Unlikely lover at centre of inquiry

It was an unlikely romance between two people of very different backgrounds.

Rana Faruqui, 35, was an ambitious business analyst who was used to the good life.

Her passion was riding and she would get away from her high-flying job by spending a few hours at the stables where she kept her beloved horse.

Stephen Griffiths's background, in contrast, appears less salubrious. Unemployed, he is something of a drifter who speaks with a strong Liverpool accent.

It was at the stables at Jennings Farm, Burnham, near Slough, Bucks, where Ms Faruqui met her death from a single stab wound.

She regularly took part in equestrian meetings and rode at the Windsor Park Equestrian Club, of which Prince Philip is president.

She also came a respectable fourth at a recent meeting of the British Horse Trials Association and was due to compete again at the Southern Area Club Championships in September. The prince is also expected to take part. A public-school educated former pupil of Maidenhead School for Girls, Ms Faruqui was from a middle-class Berkshire family.

In a statement her mother Carol, sister Gemma and brother said: "She was a beautiful, muchloved daughter, sister and auntie and a loyal, generous and loving friend. Rana had an insatiable appetite for life, expressed through her love for horses, animals and her devotion and commitment to her friends and family.

"Rana never failed to charm, amuse and entrance everyone who met her. She was truly unique."

Ms Faruqui shared her threebedroom house in Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire, with prime suspect Griffiths until their relationship ended three months ago.

Fluent in French, Griffiths has family and friends in west London, Slough, Brighton, Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent and Wales.

Neighbours reported regular, stormy rows between the couple. Police had been called to the house after such disputes.

Mother-of-two Jane Chadwick said: "Rana was a very professional, beautiful girl. I always thought Stephen Griffiths didn't appear her type. He looked quite rough."

Griffiths is thought to have driven a black Mercedes C class, registration number L551GFO, which police are anxious to trace.