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| Duffield stabbings: Tributes to Helen Hancock and Martin Griffiths | Duffield stabbings: Tributes to Helen Hancock and Martin Griffiths |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Friends of a man and woman stabbed to death in the early hours of New Year's Day have paid tribute to "a wonderful mummy" and "a doting dad". | Friends of a man and woman stabbed to death in the early hours of New Year's Day have paid tribute to "a wonderful mummy" and "a doting dad". |
| Helen Hancock, 39, and partner Martin Griffiths, 48, were found by police in New Zealand Lane, Duffield, Derbyshire. | Helen Hancock, 39, and partner Martin Griffiths, 48, were found by police in New Zealand Lane, Duffield, Derbyshire. |
| Rhys Hancock, 39, is accused of murdering his estranged wife and Mr Griffiths in the marital home. | Rhys Hancock, 39, is accused of murdering his estranged wife and Mr Griffiths in the marital home. |
| A friend said Ms Hancock and Mr Griffiths celebrated the new year at her house and left at about 02:00 GMT. | A friend said Ms Hancock and Mr Griffiths celebrated the new year at her house and left at about 02:00 GMT. |
| "She went home with Martin, and we all went to bed," Hannah Ruggins told BBC Radio Derby. | "She went home with Martin, and we all went to bed," Hannah Ruggins told BBC Radio Derby. |
| "I put my phone on the next morning, I looked on Facebook and the first thing I saw was a picture of Helen's house. | "I put my phone on the next morning, I looked on Facebook and the first thing I saw was a picture of Helen's house. |
| "I showed the picture to my husband and I just said: 'Something awful's happened'." | "I showed the picture to my husband and I just said: 'Something awful's happened'." |
| Ms Hancock, who had been using her maiden name Helen Almey, was a PE teacher at Fountains High School in Burton-upon-Trent. | Ms Hancock, who had been using her maiden name Helen Almey, was a PE teacher at Fountains High School in Burton-upon-Trent. |
| Her best friend of 20 years, Diana McGrath, said she had been "loving life" in her last few months after previously going through a difficult time. | Her best friend of 20 years, Diana McGrath, said she had been "loving life" in her last few months after previously going through a difficult time. |
| "It was a whole new lease of life for her within the last six months," said Miss McGrath. "She just really started to pick herself back up again." | |
| She had climbed Mount Snowdon for the first time, with Mr Griffiths, only a few days before they both died. | She had climbed Mount Snowdon for the first time, with Mr Griffiths, only a few days before they both died. |
| Ms Hancock had also enjoyed the "best ever" Christmas Day with her children and the wider family at her sister's house. | Ms Hancock had also enjoyed the "best ever" Christmas Day with her children and the wider family at her sister's house. |
| "Helen was like 'we had an amazing Christmas'," said Miss McGrath. "Everybody was together, all the grandchildren and everybody." | "Helen was like 'we had an amazing Christmas'," said Miss McGrath. "Everybody was together, all the grandchildren and everybody." |
| She had two sons, aged three and nine, and a daughter aged four. They are being looked after by their maternal grandparents, who will be raising them with the help of Helen's sister and brother-in-law. | She had two sons, aged three and nine, and a daughter aged four. They are being looked after by their maternal grandparents, who will be raising them with the help of Helen's sister and brother-in-law. |
| Ms McGrath said they are "still really coming to terms" with losing their mother. | Ms McGrath said they are "still really coming to terms" with losing their mother. |
| "Helen was such a lovely mum," she said. "So caring and she just loved children so much. She had such a loving personality." | "Helen was such a lovely mum," she said. "So caring and she just loved children so much. She had such a loving personality." |
| A fundraising page she set up to assist with the children's upbringing has already raised more than £22,000. | A fundraising page she set up to assist with the children's upbringing has already raised more than £22,000. |
| Another friend, Katy Rees, said Mrs Hancock was "a wonderful mummy to her three beautiful children", and "just a lovely, bright, positive person". | Another friend, Katy Rees, said Mrs Hancock was "a wonderful mummy to her three beautiful children", and "just a lovely, bright, positive person". |
| Tori Yerbury met Mr Griffiths and his wife Claire through their children's nursery in Mickleover, Derby. | Tori Yerbury met Mr Griffiths and his wife Claire through their children's nursery in Mickleover, Derby. |
| She said the 48-year-old "was an absolutely brilliant dad" who was "passionate about his mountaineering". | She said the 48-year-old "was an absolutely brilliant dad" who was "passionate about his mountaineering". |
| She said Mr Griffiths had separated from his wife Claire in October "but they were still very close". | She said Mr Griffiths had separated from his wife Claire in October "but they were still very close". |
| "They'd been together for 21 years, they had two beautiful children," she said. "He also wished her a happy new year on New Year's Eve. | "They'd been together for 21 years, they had two beautiful children," she said. "He also wished her a happy new year on New Year's Eve. |
| "Claire only found out about Helen three days before they passed away, and it's been an enormous shock for her, but she had had a chance to wish Martin well." | "Claire only found out about Helen three days before they passed away, and it's been an enormous shock for her, but she had had a chance to wish Martin well." |
| Mrs Griffiths has asked for privacy and in a message said her "paramount priority is to protect her two young children". | Mrs Griffiths has asked for privacy and in a message said her "paramount priority is to protect her two young children". |
| Mr Griffiths's family said in a written message he was "a family man and a doting dad... a loving son, a loving brother and a special uncle". | Mr Griffiths's family said in a written message he was "a family man and a doting dad... a loving son, a loving brother and a special uncle". |
| An online fundraiser for Mr Griffiths's children has seen more than £2,000 of donations. | An online fundraiser for Mr Griffiths's children has seen more than £2,000 of donations. |
| Mr Hancock attended a hearing at Derby Crown Court on Monday, but did not enter a plea. | Mr Hancock attended a hearing at Derby Crown Court on Monday, but did not enter a plea. |
| The defendant, of Portland Street, Etwall, is next due in court on 28 February. Judge Nirmal Shant QC set a provisional trial date of 24 August. | The defendant, of Portland Street, Etwall, is next due in court on 28 February. Judge Nirmal Shant QC set a provisional trial date of 24 August. |
| Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. |