Hannah murder motive 'sexual'

Hannah murder motive 'sexual'

Hannah was last seen by a female friend 11 days ago

Detectives investigating the murder of Southampton teenager Hannah Foster now believe the motive for her abduction and murder was sexual.

Hannah, 17, was last seen by a female friend 11 days ago after a night out.

Her body was discovered in undergrowth in Allington Lane, on the outskirts of Southampton, two days later.

Hampshire Police say they have consulted with behavioural and geographical experts to "conclude that this was the most probable motive."

They have not disclosed details of evidence that may have led them to that conclusion, because it is important to their inquiry.

Men eliminated

Hannah's family has been informed.

Officers have also said they have eliminated two men from the investigation who were seen parked in a dark-coloured saloon car close to where Hannah was last seen at 2250 GMT on March 14.

But the inquiry team is still keen to trace a man, or men, of Asian appearance who spoke to Hannah close to her home address in Grosvenor Road on two separate occasions at the end of January and end of February.

BBC Crimewatch has filmed a reconstruction of Hannah's last movements.

Detective Inspector Tony Adams said: "It is possible that this reconstruction - when it is seen on Wednesday night - will be the one thing that jogs a vital witness's memory and persuades them to make that call to the police."

Ten minutes after she was last seen, Hannah called 999 from her mobile phone, but only muted noises were heard during the two minute call.

The A-level student, who had won a place to study medicine at university, was found strangled less than two days later.

Screams heard

Police believe Hannah's mobile and satchel, which were found in a tip in Portsmouth, were thrown into a bottle bank in Southsea.

A witness has reported hearing screams on the night Hannah is believed to have been abducted.

The 63-year-old woman told Hampshire Police she heard the screams minutes after the teenager was last seen.

She said the noise came from the corner of Richmond Gardens and Grosvenor Road, the street where Hannah lived.

A man was questioned last week in Southampton but later released.