Tributes have been paid to a British mother who was allegedly stabbed to death at her home in Spain. Victoria Hart, 33, was found dead on the floor of her home in Alhaurín el Grande, Andalusia, on Saturday, according to local authorities.
Her former partner was arrested after turning himself in at Alhaurín de la Torre prison on Saturday. The couple, who were separated, had three children: an 11-year-old boy and twin girls aged seven. Spain's Civil Guard said they were investigating a case of gender-based violence.
Hart reportedly had a restraining order against her former partner and was registered on Spain's VioGén database, a police risk assessment system for gender-based violence. Police had deemed the case low-risk, according to El Mundo. A neighbour told the newspaper that the children had run into the communal garden after the incident, and the son called his grandmother to say 'his father had killed his mother'.
Emergency services were called at 11.40am and found Hart with neck wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The local city hall condemned the 'act of gender violence' and declared a day of mourning on Monday. Mayor Anthony Bermúdez expressed solidarity with the family.
Friends described Hart as 'pure-hearted' and dedicated to her children. A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the children. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said it was supporting the family and liaising with Spanish authorities.
