This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/suffolk/6181973.stm

The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Fifth murdered woman identified Fifth murdered woman identified
(30 minutes later)
Suffolk police have confirmed the fifth murdered woman was Annette Nicholls who had been working as a prostitute in Ipswich when she was killed. Police hunting a serial killer in Suffolk have confirmed the fifth victim was prostitute Annette Nicholls.
The 29-year-old was discovered at Levington but a post mortem examination failed to reveal exactly how she died. The 29-year-old's body was discovered naked at Levington near Ipswich but a post-mortem examination failed to reveal exactly how she died.
Police are treating her death as murder and are carrying out further tests. Further tests are being carried out by police who said they have taken more than 7,000 calls after appealing for information about the killer.
Det Chief Supt Stewart Gull said: "The launch of a fifth murder inquiry in such a short space of time is unprecedented in Suffolk." The detective heading the hunt said officers had a "number" of suspects.
Speaking at a news conference at Suffolk police headquarters in Martlesham, he said: "We are making good progress. We have had a significant response. Det Chief Supt Stewart Gull said: "We are making good progress. We have had a significant response.
"We are looking at a number of interesting people, pursuing a number of interesting lines of inquiry."We are looking at a number of interesting people, pursuing a number of interesting lines of inquiry.
Satellite images of key locationsSatellite images of key locations
"We have got a range of individuals who have been suggested to us. Some are local but some are not. Some are not punters.""We have got a range of individuals who have been suggested to us. Some are local but some are not. Some are not punters."
Police want to speak to anyone who saw Ms Nicholls between the last sighting of her by a member of the public at 2150 GMT on Norwich Road in Ipswich on Tuesday 5 December and the discovery of her body on Tuesday 12 December.Police want to speak to anyone who saw Ms Nicholls between the last sighting of her by a member of the public at 2150 GMT on Norwich Road in Ipswich on Tuesday 5 December and the discovery of her body on Tuesday 12 December.
"When she was last seen she was wearing dark grey patterned leggings, calf-length boots, a black top and a dark bomber jacket," Mr Gull said."When she was last seen she was wearing dark grey patterned leggings, calf-length boots, a black top and a dark bomber jacket," Mr Gull said.
He said toxicology tests would take time because the women were "polydrug-users" but he said his message to the people of Ipswich was "don't panic".He said toxicology tests would take time because the women were "polydrug-users" but he said his message to the people of Ipswich was "don't panic".
All these resources are committed solely to catching those responsible for the murder of these five vulnerable women Det Chief Supt Stewart GullAll these resources are committed solely to catching those responsible for the murder of these five vulnerable women Det Chief Supt Stewart Gull
"We need to make contact with anyone who saw Ms Nicholls in the last days of her life," he said."We need to make contact with anyone who saw Ms Nicholls in the last days of her life," he said.
Police had linked all five deaths and each had its own specialist team with co-ordination officers working between them.Police had linked all five deaths and each had its own specialist team with co-ordination officers working between them.
Suffolk Police are being helped by 26 other forces and 250 officers are working on the five murder inquiries.Suffolk Police are being helped by 26 other forces and 250 officers are working on the five murder inquiries.
"All these resources are committed solely to catching those responsible for the murder of these five vulnerable women," Mr Gull said."All these resources are committed solely to catching those responsible for the murder of these five vulnerable women," Mr Gull said.
Detectives had received 1,800 calls from the public in the last 24 hours, on top of the 5,500 already logged.Detectives had received 1,800 calls from the public in the last 24 hours, on top of the 5,500 already logged.
Map: Where the bodies were found Map: Where the bodies were found
Mr Gull reiterated his appeal for information about anyone who may have used two lay-bys on the Old Felixstowe Road near where the bodies of Ms Nicholls and 24-year-old prostitute Paula Clennell were found in Levington.Mr Gull reiterated his appeal for information about anyone who may have used two lay-bys on the Old Felixstowe Road near where the bodies of Ms Nicholls and 24-year-old prostitute Paula Clennell were found in Levington.
The other three murdered prostitutes are Gemma Adams, 25, Tania Nicol, 19, and 24-year-old Anneli Alderton.The other three murdered prostitutes are Gemma Adams, 25, Tania Nicol, 19, and 24-year-old Anneli Alderton.
A candlelit service is to be held in a church close to where the bodies of two of the women were found and the public have been told they are welcome to attend.A candlelit service is to be held in a church close to where the bodies of two of the women were found and the public have been told they are welcome to attend.
The Rev Chris Wingfield will hold the service at St Peter's Church, Copdock, near Ipswich on Friday afternoon.The Rev Chris Wingfield will hold the service at St Peter's Church, Copdock, near Ipswich on Friday afternoon.
He said people needed "time and space" to absorb the events of the last few days.He said people needed "time and space" to absorb the events of the last few days.
Return to storyReturn to story