Letter clue to girl's killer

Police hunting the killer of A-level student Jeshma Raithatha were today examining a letter found on her body.

It may hold vital clues to the 17-year-old's last movements.

Detectives would not be drawn on the significance of the letter, but sources said it may show she was in contact with her killer.

The student was missing for six days before she was murdered and dumped in undergrowth 500 yards from her home in Greenford.

A post mortem revealed she was stabbed three times through the heart and may also have been partially strangled.

Detectives say she was not sexually assaulted and added that they were keeping an open mind on the motive.

" Trying to establish Jeshma's whereabouts and movements between when she was reported missing [on 16 May] and when she was killed is now a major crux of this inquiry," a Scotland Yard spokesman said.

"The possibility that she was abducted is obviously one line of inquiry."

Detective Superintendent Sue Hill, leading the investigation, said: "The body was found with clothing and correspondence. The correspondence was a letter, though we cannot say any more."

Jeshma, who aspired to be a professional singer, disappeared on her way home from school in Kenton.

One theory is that she may have met somebody over the internet, where she promoted her work as a voiceover actress, singer and model.