A MUM-OF-TWO who was found dead at a house in Bradford on Boxing Day had been killed on Christmas Day, it has been revealed.

Police have now released a picture of 39-year-old Nicola Woodman, whose body was discovered at a house in Bankholme Court, Holme Wood.

Yesterday, James Hutchinson, 42, of Bankholme Court, Holme Wood, appeared before Bradford and Keighley magistrates charged with her murder.

Dressed in a light-grey jumper and light-grey tracksuit bottoms, Hutchinson spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth during a hearing that lasted less than a minute.

He did not enter a plea to the murder charge.

The court was told that Miss Woodman had died sometime on Christmas Day.

Neither the prosecutor nor Hutchinson’s legal representative spoke during the hearing and no details of the circumstances of Miss Woodman’s death were given to the court.

West Yorkshire Police later revealed that a post-mortem examination found she had died of a stab wound to the chest.

Andrew Eastell, the chairman of the magistrates bench, remanded Hutchinson in custody to make his first appearance before a judge at Bradford Crown Court today before dock officers led him away to the cells in handcuffs.

Up to 20 family and friends of Miss Woodman - believed to include her mum - were in court for the hearing, with some breaking down in tears during and after it.

They were accompanied by police officers.

Police were called at about 4.20pm on December 26 after the woman was found by ambulance staff.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 33-year-old man arrested on Boxing Day was later released without charge.

About a dozen floral tributes have been left outside the house in the quiet cul-de-sac, which remained cordoned off yesterday as forensic officers continued their investigations.

Among the tributes were emotive messages left by family members and friends of Miss Woodman.

Attached to one bunch of flowers was a note that read: “My darling daughter Nicola. Love ya, RIP.”

Another, seemingly from the victim’s two children, said: “For my mum, love you, gonna miss you. RIP. Jack and Chloe.”

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