Family mourn murdered 'princess'

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The family of a woman murdered in her home has paid tribute to a "beautiful princess" and pleaded for information to help catch her "evil" attacker.

Laila Rezk, 51, was found unconscious shortly after returning from work to her home in Robin Hood Lane, Kingston Vale, London, on Wednesday.

Police believe she may have been followed and have issued CCTV footage of her travelling home on a bus.

In a statement, Mrs Rezk's family said she was "irreplaceable".

It read: "Simply put, she was our beautiful princess and did not deserve to die in this way.

"She is now safe with God, but the awful person who did this remains free to commit such evil again.

"Her life, like all others, is priceless, so please come forward if you can contribute anything at all."

'Violent attack'

Police believe Mrs Rezk, who was attacked within minutes of returning home, may have opened the door to her attacker.

She was discovered lying unconscious between the living room and hall and died later in St George's Hospital.

A post-mortem examination concluded Mrs Rezk died as a result of head injuries.

Det Supt Richard Heselden, who is leading the murder inquiry said it had been a "very violent and nasty" attack.

Laila Rezk was attacked at her London home

Mrs Rezk boarded a number 85 bus at about 1920 GMT at Putney railway station and got off 20 minutes later at the Robin Hood roundabout in Robin Hood Lane.

The CCTV footage shows Mrs Rezk, who was dressed in a dark leather coat, standing at the bottom of the stairs on the crowded bus, holding a newspaper.

Det Supt Heselden said the footage was still the last known sighting of her.

"We need to hear from anyone who may have been on the bus that night who remembers seeing Laila or anyone who may have seen her get on the bus or indeed get off in Kingston Vale, " he added.

An inquest is due to be opened and adjourned next week.