Murder charge over Aldi attack
Tributes are paid to ‘bubbly’ mother
POLICE: A man has been charged with murder after a supermarket worker was stabbed to death in an aisle at work.
Jodie Willsher was attacked at an Aldi in Skipton, North Yorkshire. Her husband Malcolm said the 30-year-old was “lovely and warm”, and always had a smile on her face.
A MAN has been charged with murder after a supermarket worker was stabbed to death in an aisle at work.
Jodie Willsher was attacked at an Aldi in Skipton, North Yorkshire, on Thursday.
Her husband Malcolm has since described the 30-year-old as “lovely and warm”, and always having a smile on her face.
“She was amazing, beautiful and a lovely person. She was a doting mother and a loving wife,” he added.
North Yorkshire Police said the 44-year-old man will appear at York Magistrates’ Court today.
The news came as tributes were paid to Mrs Willsher, said by wellwishers to be a “bubbly, lovely girl”.
Customers pinned down a suspect after Mrs Willsher was attacked at the store.
A 44-year-old local man was being questioned on suspicion of murder yesterday and last night he was charged.
Mrs Willsher was married to Mal and their daughter is at primary school. He changed his profile picture on Facebook to show the couple smiling together.
The town council’s mayor Andy Rankine said: “Skipton is a small but close-knit community where most people know each other.
“We are in shock about the sad events of yesterday where a store worker was murdered whilst going about her duties.
“The whole town is in shock and grieving over the loss of Jodie. Christmas this year will an ordeal for many residents.”
People left tributes on a community Facebook page, saying “she was such a happy, friendly person”, while another described her as a “bubbly, lovely girl”.
One wrote: “Horrendous, so tragic for her family and for those who witnessed this barbaric act.”
Another customer said she had seen Mrs Willsher earlier that day wearing a Christmas jumper at work.
One shopper who was in the store at the time of the attack said she had “never been so scared in my life”.
The witness, who asked to remain anonymous, heard “loads of screams” then saw the victim lying on the floor and a man pinned down as “everyone screamed and ran up and down”.
She said: “I just saw the aftermath. I was so scared I ran off. All the staff were racing about, not knowing what to do.”
Paramedics were called to the store in Keighley Road but Mrs Willsher died despite their efforts.
North Yorkshire Police said the incident was not terror-related or believed to be a hate crime.
Witnesses and anyone with information are asked to call 101.
People affected by the traumatic scene can seek support from the Major Incident Response Team by calling 07974 745194.
Floral tributes to Mrs Willsher have been left at the edge of the police cordon around the store, which is closed until further notice while police continue their investigation.
One man, who did not want to be named, lay down flowers describing the victim as an “absolutely lovely person”.
He said: “I went to school with Jodie, primary school and high school.
“She was a well-liked person, I don’t know anyone who had a grudge against her; she seemed lovely, such a nice person.
“There’s probably 20,000 people in Skipton and around 5,000 will know her, through school and working at the shop, it’s that kind of small town.
“There’s so many people she knew, so many people affected by it. It’s shocking, an absolutely lovely person, never do any harm to nobody.
“She idolised her daughter. She put a snap on Facebook yesterday of her with her daughter cuddling in bed before she went to work. Nobody should ever go to work and not come home.”
A sympathy card left with flowers read: “To our dear beautiful sweet friend. We are all broken. Sorry we never got our girls’ night, here a glass to you. J xx”
The whole town is in shock and grieving over the loss of Jodie. Skipton mayor Andy Rankine.