British woman beheaded in Tenerife
The British woman murdered and beheaded in Tenerife has been named by her family as Jennifer Mills-Westley.
Horrified witnesses reported seeing the killer run out of a supermarket in the Valdes shopping centre on Avenida Juan Carlos in Los Cristianos on the Spanish resort island, carrying Jennifer Mills-Westley's head and saying "God is on earth" before being tackled by security guards.
Reports named the suspect as Deyan Valentinov, who is believed to be a 28-year-old homeless Bulgarian man with a police record. He is understood to have obtained a knife from inside the store to launch the attack.
Initial reports suggested the murder was random with no relationship between killer and victim, but the Tenerife and Canary Islands website, newsinthesun.com, has reported eyewitness' accounts that a tearful Ms Mills-Westley earlier sought refuge from the killer, who had been following her.
According to regional newspaper La Opinion, the suspect had received treatment at the psychiatric unit of a local hospital in February after being involved in previous violent incidents.
Mrs Mills-Westley's family paid tribute to her and said they were devastated by her death.
Her daughter Sarah said: "Mum retired a number of years ago and was fully enjoying her retirement travelling between Tenerife and France where she spent time visiting her daughter and grandchildren, and her other daughter in Norfolk. She was full of life, generous of heart, would do anything for anyone.
"We now have to find a way of living without her love and light and we would ask at this difficult time for some privacy as we try to come to terms with our loss."
The 60-year-old was originally from Norwich, Norfolk, before retiring from her job as a road safety officer with Norfolk County Council and leaving the UK. She had two daughters and five grandchildren.
A Norfolk County Council spokesman said: "Our deepest sympathies go to Jenny's family and friends following this terrible news. Jenny was a popular and well respected member of staff, who during her time with Norfolk County Council worked as a road safety officer - working with many schools and children to teach cycling safety training and make Norfolk's roads safer."
