15/12/2006

Fifth victim identified in Suffolk murder investigation

Fifth victim identified in Suffolk murder investigation

Police investigating a series of murders in Suffolk have identified the fifth victim as 29-year-old Annette Nicholls.

Her body was one of two discovered near Levington on December 12. The other body was identified on December 14 as Paula Clennell, 24.

A post-mortem carried out on Ms Nicholls' body failed to establish how she died and further tests are being carried out. A post-mortem conducted on Ms Clennell's body revealed that she had been strangled.

Both women had worked as prostitutes in the Ipswich area. Ms Clennell was last seen on December 10, while Ms Nicholls was last seen on December 5.

The discovery of their bodies followed three other murders. The bodies of Gemma Adams, 25, Tania Nicol, 19 - both from Ipswich - and 24-year-old Anneli Alderton from Colchester, Essex, were all found near Ipswich this month. All the women had worked as prostitutes in Ipswich.

The body of Ms Adams, who disappeared on November 15, was found first, in a brook at Thorpes Hill, Hintlesham on December 2. The body of Ms Nicol, who was reported missing on November 1, was discovered on December 8, near Copdock Mill, two miles from where Ms Adams' body was discovered.

Post-mortems could not establish the cause of death in each case, although they did reveal that neither woman had been sexually assaulted.

Ms Alderton's body was discovered in woodland near Nacton, a few miles further east, on December 10. She had not been seen since December 3. A post-mortem revealed that she had been strangled.

On Friday, Detective Superintendent Stewart Gull appealed for anyone who saw Ms Nicholls between the day she disappeared and the time her body was discovered to come forward.

Police are also trying to trace the clothing she was wearing when she disappeared - dark-grey patterned leggings, calf-length boots, a black top with a low neckline and a dark-coloured bomber jacket.

Police are also trying to trace the driver of a blue BMW which was seen at the place where Anneli Alderton was last spotted.

The 'News Of The World' has offered a £250,000 reward for information leading to the capture of the murderer.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Suffolk Police on: 0800 096 1011.

(KMcA)


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