Daughters of murder trial victim say she was never suicidal

A Rochdale woman who was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head in her Zimbabwe home was not suicidal according to two of her daughters.

Ivy Sutcliffe's husband, Michael Bamford, of Church Lane, Littleborough, is accused of his wife's murder but maintains that the 61-year old killed herself at the couple's luxury home in Harare.

Her daughters told Manchester Crown Court that she would not have considered suicide and one of them, Rebecca Nash, told the jury she was suspicious that her mother was forced to move to Zimbabwe with Mr Bamford in 1998.

Mrs Sutcliffe's previous husband was a successful businessman who left her £180,000, a £250,000 home at Hollingworth Lake and a £100,000 apartment in Spain when he died.

Her death is shrouded in mystery as Mrs Nash told the court that her mother had assured her she would never marry Mr Bamford and had sent her a copy of her will and deeds to the home in Zimbabwe.

Mrs Nash said that when Mr Bamford returned to England he contacted a solicitor to sort out probate because he wanted to get his money.

Mr Bamford denies murdering his wife.

The trial continues.