Mother-of-four, 39, stabbed to death during the school run had recently moved into a safe house

A mother of four who was stabbed to death in the street had recently moved into a ‘protected’ home, it emerged yesterday.

Aliny Mendes was attacked as she walked to collect two of her children from school on Friday.

Witnesses say a man jumped out of a black 4×4 and chased the 39-year-old before stabbing her near Meadow Primary School in Ewell, Surrey.

Armed police arrested a man on suspicion of murder two hours later as he sat in a van a mile from the scene.

Ricardo Godinho, 41, from Epsom, was charged with killing Ms Mendes and will appear in Staines Magistrates’ Court today.

Officers also announced that the matter has been referred to the police watchdog, the Independent Office of Police Conduct.

As investigators continue to question the suspect, friends have revealed the Brazilian-born mother had separated from her husband a month ago.

They say she had recently moved into sheltered accommodation in Streatham, south London, because she was ‘scared’.

Members of Mrs Mendes’s Roman Catholic church visited the murder scene near London Road to pay their respects. A fundraising campaign has raised more than £37,000 so far to support her children

Witnesses say a man jumped out of a black 4×4 and chased the 39-year-old before stabbing her near Meadow Primary School in Ewell, Surrey. Armed police arrested a man on suspicion of murder two hours later as he sat in a van a mile from the scene

Surrey Police have confirmed that the victim and suspect were known to each other. 

Members of Mrs Mendes’s Roman Catholic church visited the murder scene near London Road to pay their respects.

Father Gianom, a priest at St George’s Church in Epsom, said: ‘She was a person full of life. She had four children, three boys and a girl. 

Every morning she got up at 4am for the children. She made a lot of sacrifices for them.

‘When she separated from her husband she left for Streatham. It was in a house – protected.

‘She lived there because she separated from him. That was about a month ago.’ Another parishioner said: ‘I don’t know why they separated. I have heard some people saying she had been scared.’

As investigators continue to question the suspect, who is in his 40s, friends have revealed the Brazilian-born mother had separated from her husband a month ago. They say she had recently moved into sheltered accommodation in Streatham, south London, because she was ‘scared’

Pictures posted on Mrs Mendes’ social media accounts include one taken on her daughter’s third birthday in July last year. 

The photograph, captioned ‘My family, my life’, shows her celebrating with her four children and a man believed to be her husband.

They seem in high spirits as they clap and blow out birthday candles. Other pictures show her spending time with friends, enjoying a holiday with her children and trying out new recipes.

Armed police arrested a man on suspicion of murder two hours later as he sat in a van a mile from the scene. They are not looking for anyone else in connection with her death [File photo]

Her sister, who did not wish to be named, said: ‘My sister was lovely, always thinking about everyone but mostly her children. She had a wonderful heart and there was no one else like her.

‘She tried to help everyone where she could. She loved to cook and would organise surprise parties for friends and family giving cakes and presents she was loved by everyone. Everything she did was for the love for her children.’

A fundraising campaign has raised more than £37,000 so far to support her children.