Family in tributes to murder victim

THE family of a woman killed on her doorstep by her son-in-law paid tribute last night to their "best friend" and a "wonderful mum".

Sebastian Mercante, a 40-year-old Argentinian, murdered grandmother Carol Berry, 66, in a revenge attack at her Huddersfield home after his wife, Ms Berry's daughter Claire Tootill, told him she wanted a divorce.

Yesterday her family released a statement saying: "She was a wonderful mum who thrived on being a mother, nana and brilliant sister. She was a best friend to all of us.

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"We are devastated by what has happened. We would like to thank everyone for their kind wishes and support during this terrible time."

Mercante also stabbed Ms Tootill's brother Andrew Field, 36, who tried in vain to protect his mother, before driving to Manchester and killing himself.

Mercante flew to Britain from Tenerife and, armed with a "torture kit" including cable ties and a blunt instrument, he drove to Ms Berry's house in Bradley Road, Huddersfield, on Friday.

After carrying out the attack, leaving bloodstains on the doorstep, he returned to the car and drove 30 miles to a multi-storey car park in Manchester.

He scrawled an offensive message to Ms Tootill in blood on a car park wall and then leapt 100ft to his death.

Mr Field suffered stab wounds to his neck and hands.

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