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Burning victim 'driven to scene' Man arrested after fire killing
(20 minutes later)
A young woman who was burned alive in Merseyside may have been driven to the area where she was found before being set alight, murder investigators say. A man has been arrested in on suspicion of the murder of a young woman who was burned alive in Merseyside.
The victim managed to stagger 150 yards with horrific burn injuries from head to foot to raise the alarm after the attack in St Helens on Monday.The victim managed to stagger 150 yards with horrific burn injuries from head to foot to raise the alarm after the attack in St Helens on Monday.
The couple who called paramedics have been left traumatised, detectives said. Although she is yet to be formally identified officers have a number of positive leads, a spokeswoman said.
Police still do not know the woman's identity but she was white, in her early 20s and possibly had blonde hair. The 26-year-old man was arrested in the Croxteth area of Liverpool on Tuesday night and is due to be questioned.
Paramedics were called to Blindfoot Lane in the semi-rural Rainford area just after 2100 BST on Monday.Paramedics were called to Blindfoot Lane in the semi-rural Rainford area just after 2100 BST on Monday.
This is a really callous and vicious attack. She is only small and quite possibly could not defend herself Det Ch Sup Peter Currie She was taken to hospital but died a short time later. A post-mortem examination confirmed she died from severe burns.
This is a really callous and vicious attack - she is only small and quite possibly could not defend herself Det Ch Sup Peter Currie
Det Ch Sup Peter Currie said the woman was in a "terrible condition" when she knocked on the door of a cottage begging for help.Det Ch Sup Peter Currie said the woman was in a "terrible condition" when she knocked on the door of a cottage begging for help.
"She collapsed on the doorstep and the couple who live at the house were asking who she was. She said something like Monica, Veronica or Larnia," said Mr Currie."She collapsed on the doorstep and the couple who live at the house were asking who she was. She said something like Monica, Veronica or Larnia," said Mr Currie.
The woman's clothing had been completely burnt off in the attack and the only identifiable items were two distinctive pieces of jewellery - a ring thought to be gold on her right ring finger and a pendant shaped like a ship's steering wheel. The woman was described as white, in her early 20s and possibly had blonde hair.
Mr Currie said detectives believe a vehicle brought her to the remote country lane and dumped her at a passing point before setting her on fire, using an accelerant such as petrol. Her clothing had been completely burnt off in the attack.
Police said her only identifiable items were two distinctive pieces of jewellery - a gold ring on her right ring finger and a pendant shaped like a ship's steering wheel.
Mr Currie said detectives believed a vehicle brought her to the remote country lane and dumped her at a passing point before setting her on fire, using a flammable liquid such as petrol.
Although a van was found burnt out about a mile from the scene, officers do not believe it is connected to the murder.Although a van was found burnt out about a mile from the scene, officers do not believe it is connected to the murder.
Witness appealWitness appeal
Mr Currie said: "We need to find out who this young girl is, that is the main piece in the jigsaw.Mr Currie said: "We need to find out who this young girl is, that is the main piece in the jigsaw.
"This is absolutely horrific, she was a young girl with her whole life ahead of her, it's really tragic. "This is absolutely horrific - she was a young girl with her whole life ahead of her, it's really tragic.
"This is a really callous and vicious attack. She is only small and quite possibly could not defend herself.""This is a really callous and vicious attack. She is only small and quite possibly could not defend herself."
The area she was found in was relatively quiet but close to the main roads heading to both Liverpool and Manchester.The area she was found in was relatively quiet but close to the main roads heading to both Liverpool and Manchester.
Anyone who knows who the girl is or recognises the distinctive items of jewellery is urged to contact police.Anyone who knows who the girl is or recognises the distinctive items of jewellery is urged to contact police.