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| Man arrested after fire killing | Man arrested after fire killing |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of a young woman who was burned alive in Merseyside. | A man has been arrested 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. |
| Although she has yet to be formally identified officers have a number of positive leads, a spokeswoman said. | Although she has yet to be formally identified officers have a number of positive leads, a spokeswoman said. |
| The 26-year-old man was arrested in the Croxteth area of Liverpool on Tuesday night and is due to be questioned. | 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. |
| The woman 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 | 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 was described as white, in her early 20s and possibly had blonde hair. | The woman was described as white, in her early 20s and possibly had blonde hair. |
| Her clothing had been completely burnt off in the attack. | 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. | 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. | 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 appeal | Witness 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. |