25/04/2003

Man arrested over Brighton teacher murder

Sussex police have said they have arrested a man in connection with the murder of a schoolteacher whose body was found burning in woodland near her hometown of Brighton.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Dennis told a news conference on Friday that they had arrested a man late on Thursday night on suspicion of the murder of Jane Longhurst.

He said the arrest was "significant" and that they had previously questioned the man who is currently in police custody in Brighton.

The 35-year-old man, from Hove, adjacent to Brighton, was arrested on Thursday at his home.

The burning body of Jane Longhurst, 31, was discovered on Saturday April 19 at Wiggonholt Common near Pulborough, West Sussex, about 20 miles from Brighton.

Longhurst, who taught music and English to children with learning difficulties, vanished on March 14 soon after text-messaging a friend to say she was buying some paint to decorate her flat.

Police said she was strangled and had been dead for four or five weeks before the killer set fire to her body, forcing identification via dental records.

They believe the murderer was spooked into dumping the body on a busy weekend in an open area.

On Wednesday police said items found near to where the body was discovered, including a match, a box of matches and Jane’s watch, had given them a significant breakthrough in the investigation.

(AMcE)

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