Sadie Hartley stabbing: Second woman charged with murder over 'love triangle killing'

'I can say we have reason to pursue this idea of Sadie being caught up in a love triangle.'

Businesswoman Sadie Hartley’s body was discovered in January in the hallway of her house in Helmshore, Lancashire (PA)

A second woman has been charged with murder over the stabbing of the businesswoman Sadie Hartley.

Katrina Walsh, 55, was charged at Blackburn Crown Court - a day after Sarah Williams, 34, for the same crime.

It is understood Williams, who works for a ski travel firm, is a friend of the other suspect.

The mother-of-three was found dead in the hallway of her home in Rossendale, Lancashire.

Ian Johnston with his partner Sadie Hartley who was who was stabbed to death at her home in Sunny Bank Road, Helmshore, Lancashire (PA)

Police are investigating whether a "love-triangle" could provide the motive for what they described as a "ferocious" knife attack.

Ms Hartley, 60, was a director at Hartley Taylor, a medical communications business based in Knutsford, Cheshire.

A Lancashire Police spokeswoman told the Telegraph: "I can confirm we are looking into the possibility of a love triangle as a line of inquiry.

"We have two people who are being investigated and while we can't confirm anything further about them,

"I can say we have reason to pursue this idea of Sadie being caught up in a love triangle."

Police near the scene after mother-of-three Sadie Hartley, 60, was murdered in a "ferocious" knife attack at her home in Helmshore (PA)

A post-mortem found Ms Hartley died from multiple stab wounds with her body showing evidence of defensive wounds - suggesting she had tried to fight off her attackers.

Ian Johnston, Ms Hartley's long-term partner, said in a statement: "Sadie was a wonderful mother, sister, partner and friend.

"We are all utterly distraught following her senseless, brutal murder."