editor.
As for you commentaters, the essence of this item is that a poor lady has been violently killed. Stop throwing tantrums over imagined slights.”
by ripleydad
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 9:41PM
“its is very none Pc whether they were ***********s or not is completely irrelevant, they have just visited the bingo together or played badminton ,they could have been too friends arguing over money eg a 2p .”
by ravo1972
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 8:29PM
“Kids, Trentham High, work experience.Somehow the words don't seem to gel together.”
by SmellySock
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 6:12PM
“totally irrelevant of race,gender,religion, or if gay,, it was a Brutal murder & 13 yrs is not enough imo ..you have to understand this is just a cheap local rag at the end of the day the sentinel has lost 20% of its hard back customers (inc me) its a rubbish paper not worth 35p or what ever they cost now.”
by Andy2309
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 4:46PM
“The Sentinel are renowned for allowing the publishing of homophobic comments and did so recently on the Gay Marriage 'story'. The fact that the victim was gay is surely as irrelevant as her hair colour of favourite drink.”
by defjamrcs
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 2:08PM
“Seriously!?
Is that a real headline? Was that written and then approved by an editor?
1) What is the relevance of her sexual orientation to the act? Would you begin 'Straight Woman kills lover'
2) 'Lesbian Woman.......'? Is that as opposed to a Lesbian Man? Surely the term 'Lesbian' in itself clarifies that this is a woman?
Have you got kids from Trentham High in there on work experience?”
by Newcastle_Ram
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 1:30PM
“cant understand why the headline has to say she is lesbian? surely "woman jailed after killing Bentilee lover with swan statue" would surfice? unless The Sentinel has something against lesbians?”