Pictured, Cassie Hayes (right)
More: Murder inquiry launched after incident at Tui agency
A man has been charged with the murder of travel agent Cassie Hayes who was killed at her Tui agency in Southport.
Andrew Burke, 30, of Vincent Street, St Helens, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court charged with murdering her and possessing a knife in a public place.
He was remanded in custody until February 19 when he is expected to enter a plea.
No bail application was made and Recorder of Liverpool Judge Clement Goldstone QC set a provisional trial date for July 2.
Burke was identified locally as the former partner of Cassie’s girlfriend Laura Williams, The Times reports today.
Cassie, 28, died of her injuries in hospital after the incident at the Tui store in Chapel Street, Southport, on Saturday afternoon.
A post-mortem examination found she had died from shock and haemorrhaging from a throat injury.
Tributes have been paid to her on social media sites for the assistant manager of the store, who was originally from Alnwick in Northumberland and had a four-year-old daughter, Ruby.
Her partner Laura Williams paid tribute to her and told the Liverpool Echo: “Cassie is my partner and words will not explain my sorrow and loss, she is the most amazing, gorgeous, selfless and strong person I know.
“She is my future wife and my forever.”
Cassie’s family released a statement paying tribute to an “amazing, kind human being”.
They said: “Our whole lives have been shattered. This has torn our hearts from our bodies. Cassie was an amazing, kind human being who would do anything for anyone.
“She doted on all her family and our loss is beyond calculation. We ask that our family be left to grieve in private.”
A Gofundme page set up by head of Travel Gossip Bruce Martin using the hashtag #agentsunited had raised £4,845 at the time of writing this morning and 3,200 shares on Facebook.
He said: “We understand that Cassie had a daughter and so on behalf of everyone in travel I would like to propose that we come together and contribute to fund to help Cassie’s family as they see fit.
“Our thoughts go out to everyone affected by this terrible incident, including all the Tui staff.”
Her former partner, Leah McDonald, wrote on Facebook she was “heartbroken and numb” at the death of Cassie.
“There are no words to describe the pain I have woken with this morning! I just want to rip my heart out from my chest I cannot bear it,” she said.
Hays Travel in Southport tweeted today: “Following the tragic sad events of yesterday at TUI we will be closed today as a mark of respect to Cassie and her family and colleagues.”
Following the tragic sad events of yesterday at TUI we will be closed today as a mark of respect to Cassie and her family and colleagues
Hays Travel Southport xx #agentsunited
— Hays Travel Southport (@hays_southport) January 14, 2018