Husband is charged af ter new bride’s body found in a suitcase

A HUSBAND was charged with murdering his new bride last night after her body was found dumped in a suitcase.

Dawn Walker, 52, was found dead close to her home just four days after she tied the knot with Thomas Nutt, 45.

Within hours of the chilling discovery on Sunday, police arrested him on suspicion of murder and said they were seeking no other suspects over the killing in Lightcliffe, Halifax.

Yesterday, officers continued to stand guard outside the couple’s red-brick semi and a cordon was placed around the alleyways leading to playing fields about 200 yards away – where her body was discovered by an unknown member of the public.

A local man, who was a guest at the couple’s wedding, said: ‘Somebody has found the suitcase in bushes in the field and opened it to find her inside.’

‘You were taken away so cruelly’

Newlyweds: Dawn Walker was killed four days after tying the knot to Thomas Nutt, inset

Miss Walker, who worked at a local secondary school and was a grandmother with three adult daughters from previous relationships, got engaged to Nutt in January 2020.

Nutt, a scrap dealer who also has three children from an earlier relationship, moved into the house a year ago.

The couple married at Halifax Register Office last Wednesday and a small number of guests joined them at the Prince Albert pub for a low-key reception.

Photos of the bride dressed in red and the groom in a grey suit were posted on social media.

Another unnamed wedding guest said: ‘Dawn and Tommo were so in love. I can’t believe what has happened. It is just so terrible for something as tragic as this to happen so soon after the marriage.’

Last night police released a statement from Miss Walker’s family, reading: ‘We write this with a very heavy heart that yesterday we lost a loving daughter, mother, nanna, sister, auntie and friend.

‘In circumstances beyond our control, you were taken from us so suddenly.’

Miss Walker’s eldest child Codie-Marie Shaw, 29, wrote on Facebook: ‘I’m still trying to figure out if I’m dreaming or not. I’m hoping I wake up soon.

‘You were taken away so cruelly and just dumped like you were worth nothing. Our family is broken and torn apart because of someone’s selfish and disgusting actions.’

Miss Walker’s sister Lisa commented: ‘My heart is truly broken.’ She also posted a photo of Miss Walker with the question: ‘My beautiful sister, why?’

Yesterday afternoon, relatives laid bouquets of flowers and lit candles outside her home in brighouse, West Yorkshire. One tribute read: ‘Words can’t describe how much we will miss you. You have been taken far too soon and so cruelly. We love you so much.’ The family then walked down to the area where her body was found.

West Yorkshire Police said officers were called at 4.38pm on Sunday to reports of a body in the Aysgarth Avenue area of Lightcliffe.

They last night charged Nutt with murder.

Detectives said the killing was believed to have occurred between last Wednesday and Sunday.

Nutt has been remanded in custody to appear at bradford Magistrates Court today.