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 9 | Version 10 |
---|---|
Father's plea over murdered Tania | |
(20 minutes later) | |
The father of the first of the five prostitutes found murdered in Suffolk has appealed for the public to help police catch her killer. | |
Jim Duell, whose daughter Tania Nicol was found in a brook at Hintlesham, said she was loving and sensitive. | |
"Unfortunately drugs took her away into her own secret world, a world that neither of us were aware of." | |
The killer, he added, could not take away their courage, fortitude and memories. | |
Mr Duell said the dead girls were "now at peace". | |
Speaking at police headquarters in Martlesham, he said: "We ask for anyone who knows this person or persons to come forward and contact the police even anonymously." | |
Police hunting the women's killers have confirmed the fifth victim was prostitute Annette Nicholls. | |
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. | 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. |
Satellite images of key locations | |
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. | 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. |
The detective heading the hunt said officers had a "number" of suspects. | The detective heading the hunt said officers had a "number" of suspects. |
Det Chief Supt Stewart Gull 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. |
name="text"> href="#map" class="bodl">Map: Where the bodies were found | |
"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". |
"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. |
All these resources are committed solely to catching those responsible for the murder of these five vulnerable women Det Chief Supt Stewart Gull Send us your comments | All these resources are committed solely to catching those responsible for the murder of these five vulnerable women Det Chief Supt Stewart Gull Send us your comments |
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. |
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 four murdered prostitutes are Gemma Adams, 25, Tania Nicol, 19, Anneli Alderton, aged 24 and Paula Clennell, 24. | |
"We'd like to thank all the people who have offered help so far. We ask if anyone has any information however small, please tell us, even if they come forward anonymously." | |
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. |
The Rt Revd Richard Lewis, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, will speak ahead of Ipswich Town's home match with Leeds United on Saturday. | The Rt Revd Richard Lewis, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, will speak ahead of Ipswich Town's home match with Leeds United on Saturday. |
His prayer will be followed by a minute's silence involving players and fans at the team's Portman Road ground. | His prayer will be followed by a minute's silence involving players and fans at the team's Portman Road ground. |
Return to story | Return to story |