The husband of a young mother who was stabbed to death in the street has been charged with her murder. Cassandra Hasanovic, 24, was attacked in front of her two young children on Tuesday afternoon.

Last night, detectives from Sussex Police major crime branch questioned her 32-yearold Serbian husband, Hajrudin Hasanovic and charged him with the killing.

This morning Hasanovic, 32, of Dunn Close, Eastney, Hampshire, was due to appear at Chichester Magistrates’ Court. It also emerged that officers from Sussex Police had visited Mrs Hasanovic just hours before she was killed.

The force has referred the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) – the police watchdog – which will carry out an investigation to see if the officers should have done anything more.

The Argus revealed yesterday how neighbours heard raised voices followed by screaming in Normanton Avenue, Bognor, at about 3pm on Tuesday. The screams were followed by a woman shouting: “Help, he’s stabbed her.”

A kitchen knife was recovered from the scene. The stabbing happened near the back gate of the house where Mrs Hasanovic was staying in Nyewood Lane. She is thought to have moved there with her two children, both under five, in the past two weeks to stay with family.

Witnesses said Mrs Hasanovic was returning home by car with her children when she was attacked. It is believed the youngsters were forced to watch as their mother was stabbed in or near her car. She is thought to have staggered part way up the road before collapsing.

Mark Keet, 34, whose house overlooks the crime scene, returned home from work to find the street cordoned off. He said: “I could see the knife on the floor. She didn’t even have a chance to get out of her car. It’s such a waste of life.”

A 46-year-old man, who did not wish to be named, watched as paramedics tried to revive Mrs Hasanovic. He said: “The ambulance crew deserve a medal.”

Mrs Hasanovic was taken by ambulance to St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester under a police escort but was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Detectives worked at the scene until late in the evening conducting interviews with neighbours until after 11pm. Mrs Hasanovic’s family were too upset to speak to the press yesterday.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “Because Mrs Hasanovic had been visited by police earlier that day, her death has been referred to the IPCC in line with the provisions of the Police Reform Act. This requires mandatory referral where a death occurs following recent contact with the police.”

Police are appealing for witnesses to the attack to contact them on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting Operation Ryton.

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