Man charged with murder of Plymouth University lecturer after she was found seriously injured in street
Patrick Christys reflects on one of Britain's 'darkest' days and the spark in crime
GB News
A 53-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a university lecturer who died after being seriously injured in a street in Plymouth.
Emergency services were summoned to West Hoe Road, Plymouth on Wednesday following reports that a woman had been seriously injured.
Claire Chick, 48, was taken to hospital but later died in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Paul Butler has been charged with murder and is due to appear before Plymouth Magistrates' Court tomorrow, Devon and Cornwall Police have announced.
Claire Chick, described as 'most beautiful lively soul', died in hospital last week
Devon and Cornwall Police
Butler was found and later arrested in the Liskeard area of Cornwall - approximately 20 miles from Plymouth - on Thursday.
Detective Inspector Rob Smith said: "We have specialist officers in place to continue to provide support to Claire’s family.
"Our investigation is ongoing, and I would like to thank the local community for their support whilst we have carried out our enquiries over the past few days."
Chick, whose previous name was Claire Butler, was a lecturer in nursing at the University of Plymouth.
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The university's vice chancellor Prof Richard Davies said the university had been "shocked and saddened" by her death and "her contribution to Plymouth was significant and deeply felt".
In a previous tribute released by police, her family said that they were "absolutely devastated and broken at the loss of our beautiful caring mother", saying that she was the "most beautiful lively soul", who was there for everyone.
They said: "She was the life and soul of any place where she was.
"She loved to dance and sing, even though she was pretty bad at it; she had no shame in doing it in front of any audience.
Emergency services were summoned to Plymouth following reports that a woman had been seriously injured last week
PA
"We will never get over this as a family, she was our glue and our go-to. We won’t ever get the justice our mum deserves for this, because no amount of justice will bring her back.
"We want to thank everyone for their kind words, and we invite anyone who knew her to share their memories of her," they said.
Chick is survived by five grandchildren as the family asked the public to respect their privacy.
"She may be gone but her spirit will always remain alive. We love you mum, and we promise to make you proud," the family said.
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