Littleborough man charged with murder

50-year-old Michael Bamford from Littleborough has been charged with the murder of his wife Ivy Sutcliffe in Zimbabwe in 2004.

Former Littleborough taxi driver Michael Bamford (born 6/2/57) of Church Street in Littleborough is due to appear before Rochdale Magistrates' Court on Thursday 12 July 2007.

Ivy Sutcliffe, who was originally from the Rochdale area, was shot in the head on Monday 2 August 2004 at her luxury home on the outskirts of Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, where she had lived with her husband since 2000. The couple were married there in May of 2004, having known each other for ten years.

Mr Bamford was originally charged with his wife's murder on the day that it took place and made a further court appearance later that month and was remanded in custody. He remained in prison for five months but was bailed for a further five months before the murder charges against him were dropped in June 2005.

The wealthy Mrs Sutcliffe, who was married three times, met Mr Bamford following the death of her second husband, Brian Sutcliffe, whose name she kept when she married Mr Bamford.

Mr Bamford was born in Zimbabwe as his parents, originally from Littleborough, lived there for a short time before returning to Rochdale.