Manager in court over Mandy Finn's murder

A manager at Wolverhampton College appeared in court today charged with stabbing a lecturer colleague to death in her home.

Stephen Dowds, aged 49, appeared before a district judge at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court accused of murdering psychology lecturer and mother-of-two Mandy Finn.

Ms Finn, aged 40, pictured right, was found dead by police at her flat in Newhampton Road West, Whitmore Reans, on Sunday night.

Dowds, who also lives in the road, was arrested at the scene and charged with her murder last night.

He spoke only to confirm his identity during today's hearing, which lasted some three minutes and was attended by his wife and son.

Dowds, said to be a friend of Ms Finn, was remanded in custody ahead of an expected bail application at the city's crown court on Friday.

He had been a performing arts tutor at the college but his most recent role was as a manager in the student services department.

Today college principal Ian Millard paid tribute to Ms Finn and said staff and students were "deeply shocked and saddened".

He said: "Mandy was a skilled and committed member of staff who was well-liked by her colleagues and students. We will be doing whatever is needed to support those students and staff who have been affected by this tragedy. Our thoughts are with Mandy's family and friends."

Ms Finn was also studying for a PhD in psychology at the University of Wolverhampton.

Director of communications Ashar Ehsan said today everyone at the university was "deeply saddened" by her death.

Ms Finn, a former mechanic and long distance driver, graduated in 2005 with a degree in psychology and was the highest achieving undergraduate.