THE fatal stabbing of Fynn Western-Davey is the second tragedy in the life of his partner Stacey Ward.

As a young girl Stacey lost her nine-year-old cousin and best friend Kayleigh in 1996, who was raped and murdered with her body thrown in the River Dee.

She and Kayleigh were the same age and extremely close having grown up just a few doors apart in Durham Road, Blacon.

Stacey, 21, is now facing life without her partner Fynn with whom she lived in Brook Street, Chester, with her son Lucas.

In a tribute on Facebook, she said: “Babe, I can’t believe you’re gone, my head’s in bits. It doesn’t feel real. You will never be forgotten. You were one of a kind, babe.

“Mine and Lucas’s life will never be the same without you. Lucas has lost a friend as well as a father figure. I will always love you Fynn and you will remain in mine and Lucas’s hearts forever.”

Among the floral tributes at Kayleigh’s funeral at Holy Trinity Church 13 years ago was a teddy bear-shaped bouquet from Stacey with the words: “Kayleigh I will never forget you and I will remember the time we played and my broken heart will never mend.”

John O’Shaughnessy, from Chester, was jailed for life at Mold Crown Court after admitting raping Kayleigh Ward on the banks of the River Dee in Chester on December 19, 1996, before strangling her and throwing her body into the water.