Murder inquiry launched following discovery of burnt body

Police in Sussex have launched a murder inquiry following the discovery of a woman's body in Eastbourne.

The woman, who has yet to be identified, was discovered in a shelter in the Holywell area of Eastbourne at 5:15am on Saturday morning.

Police reported that the top half of the body had been badly burnt. The Home Office pathologist who carried out the post mortem also said that the woman had been stabbed sixteen times in the upper body in what was described as a "frenzied attack". It has also recently been reported that she was sexually asaulted.

The dead woman is described as being possibly in her 30s, white and petite, only 4ft 10 to 5ft tall. She is believed to have had brown, shoulder length hair and she was wearing an elephant charm bracelet on her left wrist and a plain thin metal necklace. She may also have been wearing a pink padded jacket and/or a black heavy woollen coat. Police also discovered a child's double buggy, also burnt, at the scene and they believe that it may have been used to transport possessions.

DCI Tony O'Donnell, who is leading the investigation, said: "This was a horrific attack on the victim. We urgently need the help of the public in identifying the woman. I would ask anybody with any information to contact us as soon as possible."

(KMcA/SP)