Cirencester mum 'devastated' by attacker's death (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cirencester mum 'devastated' by attacker's death

6:00pm Thursday 7th February 2013 in News By Laura Shack

A CIRENCESTER woman who was stabbed repeatedly by the father of her children told the Standard she had been left "devastated" by his death in prison.

On Monday morning, Lee Farrel’s body was found by officers in his Bristol prison cell. It is believed he had committed suicide.

The 29-year-old was being held in custody at the prison, accused of trying to murder his partner Stacey White by stabbing her in the abdomen, thigh and arm at their Apsley Road home on Christmas Eve.

Hours before the attack Mr Farrel had updated his Facebook page, which features pictures of the pair’s children and pet dog, to describe himself as "widowed".

Stacey, 25, told the Standard that despite his actions she was "absolutely devastated" and was struggling to deal with the loss.

"I love him to death," she said. "He was a good dad and he loved his kids. They’re going to miss him a lot."

Mr Farrel was the father of Stacey’s 11-week-old daughter and 14-month-old son. She also has a nine-year-old son.

Stacey said she did not want to talk about the Christmas Eve attack, which resulted in her being rushed to Swindon’s Great Western Hospital with multiple injuries, but she was still carrying "emotional scars" from the night.

Mr Farrel last appeared at Gloucester Crown Court via video link from prison on January 18, charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm to Stacey.

But at that hearing the prosecution said it would bring a charge of attempted murder - based on Mr Farel’s Facebook update – at the next hearing of the case on April 12.

Mr Farel was found unresponsive in his cell by Bristol Prison staff on Monday, February 4, and attempts to resuscitate him failed. He was pronounced dead at 6.51am.

"As with all deaths in custody the independent prisons and probation ombudsman will conduct an investigation," a HMP Bristol spokesman said.

Gloucester Crown Court is now awaiting a formal death certificate before holding a hearing to close the file on the case.