Killer left message scrawled in blood

A MAN stabbed his former partner's mother to death then left a chilling message in blood before leaping from the top floor of a city centre car park yesterday.

The victim was named locally as Carol Berry, 66, who was knifed at her semi-detached bungalow in the Bradley area of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, at about 6.40pm on Friday.

He also stabbed her 36-year-old son, named by locals as Andrew Field, who was being treated in hospital.

The 40-year-old, yet to be formally identified by police, then travelled 30 miles to a multi-storey car park in Hanover Street, Manchester, where he jumped to his death from the eighth floor soon after midnight.

Written in blood on a wall was the chilling message: "F*** you Claire."

A source said the message was linked to the murder investigation, and was thought to be directed at the man's former partner, named by locals as Claire Tootill.

It was understood the couple had split acrimoniously.

"It is not known if the woman who died was the intended victim," the source said. "But she might well have been."

Police believe no-one else was involved in what they described as a "targeted" and "domestic-related" attack.

In Manchester, the spot from where the killer jumped was unguarded by police, and more blood could clearly be seen on railings.

The West Yorkshire Police spokesman said officers were liaising with Greater Manchester Police.

Field remains in hospital, although his injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.