Dinner lady, 23, stabbed to death by her boyfriend
A MAN has been convicted of killing his girlfriend who was found stabbed to death at their home.
Lloyd Brackenbury, 31, is now facing a lengthy jail term after being found guilty of the manslaughter of student and school dinner lady Natasha Wild.
The court was told Brackenbury called an ambulance to their house on Middle Hill in Syke, Rochdale.
When paramedics arrived they found her on the sofa struggling to breath and Brackenbury covered in blood.
Miss Wild, 23, was rushed to hospital but later died.
A post-mortem investigation found she died of a single stab wound to the left lower neck.
Brackenbury denied murder and was found not guilty by a jury after an eight-day trial at Manchester Crown Court.
However, he was found guilty of manslaughter. He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced next month.
The issue of diminished responsibility will be considered by the judge at the hearing.
Miss Wild was studying at Liverpool Hope University and had also been working at Matthew Moss High School in Rochdale, where she was formerly a pupil, at the time of her death.
Her death was the second tragedy suffered by her family in just over a decade.
Her brother, Alan Wild, aged nine, Layla Wild, 23, believed to be her stepsister, and Layla’s 11-month-old daughter, Courtney Nabb, died alongside family friend Cole Ridgway, two, in a house fire on Albion Street, Rochdale, in June 2005.
It is believed the blaze was started after an electrical fault involving the tumble dryer.
After Miss Wild’s death in March this year her mother led the tributes, say- Forensics officers at the scene of the killing in Rochdale ing: “Natasha was kind-hearted and clever and was working towards her final year in university. This is a tragic waste of life of a lovely and beautiful daughter.” Her sister said: “My sister had a heart of gold.”
Mark Moorhouse, head at Matthew Moss school, said at the time: “A fantastic and much-loved member of our school community, both as a pupil and then as a member of the staff team. Natasha will be much missed.”