Ex-soldier and mum of two is found stabbed to death in f lat
‘Dedicated to her young boys’
A FORMER soldier who left her military career to start a family has been killed in a flat on a quiet residential street.
Mother-of-two Sarah Hassall, 38, is thought to have been stabbed to death in an early-morning attack.
Police were yesterday continuing to search the area in Pontypridd, South Wales, for the weapon and the scene remained sealed off while forensic officers examined it.
A 37-year- old man was last night charged with murder and is in custody.
It is understood Mrs Hassall’s two young sons were not at the property at the time of her killing on Sunday.
Her family said she spent 14 years in the military, working for both the RAF and the Royal Engineers. Mrs Hassall was a leading member of the RAF’s mountain rescue team and had climbed in Scotland and the Alps.
A shocked friend said Mrs Hassall – originally from Chelmsford, Essex – was dedicated to her life in the Armed Forces before leaving to have her two sons.
Her husband was also ex-Army and the family were living in the picturesque village of Symonds Yat in the Wye Valley.
In a statement released on behalf of her family, a close relative said: ‘After growing up in the family home in Chelmsford, Sarah dedicated herself to 14 years of military service in both the RAF and the Royal Engineers. Her career was dominated by her commitment to mountain search and rescue – Sarah represented her units at both rock climbing competitions and competitive running.
‘Sarah left the Army in 2010 to embark on, and excel at, even greater challenges – raising two young boys.
‘Sarah was my best friend and touched many more lives along the way. We all now mourn her passing, grateful for the short time we had in her company.’
Mrs Hassall stayed in touch with her military colleagues and was a member of the Guards veterans mountaineering and climbing group.
She still loved to climb and spent some of last winter hiking in the French Alps.
Her friend, Trish Lockyer, said: ‘I’m shocked, she was dedicated to her life in the Army and then showed the same dedication to bringing up her two young boys. I know she had been through a tricky spot. It is so tragic.’
Last night South Wales Police said the man who was being held in custody in connection with Mrs Hassall’s death had been charged with murder. Brian Manship, of Pontypridd, will appear before Merthyr Tydfil magistrates today.
Police said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the murder investigation.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark O’Shea, of the Major Crime Investigation Team, said: ‘I would like to thank the local community for their support and co-operation following this shocking incident and I would like to emphasise that incidents of this nature really are extremely rare.’