Church opens doors to community ‘devastated’ by death of Mylee Billingham

St James at Brownhills opened its doors at 8.30am on Tuesday in response to shock at the stabbing to death of Mylee Billingham.

 

The schoolgirl was found with knife wounds at a bungalow in Brownhills near Walsall on Saturday; she later died in hospital.

 

Vicar, Rev Dave Bishop told Premier: “It’s had a massive impact on the community, a devasting sense of lose, grief, all sorts of emotions…”

“We want to feel that we can do something to support the community, so we’ve decided to open the church today so that members of the community can come into church, have a few minutes of silence, say their own prayers, maybe light a candle.”

Mylee’s father, 54-year-old Bill Billingham, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder on Saturday, soon after publishing a photo of his daughter on social media.

 

He was found with stab wounds to his stomach and is currently in a serious but stable condition in hospital after undergoing surgey.

Officers have been unable to speak with Mr Billingham because he has been under sedation.

West Midlands police said a post-mortem examination on the body of Mylee had taken place and officers are awaiting the results.

Click here to listen to Rev Dave Bishop:

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A community left “devastated” after the death of an eight year old girl in the West Midlands is being invited to light a candle and prayer at a local church.