JULIE SUDLOW had been hoping to be a blissfully happy newlywed today but instead her family were coming to terms with her murder, apparently at the hands of her former fiancé.

Mrs Sudlow, a divorced mother-of-four from Abingdon, was found stabbed to death on Friday at the Hampshire home of prime suspect Stewart Shaw.

It was just four days after the couple originally planned to marry, however the relationship had broken down with allegations Shaw had attacked the 41-year-old.

He was due in Portsmouth Crown Court next week accused of assaulting Mrs Sudlow.

Last night Mrs Sudlow’s family led the tributes to the former Millets Farm Centre restaurant worker.

They said: “We are devastated by Julie’s unexpected death under such tragic circumstances.

“Julie was a good mother, daughter, sister, auntie and friend. She was happy and looking forward to the future.

“We are trying to come to terms with what has happened and would like to thank everyone for their messages of sympathy and support.”

Her sister Sharon Malone told the Oxford Mail: “My sister’s death is a sudden shock to all and the family just need time to grieve for this devastating intrusion to our lives.”

Police found Mrs Sudlow’s body just hours after a man jumped in front of a train in Winchester.

He has yet to be formally identified, though yesterday people were posting messages of condolence on Shaw’s page on social networking site Facebook.

Detectives were refusing to answer questions about the couple’s relationship but they are not seeking anyone else in connection with her murder. They said the man in Winchester knew Mrs Sudlow.

On her own Facebook page, Mrs Sudlow, who lived in Berry Croft, Abingdon, regularly spoke about the break-up of her relationship with Shaw.

She had put up pictures of them enjoying holidays on the Isle of Wight and Egypt. But, by April, the couple’s plans for their wedding on August 3 had been cancelled.

In July she wrote that she had been “blinded by love, until a smack in the mouth made me open my eyes”.

On July 18, she added: “(I) was looking forward to the weekend, but the person I was going to be with completely ruined it all.

“He deserves everything the court throws at him.”

On Monday, the day she had once pencilled in for her wedding, she wrote: “Can’t see a Limo, or a photographer, or a registrar. Dress still on the hanger too.”

Mrs Sudlow’s children also posted messages to their mother on her page following her death.

Her son Andrew said: “mum please come back!!!!! i need you!!!”

His brother Martin wrote: “I miss you so much mum, you being you i bet you’re on facebook up there, checking up on your own pictures or something :) i love you :(”

He added later: “im playing beyonce, try and help me to sleep – i know how you loved that album.”

lsloan@oxfordmail.co.uk