Throat-slit murder victim was seeing suspect’s ex-lover

A FORMER doorman accused of murdering a travel agent was once engaged to her girlfriend, it has emerged.

Cassie Hayes, 28, died on Saturday afternoon after her throat was slit in a horrific attack at the TUI branch where she was assistant manager.

Andrew Burke, 30, who was arrested at the scene in Southport, Merseyside, was last night charged with her murder.

Burke, of St Helens, Merseyside, is believed to have fathered a child with Cassie’s current partner Laura Williams, 28.

A family friend told how Laura had “idolised” mum-ofone Cassie since they got together 13 months ago.

Debbie Mcallister, 50, said: “Laura is devastated. I went to see her yesterday and she’s just not right. I’ve never seen her so happy since she’s been with Cassie. They had been together 13 months.

“Things ended with Andrew, she got friendly with Cassie and they fell in love.”

CASSIE’S DEVASTATED UNCLE

Cassie’s grieving uncle Vincent Fife, 55, described her as “bubbly and lovable” as he paid tribute yesterday.

He said: “Cassie’s dad died when she was around 14 and I was like her stepdad, we were really, really close.”

Vincent, of Alnwick, Northumberland, said Cassie moved from the North East to Merseyside 10 years ago.

He added: “I can’t believe it is true, that I’ll never see her again. She was brilliant.

“She had a heart of gold and was just harmless. It makes no sense, it is a life sentence for the family.”

Cassie was mum to Ruby, four, with ex-girlfriend Leah Mcdonald. Yesterday Leah said she faced the unbearable task of telling the child her “mammy has died”.

She wrote on Facebook: “I could not have picked a better mammy for our child.”

It makes no sense, she had a heart of gold and was just harmless VINCENT FIFE