Natalie Chadwick, 27, and Zimbabwean national Bhekisani Matabiswana, 26., were both charged with the murder of male model Luke Harden, 37, after he died in the street
A glamourous mum sobbed in the dock as she was charged with murdering a male model. Natalie Chadwick, 27, stands accused of killing Luke Harden, 37, in Bacup, Lancashire in the early hours of Saturday last week.
The mum-of-two struggled to confirm her name, age and address while in court as she choked back tears. She is charged with one count of murder along with Zimbabwean national Bhekisani Matabiswana, 26.
Mr Harden died on the street despite the best efforts of paramedics who gave him CPR. The official cause of death is yet to be confirmed after a post-mortem examination was carried out on Sunday.
During a five-minute hearing at Blackburn Magistrates Court on Wednesday (November 5), Chadwick and Matabiswana, both from Bacup, only spoke to confirm their details.
Mr Harden’s family and girlfriend were sitting in the public gallery with police officers as Chadwick’s family members sat just metres away. Dressed in a grey hoodie and tracksuit bottoms, Chadwick had to be helped away to the cells by security staff.
Matabiswana was seen bowing his head and wearing a blue Lonsdale hoodie. They are due to appear at Preston Crown Court on Friday (November 7).
Mr Harden was discovered on Newchurch Road in Bacup at 12.35am on Saturday. Paramedics were attempting to resuscitate him in the street when a patrol of police officers came upon the scene.
Police investigations are ongoing and detectives are now asking for dashcam and doorbell footage in the area between 11.45pm and 12.35am. They have also appealed for witnesses who were in the nearby Rosemount Working Men’s Club on Friday night.
In a touching tribute, Mr Harden’s family wrote: “There are no words to describe how devastated we all are. We wish our Luke could see the outpouring of love from everyone who knows him.
“He is and will always be special to us all, as a son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, uncle, boyfriend and friend. You will be forever in our hearts and minds, and we are comforted knowing we can shut our eyes and your beautiful face will always be smiling back at us.
“Rest in peace, our gorgeous Luke, until we will meet again.”
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