She lit up the room, says stabbed girl’s headteacher
THE headteacher of an eightyear-old girl stabbed to death at her father’s bungalow yesterday paid tribute, saying her smile ‘lit up the room’.
Andy Nicholls described Mylee Billingham as an active member of St James Primary School who loved singing and performing.
Her father Bill Billingham, 54, posted a picture on Facebook of the smiling schoolgirl eating pizza in bed an hour before police and paramedics were called to the housing association property in Brownhills, Walsall. Mr Billingham, who was found at the one-bedroom bungalow with knife wounds to his abdomen, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
Ambulance crews tried to save Mylee after the incident on Saturday night but she was pronounced dead later that evening.
The father was said to be critically ill in hospital yesterday and police have so far been unable to speak to the factory worker. Mr Nicholls said his school had been left ‘numb’ by Mylee’s killing. He added: ‘We’re all in shock. Everyone at the school is completely devastated. Mylee was dearly loved by us all, her smile lit up the room, in fact, it never left her face.
‘She was a fun-loving, happy eight-year-old who had her whole life in front of her.
‘She took a full part in school life, particularly enjoying singing and performing. She was just a lovely girl. Our hearts go out to her family at this difficult time.’
Last night, a Billingham family source told the Daily Mail relatives were ‘dumbfounded’ by Mylee’s death, and described her father as a ‘devoted’ parent.
Mr Billingham was separated from his three youngest children’s mother, Tracey Taundry, 33. But the source said the couple were ‘amicable’ and there were no issues over custody. The family source added: ‘Bill would have the children whenever he wanted them and would often pick them up from school. We can’t get our heads around what has happened here.’
Mylee’s uncle, Les Taundry, 43, posted that Mylee’s mother was ‘breaking her heart trying to console [Mylee’s] sisters’.
An auntie, Dawn Moore, 45, said the schoolgirl – known to relatives by the affectionate nickname Moo – was ‘the best niece I could ever ask for’.
Mrs Moore added on Facebook: ‘She was always smiling. I am truly heartbroken. RIP to my gorgeous niece smylee Mylee moo. I will miss you so very much, love you lots and lots baby girl.’ Last night, pink ribbons began appearing around Brownhills in support of Mylee’s family.
A GoFundMe page was also set up by a friend of the family to raise cash to help pay for Mylee’s funeral. Police described the stabbing as a ‘domestic incident’.
Officers are expected to rearrest Mr Billingham on suspicion of murder once he is fit to be questioned. He may have to undergo surgery.
Detective Inspector Jim Colclough, who is leading the murder investigation, said: ‘This is an absolutely tragic set of circumstances and my thoughts are with everyone who has been affected.
‘We are still at the early stages of understanding exactly what happened and why – but I can confirm we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this investigation.’
After the incident on Saturday, Graham Greatrex, 74, who lives in a neighbouring property to the bungalow, said: ‘We heard the commotion and the mother was standing outside our house. She was in shock. People were racing around everywhere.’
A friend of Mr Billingham said: ‘I just can’t believe he would do something like this. It’s completely out of character. Him and Tracey [had] split, but he completely doted on all five children.
‘I used to drink with him in the pub and he seemed like such a normal person. To do something like that is terrible. I just don’t understand how it’s happened.’
‘I am truly heartbroken’