Body parts found in Becky Watts search, say police
|
Version 0 of 1. Police searching for the missing Bristol teenager Becky Watts have found body parts at an address about two miles from the family home. Avon and Somerset police stressed that no formal identification had taken place but said the 16-year-old’s family had been told and were being supported. In a statement, some members of the girl’s family said they were at a loss to understand “why anyone would want to hurt our beautiful Becky in such a brutal way”. Two people, a 28-year-old man and 21-year-old woman, continued to be questioned on suspicion of the kidnap and murder of Becky, who vanished 12 days ago. As a result of the find of body parts, a further five people, four men in their 20s and a 23-year-old woman, were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Police efforts, which have been scattered at search sites across the city, were focused on Barton Court, a cul-de-sac of modern red brick homes. On Tuesday morning, DS Mike Courtiour said police had received information overnight that Becky’s body had been “cut up” and a search of the property in the Barton Hill area of the city revealed the body parts. The Barton Court address is about 100 metres from a modern terraced house in Cotton Mill Lane, which police have been searching over the past few days. Both are close to the home of Becky’s 17-year-old boyfriend – though he is not among those arrested. Bins and food recycling containers from both streets were seized by police on Tuesday. Courtiour said: “As a result of new information received late last night, we attended a house at Barton Court. The information suggested that Becky’s body had been cut up and a search at the new location resulted in the discovery of body parts. Although formal identification procedures have not yet been completed, we have made Becky’s family aware of this discovery. “As a result of this latest development, a further four men and one woman have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. They remain in police custody at this time as do the man and the woman arrested on suspicion of Becky’s murder. “This is devastating news for Becky’s family and friends and our thoughts are with them. We will continue to offer every support we can to them during this terrible ordeal.” Of the four men who were arrested, two were aged 29 and two were 23. Avon and Somerset police arrested the 28-year-old man and 21-year-old woman at the weekend for the suspected kidnapping of Becky. Detectives arrested them again on Monday on suspicion of her murder. Police have been given another 24 hours to interview the two people arrested on suspicion of kidnap and murder. A spokesperson said on Tuesday: “This afternoon we have been granted a warrant of further detention regarding the two people arrested on suspicion of the murder of Becky Watts. “During a short hearing at Bristol magistrates court, officers were granted a further 24 hours to question the man and woman. They remain in custody at this time.” In a statement released by police, Becky’s father, Darren Galsworthy, and stepmother, Anjie, said: “To receive such news as we did today about our dear daughter and stepdaughter Becky is too much to bear. “We have the support of a good family network to help us in these challenging times. We would ask that you treat Becky with the due reverence and allow us to come to terms with our grief in private.” Earlier police also issued a statement on behalf of Becky’s mother, Tania, grandmother, Pat, and brother Daniel. It said: “We are devastated to be told of this latest development. We are at an utter loss to understand why anyone would want to hurt our beautiful Becky in such a brutal way. “We are grateful to the police for all they have done and are continuing to do in this investigation. Whilst there are people in custody, none of whom are connected to the Watts family, we will not be making any further comment and we ask that our privacy is respected at this horrific time.” The police asked for sensitivity from people posting messages about the case on social media. Relatives of Darren Galsworthy made it clear that nobody on his side of the family was under suspicion. Sam Galsworthy, Becky’s uncle, said: “We want to make it absolutely clear that no member of Darren’s side of the family are implicated in any way. Every family member who was part of our search for Rebecca still remains with us. We are aware that this is an ongoing investigation and cannot say any more. We still want her home and we will continue our search for Rebecca.” It is understood that the police are working with officials from the Crown Prosecution Service, a common practice in major incidents. Officers are working through hours of CCTV footage to try to find images of Becky after she vanished and to try to track the movements of a black Vauxhall Zafira car they have seized. Someone out there might have vital information which could help us #FindBecky - http://t.co/y38ztV3vuy pic.twitter.com/uZ5Sbdlapg Before Tuesday’s developments, detectives had been carrying out thorough searches on three properties: Becky’s home in the St George area of Bristol, to the east of the city centre; the modern terraced house in Cotton Mill Lane, two miles away; and a house and street in Southmead, five miles from Becky’s home. Police have also been keen to hear about the car’s movements between the morning of Thursday 19 February – when Becky was last seen – and Monday 23 February. Neighbours of the Southmead address said officers searched a black Zafira there and took it away. They said the vehicle had been in the street for about a week but did not belong to anyone who lived locally. Neighbours of the Cotton Mill Lane address said a man and woman in their 20s lived there, possibly with a young child. One neighbour claimed that the man – who sometimes worked as a delivery driver – owned a Zafira. One line of inquiry is that Becky went to visit her boyfriend on the day she vanished. Friends have said he was away from home, at the dentist. Officers from five police forces have been taking part in the search for Becky, who is believed to have disappeared without any money or a change of clothes. |