Agony of Jeshma's parents

The family of murdered schoolgirl Jeshma Raithatha today told of their anguish after discovering she had been raped before being stabbed to death.

The 17-year-old's parents Suresh and Manjula are said to be "extremely distraught".

Speaking at the family home in Greenford, Jeshma's aunt said: "The new revelations have made it even harder for the family to cope."

Clutching Hindu prayer beads, the aunt added: "We don't really know how to handle things. We are just trying to come to terms with what has happened. Jeshma was a beautiful, kind, lovely, bubbly young girl who has been taken away from us. It's a very hard time for us all."

Today it emerged that police have searched a house in Dimmock Drive in Greenford, where a prime suspect rented a room.

Police are trawling through phone, text message and internet records in an attempt to find any relationships Jeshma had kept hidden from her family. Her parents have dismissed claims that she met her killer through an internet chatroom.

Jeshma vanished on her way home from Claremont High School on 16 May. Tests indicate she died on 22 May. Her partially clothed body was found on 24 May.

Police have asked anyone with information to ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.