Rough sleeper may be killer

Detectives believe a woman found murdered with her throat cut beside a footpath may have been stalked by someone living rough in the area.

The woman's body was hidden in undergrowth near the path which is widely used as a short cut by commuters and walkers.

Naked apart from socks and an item of clothing wrapped around her neck, the body was discovered by a boy on a bicycle.

Police believe they know the identity of the woman, described as in her late twenties to early thirties, but were urgently trying to contact her next of kin today.

It is understood she had been staying with relatives in the area of Hainault in Essex when she decided to go for a swim and a walk.

Police could not say if the woman had been sexually assaulted.

Today detectives issued an urgent appeal for anyone using the path yesterday around midday to contact them if they saw anything suspicious.

Detective Chief Inspector Vic Rae of the Met's Serious Crime Group East, who is leading the murder hunt, said: "This is a horrible attack on a defenceless woman and we are appealing to anyone who may have seen anything to contact police."

"We think she was killed very close to the spot where she was found and there is quite a bit of blood at the scene.

"The body was in a hedgerow to the side of the path and we have found other items of her clothing nearby. There were no obvious signs of either a struggle or a sex assault. We don't know how long she had been at the scene but we don't believe it was that long.

"It is possible that the injuries to her neck were caused by a knife or some other sharp instrument and we are carrying out searches of the area."

Detectives are leaning towards the theory that the woman was taken to the spot and killed there rather than attacked as she walked in the area.

The scene, on Aldborough Hatch Farm, off Oaks Lane, was cordoned off into the early hours of today. The land, which adjoins Fairlop Waters golf course, is privately owned, but the footpath which runs through it is open to the public and used as a short cut to Hainault train station.

Today dozens of officers carried out a fingertip search in the hope of finding the remains of the victim's clothing and a murder weapon.

The woman's body was removed last night. A post-mortem examination was expected to be held at East Ham this afternoon.

Amanda Schlotter, who runs the 100-acre farm with her husband, said: "It was about lunch time when we had a knock on the door by a lad who told us he had found the body. I then rang the police. It's very shocking news."

Local residents expressed shock when they learned of the murder. Kim Jackson, 32, a City broker, said: "I hope it doesn't mean there's a maniac on the loose attacking women at random."

Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room on 020 8345 3985, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.