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Girl murdered in lorry may have been sexually assaulted
Alison Richards1 Sep 2009
The nine-year-old girl who was found strangled in her mother's boyfriend's lorry might have been sexually assaulted, police said today.
Stacey Lawrence was found dead on Saturday in the cab of a white Spar lorry in Northamptonshire.
Her mother's partner Darren Walker, 40, is believed to have murdered Stacey then hanged himself from a tree in nearby woodland.
Detective Chief Inspector Tricia Kirk, of Northamptonshire Police, said today that police could not rule out that there was some sexual touching involved in the incident that led to her death.
Speaking at a press conference at Northamptonshire Police headquarters, Ms Kirk said nine-year-old Stacey was the youngest of four children, described by her mother Roxanne as a very popular girl at school, artistic with a lively imagination, who loved animals and hoped to become a zoo keeper.
Ms Kirk also revealed that Walker had previously been involved in an assault on his wife of three years and was being divorced by her.
She said: "He was cautioned for that offence [in 2006] and we have no other criminal records for him."
Ms Kirk told the press conference they were making enquiries, with the help of West Midlands Police, to find other previous partners of Walker.
Reader views (3)
er excuse me the man killed the poor girl, and all you care about is HIS family?..wots wrong with you.
- Sarah, London, 02/09/2009 01:49
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This child was the youngest of four children. The family has to live with this horror not us. I question why the police had to release detailed information about a crime where the perpetrator is dead. This press conference served no purpose other than to make it even harder for the family involved.
- Jack Spratt, Richmond, Surrey, 01/09/2009 14:14
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Why issue a statement about the possibility of sexual abuse before it can be proven. If this should be proved wrong then a lot of muck has been spread and the man's family will be going through hell for nothing.
Best that the police await an official autopsy before opening their mouths.
- Scotty, Cambridge UK, 01/09/2009 13:57
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