John Coles - The Sun
June 8, 2007
A TEACHER has been found hanged after a colleague allegedly slapped her face in front of a class.
The body of Vanessa Rann was discovered by her grief-stricken fiancé Darren Mitchell at the home they shared.
French-born Vanessa, 26, was due to return to work at The Grange School and Sports College in Warmley, Bristol, on Monday.
Police are investigating claims that a teacher has received a threatening text message since Vanessa’s death.
Cops are also trying to identify whoever wrote “murderer” on a classroom whiteboard.
Darren was too distraught to comment but his mother Gillian said: “Vanessa was like a daughter to me.
“She was loved by everybody and we are devastated by this. She was such a happy-go-lucky girl.
"We are all still totally shocked by what has happened and we are trying to put the pieces together.”
Students at the 900-pupil school have been visibly upset by Vanessa’s death last Saturday.
Some told how she ran from school in tears after the alleged slapping incident on May 17.
They told how she feared she was going to be sacked and had organised a “farewell” barbecue at her home next weekend and invited her Year-11 pupils.
One 16-year-old boy in Vanessa’s French class said: “Someone saw her running out of school crying her eyes out.
"She looked so upset. She was a lovely, full-of-fun person. She never held a grudge and was loved by all students.”
Another pupil, who did not want to be named, said: “Miss Rann told us she thought she was getting sacked and she wanted to throw a big party.”
Head Steve Cook said: “We’ve lost a young and valued member of staff.”
An inquest has been opened and adjourned.
(Retrived in full from thesun.co.uk)
