Ex-partner hunted after stab death

Stephen Griffiths, who split from Rana Faruqui three months ago

A man suspected of stabbing his former partner to death while she tended her horse is being hunted by police.

Rana Faruqui, 35, was murdered in a field near stables at Jennings Farm, Burnham, near Slough, at about 2100 BST on Saturday.

She may even have contacted emergency services as she was being stabbed with a sharp-bladed weapon, possibly a hunting knife.

Thames Valley Police want to speak to Stephen Griffiths, 38, with whom Miss Faruqui, of Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire, split three months ago.

We are unsure of the state of his mental health and we need to get him in custody as soon as we can Detective Superintendent Steve Morrison

Interpol and police forces across the country have been alerted and more than 30 officers assigned to the hunt for Mr Griffiths.

Detective Superintendent Steve Morrison, who is leading the investigation, said Miss Faruqui had died in frenzied attack.

"We do not want the public to approach this individual," he added.

"We are unsure of the state of his mental health and we need to get him in custody as soon as we can."

He said Miss Faruqui's family was devastated by her death.

"For their sake we need to catch the person responsible as soon as possible," he added.

Rana Faruqui managed to call for help on her mobile

In a statement her family said she was a beautiful, much-loved daughter, sister and auntie and a loyal, generous and loving friend.

"Rana had an insatiable appetite for life, expressed through her love for horses, animals and her devotion and commitment to her friends and family," they said.

Miss Faruqui, a business analyst, had gone to the stables to tend her horse.

After mucking out a stable she had walked to a field about half a mile from the stables to collect her horse.

Police found her body just 15 minutes after her call to emergency services.

Officers are trying to trace a black Mercedes C class, registration LS51 GF0, which Mr Griffiths is thought to be driving.

Police believe Mr Griffiths, currently of no fixed address and unemployed, may have left the country.

He is described as white, 6ft 3ins to 6ft 4ins, of heavy build, with short dark receding hair, a prominent nose and speaks with a Liverpool accent.