Man pleads not guilty to the knife murder of Billinge mum Melissa Belshaw

A man has denied murdering a Billinge beautician at her home.
Melissa BelshawMelissa Belshaw
Melissa Belshaw

Andrew Wadsworth is alleged to have stabbed Melissa Belshaw, 32, to death in Up Holland Road, Billinge, Wigan, on May 20.

Wadsworth, 36, of Cranfield Road, Hawkley Hall, appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Monday via video-link from prison to enter his plea to the charge.

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He also denies separate counts of attempted murder and making a threat to kill.

Police outside Melissa Belshaw's home on May 20Police outside Melissa Belshaw's home on May 20
Police outside Melissa Belshaw's home on May 20

Ms Belshaw was pronounced dead at the scene despite the best efforts of paramedics to save her life.

A provisional trial date of November 11 has been set, with a pre-trial review to take place on November 2.

Police were called to Melissa's home in Up Holland Road on Wednesday May 20 to find her fatally injured.

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Officers later hailed the heroism of two passers-by who dashed into the house after hearing screams and intervened, one of whom was seriously injured.

Tributes were paid to Melissa, who lived with her 13-year-old daughter and was about to open a new beauty salon on Hallgate in Wigan town centre called The Lash Room.

Only days before her death she had been on social media expressing how excited she had been about the new business venture.