08/02/2011

Investigation Continues Into Nikitta Grender Murder

Gwent Police are continuing with their investigations into the murder of 19 year old Nikitta Grender and are appealing for any residents who have private CCTV outside their homes to come forward so it can be examined.

Officers are examining CCTV from a number of different sites across the City. They are specifically appealing for residents who have private CCTV in the Broadmead Park, Moorland Park and Pontfaen areas of Newport to contact them, if they haven’t been spoken to already by house to house teams.

Officers remain at the scene today. Searches are continuing in and around the estate, including local waterways, and the priority is to find the murder weapon believed to be a knife. House to house enquiries are continuing and a number of forensic exhibits are being examined.

Joint patrols with Neighbourhood Officers and Community Safety Wardens are continuing. Police are also distributing leaflets and are using blue tooth technology to appeal to residents in the local area.

Nikitta's body was discovered following a fire at her flat in Newport early Saturday morning. Nikitta, who had been stabbed, was heavily pregnant at the time of her death. Her body was discovered in the bedroom of her flat. According to a neighbour the fire alarm went off at 5.30am. It is believed the fire was started after she was stabbed to disguise the attack.

A major incident team of 50 officers continue to work on the investigation.

Leading the investigation, Detective Superintendent Geoff Ronayne said: "We are continuing with our searches in and around the area today. As is normal with underwater searches we have sought mutual aid from a neighbouring force and a team of 25 Gwent and South Wales Police officers who are specially trained for searches of this kind. We have ongoing forensic investigations which will continue for the forseeable future.

"We are hopeful that residents who have CCTV will come forward and let us examine it. We are also urging friends and associates to contact us with any information however small.”

(BMcN/GK)

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