Man, 39, appears in court charged with murder of ‘doting’ mother, 29, who was stabbed to death while holding her four-month-old baby daughter
- Kimberley Deakin, 29, was found covered in blood on a street in Stoke-on-Trent
- The mother was still carrying her four-month-old daughter on Friday afternoon
- Lewis Crofts, 39, has been remanded in custody after appearing in court today
A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a ‘doting,’ mother who was stabbed to death while holding her four month old baby last Friday.
Lewis Crofts, 39, from Broadstone, Dorset, appeared at North Staffordshire Justice Centre this morning via video link from prison.
He spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address as a court heard he was charged with the murder of 29-year-old Kimberley Deakin.
Kimberley, from Burslem, was found with stab wounds in Stoke-on-Trent at around 4.45pm on Friday.
Kimberley Deakin was found with stab wounds outside a home in Stoke-on-Trent on Friday afternoon
Lewis Crofts, 39, from Broadstone, Dorset, appeared at North Staffordshire Justice Centre this morning via video link from prison. He is charged with the murder of Kimberley Deakin
Neighbours said the mother was covered in blood as she fled onto the street screaming ‘help, help’ while carrying her daughter following a disturbance at a house.
She was rushed to hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Crofts, 39, of Broadstone, Dorset, who police say was known to the victim, has been remanded in custody to appear at Staffordshire Crown Court on Wednesday.
Tributes were paid to the ‘doting’ mother by members in the community as they visited the scene to lay flowers.
Neighbours paid tribute to ‘doting mum,’ Kimberley, saying her death must be ‘devastating,’ for her family
One neighbour told The Sun Online: ‘She seemed a doting mum who really loved her baby girl. You would see her smiling and talking to her.
‘She was obviously a very loving mum. It’s tragic and must be devastating for her family.
‘I think the boyfriend only moved in a few weeks ago.’
June Cartwright, who lives near to the scene, said: ‘This is such an awful thing to have happened and the community is in shock.
‘My thoughts are with the woman’s family.’
A crime scene remains in place as forensic teams investigate the murder in Stoke-on-Trent
The mother was rushed to hospital after she was discovered with stab wounds at around 4.45pm on Friday
A statement from Staffordshire Police yesterday read: ‘Her family are being supported by specially-trained officers at this time and we would kindly urge people to respect their privacy.
‘A Home Office post mortem examination found the cause of Kimberley’s death to be stab wounds.’
Anyone with any information should call Staffordshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 430 of 6 November or alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.