Community in shock after mum, 66, is stabbed
A COMMUNITY is in shock after the brutal killing of a pensioner in her own home.
Carol Berry, a 66-year-old mother-of-four, was stabbed to death by her daughter's ex-partner, Argentinian-born Sebastian Mercante, at her home in Bradley Road, Bradley.
Ms Berry's son Andrew Fields, 36, also suffered knife wounds to his neck as he attempted to disarm Mercante, who struck at about 6.30pm on Friday. Mr Fields's wounds are not thought to be life threatening.
Mercante, a 40-year-old bodybuilder from Tenerife, came to the UK on Friday, reportedly after his ex-partner Claire Tootill had asked for a divorce. Armed with a 'torture kit' including cable ties and a blunt instrument he drove to Ms Berry's home and carried out the horrific attack.
Police launched a manhunt but in the early hours of Saturday Mercante's body was discovered at the foot of a multi-storey car park at Hanover Street in Manchester.
He had jumped from the eighth floor after leaving an obscene message directed at his former partner in blood on the wall.
On Saturday detectives investigating the murder confirmed they were not seeking anyone else in connection with the inquiry.
Neighbour Martin Lister, who owns a newsagent's in Rastrick, said his son alerted him to what was going on. "He rung me and said the place was covered with police." A female neighbour of Ms Berry, who did not wish to be named, said Ms Berry was a lovely person.
"The whole family must be devastated. I really feel for them. We still can't believe it has happened, especially as it's so soon after Mr Singh's death. You really don't expect things like that to happen."
Michael Hunt, an RAC man, said his son and two other youngsters found a 10in knife close to the scene.
"He was shocked, obviously, but he was glad he had been able to do something," said Mr Hunt. "He watches CSI so he knew not to touch the knife."
Ron Thomas who lives next door said he saw an ambulance arrive at the house and a lad being led out with a pad at the back of his neck before he was treated in the ambulance.
A post-mortem examination carried out on Ms Berry revealed she had died of multiple stab wounds.
Mercante is understood to have met and married Ms Tootill in Tenerife five years ago but she returned to Britain after their relationship ended in 2008.
Ms Tootill, who had a child last year, moved to Spain after completing a biology degree in 2003.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Halifax
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North east
