Murdered girl was stabbed

A 17-year-old girl found murdered near her home had been repeatedly stabbed, it emerged today.

Jeshma Raithatha, a promising A-level student, went missing from her family home in Greenford, west London last week, three days before her 18th birthday.

Police found her body hidden in thick undergrowth near a public footpath that she probably used as a short cut to and from her house.

A police source said she had been stabbed "several times" but had not been sexually assaulted.

"She had suffered stab wounds," the source said. "It is not known yet if they were the cause of death or whether they were inflicted afterwards."

Officers are also probing the possibility that Jeshma had met someone through the internet after she wrote on several websites about her ambition to become a singer. Jeshma's parents Suresh and Manula and "a boyfriend" have been helping detectives with their investigation since she went missing on 16 May.

The results of a postmortem to try to establish her cause of death are expected to be released today.

Today Mr and Mrs Raithatha said they were "distressed and devastated" over Jeshma's death.

In a statement they said: "Our beautiful daughter and loving daughter has been taken away from us by an evil person.

"If anyone has seen or knows anything that will catch her killer, please contact the police."

Anybody with information on the should call the incident room on 020 8358 0300 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.