Murdered bride 'lived in fear of father'

A hairdresser shot dead in her home was scared of her possessive father, whom police want to trace in connection with the murder, it was claimed yesterday.

A hairdresser shot dead in her home was scared of her possessive father, whom police want to trace in connection with the murder, it was claimed yesterday.

Chanel Taylor, 23, was controlled by her father, Terry Rodgers, who moved into her home in Nottinghamshire just weeks before her death, a friend said. Mr Rodgers, 55, who gave his daughter away at her wedding seven weeks ago, is being hunted by police in connection with her murder.

The friend, a former employer of the hairdresser, who did not want to be named, said Mrs Taylor became withdrawn when he was around and frightened to step out of line.

Detectives made a direct appeal yesterday for Mr Rodgers to come forward, but gave few details about his relationship with his daughter.

She was discovered at their home in Huthwaite last Friday by her new husband, Lee Taylor, 22. He said: "We were a newly married couple and I am devastated with regards to the death of my wife, Chanel.

"We were looking forward to a long life together. Tragically this will no longer happen."

The friend of Mrs Taylor said she had become very close to the young hairdresser until her father moved back into the family home four years ago. She said until that point, Mrs Taylor had lived with her mother, Anne, and worked happily at a hairdressing salon.

The woman, who chose the young trainee to be her bridesmaid for her wedding, said:"She disputed her hours of work. She didn't come back and I think that was partly to do with family influence. I don't think he liked her working.

"She was not happy with her family. I offered her a home at my house - that's how bad it got.

Mrs Taylor started working at the hairdressing salon when she was a teenager. She had left school some months before and threw herself into her new job, her employer said.

She added: "I think it is a sad loss of a young life.