Police hunt secretary's killer

The former boyfriend of a woman found strangled at her home told of his shock today at being considered a suspect in her murder.

Police discovered the body of secretary June Thrussell, 56, on the floor of her one-bedroom house after she failed to turn up for work for three days.

Foued Mensi, 47, who lived with Mrs Thrussell for six years, revealed he was questioned by police for three hours yesterday.

"I know in my heart I have a clean conscience," said Tunisian-born Mr Mensi, of Barking. "It has hurt me deeply because she did everything for me. The police took me from my home as a suspect. It has got nothing to do with me."

Mrs Thrussell was last seen leaving work on Tuesday to return home to Chadwell Heath, east London.

Detectives said they were probing her private life in an attempt to find the killer. She split from her husband in the late Eighties. It was not known whether she was divorced or separated. Since then Mrs Thrussell - who lived alone - had had a number of partners.

She met Mr Mensi in 1992 and the couple lived together in Dagenham. Mr Mensi described Mrs Thrussell as a loving woman devoted to her father. He said she was an Elvis Presley fan who had visited Graceland.

Mr Mensi said he last saw Ms Thrussell two months ago, and that they had stayed on good terms. "She was very popular and everybody loved her," he said. "She was so lovely. What has happened is inhuman and cruel. This is a huge shock."

Detectives will also be questioning her long-time boss at Ilford-based Brit Insurance.

There is no apparent motive for the murder. Police would not say whether there had been signs of a break-in or sexual assault.

Ms Thrussell's father, Charlie, who is in his late eighties, suffers from dementia and lives in a care home in Canvey Island. Neighbours said Mrs Thrussell visited him regularly-Her mother, Ann, died in 2002. Her older sister, Doreen, lives in Cyprus and flew to London yesterday.

Police are trying to trace anyone who saw Mrs Thrussell after 5pm on Tuesday when she left work. They are studying CCTV footage of her route home from Ilford to Chadwell Heath.

Investigating officer Detective Inspector Stewart Hill said Mrs Thrussell was extremely private. "She seems to have been a very pleasant but anonymous lady. We are keen to establish her lifestyle."