A PREVIOUS boyfriend of tragic Michelle Suttle died when she was just 17.
And her father, Raymond, lost his partner to pneumonia three months ago – and twin daughters four years ago when they died at birth.
The family’s agony can be revealed the day before Michelle’s funeral is due to take place at Huddersfield Crematorium.
A horse-drawn hearse will leave her mother Barbara’s home in Gargrave Close, Rastrick, at around 11am tomorrow for the final journey to Huddersfield Crematorium on Fixby Road.
Speaking exclusively to the Examiner, her grieving father, Raymond Suttle, said: “A previous boyfriend of Michelle’s died when she was just 17 and that left her both devastated and heartbroken.’’
Michelle was stabbed to death at her home on Baker Street in Oakes in the early hours of Thursday, June 9.
Her 31-year-old partner, Gavin Sartain, has been charged with her murder and has been remanded in custody for a trial in October this year.
The couple are thought to have lived together for around 18 months and Michelle worked as a care assistant at Elm Royd care home in Brighouse.
Mr Suttle also revealed that Michelle’s death is the third tragedy he has suffered in under five years.
Four years ago he had twin girls with his then partner, Tina Lawton. Sadly they were born prematurely. One was stillborn and the other died within minutes.
Only three months ago he lost his recent partner, 38-year-old Alison Mellor, to pneumonia.
This has left him a single parent at the age of 60, bringing up his five-year-old son, Shane.
Former Rastrick High School pupil Michelle was brought up in the then family home on Gargrave Close in Rastrick and Mr Suttle said the entire local community has rallied round to help support the family since his daughter’s death.
“I think there may be hundreds at Michelle’s funeral tomorrow,’’ he said. “We have had such fantastic support and we can’t thank people enough.
“You read about the families of victims in the newspapers but we could never have thought this could have happened to us.
“Now we know what these people have gone through and our hearts go out to all those who have suffered like we are suffering now.’’
He said it was decided that Michelle’s journey to the crematorium would be in a horse-drawn hearse because in the past she said she did not like the sight of car hearses.
Michelle – who had 330 friends on Facebook – leaves a sister, Kirsty, brothers Ashley, Sean, Graig, Graeme and half-brother, Shane.
After the service has finished at Huddersfield Crematorium, the family will go to the George Hotel in Commercial Street, Brighouse.
