A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a former UCLan student.
Cherylee Sheenan, 40, died of several stab wounds caused by a knife, a post mortem on Tuesday found.
The victim, who studied Forensic Science at UCLan in 2009, was attacked on Monday 17 March.
Paul O’Hara, the defendant, has been charged with the murder of Ms Sheenan.
He is also facing allegations of wounding DS Damian McAllister with intent to do grievous bodily harm and assaulting DC Karen Kenworthy with intent to resist arrest.
A statement from Ms Sheenan’s family paid tribute: “Cherylee was a precious and much-loved mum to Lucia, daughter to Betty and Tommy and special step-daughter to Karen and Johnny, sister to Chiyvonne, Ellen, Jordan, Declan and Toni and special aunty to Keilan.
“She was a life-long partner to Graham and adording owner of her five beloved Akita dogs Chan, Diva, Billy, Trooper and Mia. We are all devastated that Cherylee has gone. She will be sorely missed but she will always be in our thoughts and in our hearts.
Further tributes were paid to Ms Sheenan, who resided in Rossendale. Two sets of flowers were outside her front door in Harman Avenue. In Fallbarn Crescent, messages were left where forensic officers had erected a white tent in order to investigate the former student’s death. Amongst several personal messages and cards, was a pink teddy and a plant.