Wendy Mann murder: Police say sorry to innocent man who spent three months behind bars

Leroy Sterling, aged 63, was jailed for life on Tuesday after being found guilty of murdering his 26-year-old ex-partner Wendy Mann at her flat in Chapel Street, West Bromwich.

The jury was told at the end of his trial that Trevor Tyndale, 53, who was seeing Miss Mann before she died, was initially suspected of killing her and was remanded in custody for three months.

Mr Tyndale was later eliminated from the investigation when new evidence came to light.

Detective Inspector Martin Slevin, from West Midlands Police, confirmed the force had apologised to Mr Tyndale, who Sterling bludgeoned with a hammer six weeks before killing Miss Mann in August 2015.

But the force defended its investigation and said it followed the evidence.

Sterling was convicted of the murder of Miss Mann and the attempted murder of Mr Tyndale at Wolverhampton Crown Court following a two-week trial.

Mr Tyndale suffered a fractured skull and multiple bleeds on the brain after being attacked at Sterling's home in Guns Lane, West Bromwich.

Det Insp Slevin, who led the investigation, said: "Wendy Mann was a loving mother to three children whose live was cruelly ended by the father of those children, Leroy Sterling.

"No one, but Sterling, knows exactly what subsequently took place but what did follow was obviously a vicious attack upon Wendy by Sterling that ended her life. This was no doubt driven by a jealous rage at Wendy's new relationship.

"Painstaking forensic examination and CCTV viewing placed Sterling at the scene at the time Wendy must have met her death.

"The jury upon listening to all of the evidence presented have reached the correct decision.

"We hope that the verdict in some way brings closure to Wendy's family but recognise that painfully her children will grow up knowing that their father ended their mother life."