Murdered teenager's 999 call

Murdered teenager's 999 call

Police found Hannah's bag and phone on Monday afternoon

Teenager Hannah Foster made a 999 call on the night she was murdered, police have revealed.

Detectives made the announcement at a press conference where Hannah's parents made an appeal for help in catching her killer.

They hope the recording of the call could provide a crucial breakthrough into the search for her killer.

Hannah disappeared on Friday night while walking home from a pub in Portswood, Southampton, her body was found two days later.

Trevor and Hilary Foster paid tribute to a "gentle and graceful" daughter

Hampshire Police have known about the phone call for several days.

Detectives said Hannah was unable to talk to the operator but there is material on the recording that they are analysing.

Her call disconnected after a few minutes and the teenager never called back.

Appearing in public for the first time since her death, her father Trevor Foster, 53, fought back tears as he paid tribute to his daughter.

With his wife Hilary clinging to his arm, he said the family was devastated by the loss.

"My wife and I have lost our beautiful daughter and Hannah's 14-year-old sister Sarah has lost her big sister and friend.

"Hannah was a warm, kind-hearted 17-year-old girl who could always see good in others.

"She was a gentle and graceful girl who was a beautiful dancer."

On Monday, Hannah's bag and mobile phone were found in a recycling dump in Portsmouth.

It is believed the items had been thrown into a bottle bank in Portsmouth or Southsea.

Hannah was last seen in Highfield Lane about five minutes walk from her home in Grosvenor Road, Portswood, Southampton, at 2250 GMT on Friday.

Detectives are also investigating whether Hannah was being stalked after reports she told friends she had been approached on three separate occasions by an Asian man or men.

On Tuesday night, shortly after an appeal was made for the man to come forward, a 36-year-old went voluntarily to Portswood police station.

A police spokeswoman said the man spoke to Hannah in the first incident in summer 2002.

Detectives have questioned him and are satisfied he had nothing to do with her murder.

But police are still looking for the man or men involved in the other incidents.