Bolton woman, 32, set to stand trial for murdering man in city park dies in prison

A Bolton woman set to stand trial for murdering a man while he walked his dog has died.

Roger Leadbeater, 74, was fatally stabbed in August this year while walking his springer spaniel Max in an area of parkland off Shortbrook Close in Westfield, Sheffield.

Officers were called just before 11pm on Wednesday, August 9 to reports a man had been stabbed in the chest.

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Mr Leadbeater, who worked for Sheffield City Council, driving special needs children to school, was declared dead at the scene and a post-mortem examination concluded he died from multiple stab wounds.

Three days later on Saturday, August 12 Emma Borowy, 32, of Fearnhead Close in Bolton, was charged with his murder.

Borowy, who was remanded in prison and awaiting a trial date to be set, died a week ago on Tuesday, December 12, South Yorkshire Police have now revealed.

In a statement, the force said nobody else is being sought in connection with Mr Leadbeater’s death and the investigation has been closed. Files for the coroner will be prepared in relation to both deaths.

It was reported by the Daily Mail today (December 19) that Borowy was in the care of the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust (GMMH) at the time of Mr Leadbeater’s death and had previously been admitted to mental health units in Warrington, Salford and Bolton.

In a tribute to Mr Leadbeater following his death, his family said: “Roger was a 74-year-old man out walking his beloved dog, Max, when his life was taken in the most brutal and cruel way.

“Even as Roger lay fatally injured, Max never left his side. Roger doted on his