‘Distraught’ parents see daughter, 7, killed
‘Random’ fatal stabbing of girl by woman ‘with mental problems’ witnessed by mother and father in park
Crime Correspondent
THE parents of a seven-year-old girl who was stabbed to death by a stranger in a random attack in a public park witnessed the incident, police have said.
A 30-year-old woman, who was arrested on suspicion of murder following Sunday’s attack, was yesterday detained under the Mental Health Act. The suspect allegedly attacked the girl with a knife as she and her family were enjoying a stroll on Mother’s Day in Queen’s Park, Bolton.
It is understood the woman, who was not known to the victim or her family, approached the girl as she walked close to her parents and then suddenly began stabbing her.
Police said the attack appeared to have been random and without motive and confirmed the suspect was known to have mental health problems.
A member of the public who witnessed the incident chased and tackled the woman and held her until the police arrived. Paramedics battled to save the girl, who had received multiple stab wounds, but she was pronounced dead a short time later.
The woman was initially arrested on suspicion of murder, but Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said she was now being held under the Mental Health Act while the investigation continued
The girl’s family were said to be distraught as were members of the emergency services and witnesses.
Russ Jackson, the assistant chief constable of GMP, said: “We have informed the family of the woman’s detention. They are understandably distraught over what happened yesterday and we will continue to support them with family liaison officers in the coming months. It is hard to describe how terrible this incident was. The attack happened in front of the parents of this little girl who had taken her out yesterday afternoon to enjoy the spring sun and play in the park.
“Having seen this horrendous attack, a member of the public bravely chased after the woman and detained her until police arrived and arrested her. I would like to thank him for his actions which enabled us to quickly arrest her and prevent anything else from happening. Several officers who attended the park were very young in service in the police, some with only weeks on independent police patrol.
“They and all the officers who went to the scene are incredibly upset over what has happened and all of us have this little girl and her family in our thoughts.
“I want to stress that this is not an end to the criminal investigation. We will consider the evidence and consult with the Crown Prosecution Service and if appropriate we will be seeking criminal charges.”
Yesterday, floral tributes and teddy bears lay close to the scene, which was just a short distance from a children’s playground. A card from Heaton
Preschool, signed by “Auntie Shelley, Jodi, Becki and Auntie Laura”, read: “Good night princess, fly high! Always in our thoughts.”
Linda Thomas, a local councillor, said the whole community had been left in complete shock by the incident.
She said: “This is heartbreaking – in the middle of a much-loved park that usually gives so much pleasure and a healthy pastime to so many. It is devastating that this could happen.”
Ch Supt Stuart Ellison, territorial commander for Wigan, Bolton and Bury, said: “There are no words that can express how tragic Sunday’s incident was.”