Littleborough man denies murder of wife in Zimbabwe

Date published: 09/11/2007

A former taxi driver from Littleborough has denied murdering of his wife in Zimbabwe.

Michael Bamford, 50, of Church Street, appeared at Manchester Crown Court charged with the murder of his wife, Ivy Sutcliffe.

Mrs Sutcliffe, 61, was shot in the head in Harare in August, 2004 at the luxury home the couple shared. They had married three months earlier.

Bamford was questioned by murder squad detectives in Harare over the death of Mrs Sutcliffe, a mother of three, who was found with gunshot wounds to the head.

The case was eventually dropped by the authorities in Zimbabwe and Bamford flew back to Littleborough in May saying at the time: ""It is a relief all those who know me never questioned my innocence."

The case was then picked up by UK police and Bamford was arrested on suspicion of murderi n Littleborough in July by Greater Manchester Police.

Bamford was released on bail until his trial starts in June 2008.