Murdered teenager 'beaten for days'

The grassed area in Leeds where Angela's badly beaten body was found in a shallow grave

An 18-year-old woman whose body was found in a shallow grave may have been killed in a beating lasting a number of days, police said.

The body of Angela Pearce was found on Saturday at a grassed area in the Mabgate area of Leeds following a tip-off to police.

Angela Pearce could be 'vulnerable' if she did not take her medication for schizophrenia

Angela, who was clinically diagnosed as schizophrenic, was last seen by her boyfriend on April 9 and reported missing to police the following day.

Detective Superintendent Brian Steele of West Yorkshire Police said: "There were numerous different injuries sustained by Angela.

"I don't wish to go into any more detail than that other than to say it would have happened over a period of time and it was a totally unacceptable situation."

Over the weekend several people, mostly in their late teens and early 20s have been questioned by police.

Two women and a man are appearing before Leeds Magistrates on Monday, charged with assisting an arrestable offender.

A 16-year-old girl is still being interviewed in connection with the murder.

Detectives are also appealing for a mixed-race man in his 30s who went into Millgarth police station, Leeds, with information about Angela's disappearance but left without giving his name, to contact them.

They believe the teenager's body had been in the grave for between 10 and 14 days. There was no evidence of a sexual attack, police said.

Angela's distressed family and friends comfort each other

Det Supt Steele said Angela had had a good home life but was vulnerable if she did not take medication for her schizophrenia.

She lived with her mother Irene Watson, 44, at Shelton Terrace in East End Park, Leeds.

Det Supt Steele said: "Angela came from a good home with very decent parents who cared deeply for her and did their best to look after her all her life."

Angela also had a 16-year-old sister Nicola.

Her father Steve Pearce and his wife Christine helped scour the area around Angela's home when she went missing earlier this month.