Hospital doctor stabbed to death

Dr Anyetei was found murdered in her car on her driveway

A hospital doctor who was found murdered in her car was stabbed to death, police have said.

Dr Victoria Anyetei, 53, was attacked on her driveway in Teynham Road, Dartford, Kent, early on Tuesday.

The killer of paediatrician Dr Anyetei, who was found with stab wounds by her 19-year-old son, may have lain in wait inside the vehicle, police said.

Ch Supt Gary Beautridge said they had an open mind on the motive but she may have been killed by a former patient.

"That particular aspect will be looked at and it will be looked at in some detail," he said.

Dr Anyetei, a divorcee and a devout Christian from Ghana, lived with her son and another young relative, who are now with relatives in Essex.

Her former husband lives in Ghana.

Mr Beautridge said "It is possible that the killer discarded a weapon nearby - and we are appealing for people in the area around Teynham Road to check their gardens.

She will be very sadly missed by her patients, their parents and her colleagues Dr Frances Flinter

"Someone may know who killed Dr Anyetei. That person may have returned home in an agitated state - they may have had blood on their clothing."

He said Dr Anyetei's body was found at 1020 BST.

A post-mortem examination carried out on Wednesday showed that she had died from stab wounds to her upper body.

An incident room has been set up and a team of 20 police officers are carrying out house-to-house inquiries in the area.

"It is a truly extraordinary crime as these things hardly ever happen - a middle-aged, professional, well respected, upstanding, devout Christian member of the community attacked in a frenzied way in broad daylight," Mr Beautridge added.

Since Christmas Dr Anyetei had worked as a locum consultant paediatrician at St Thomas' Hospital in London.

'Warm manner'

Dr Frances Flinter, of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, said she was well liked and respected.

"We are extremely sad to learn of Dr Victoria Anyetei's tragic death and our condolences go out to all her family and friends," she said.

"Victoria had a lovely warm manner with the children she cared for and they in turn always responded very well to her. They liked having her as their doctor.

"She was also the sort of doctor that parents instinctively have faith in and she will be very sadly missed by her patients, their parents and her colleagues."

A formal identification of Dr Anyetei's body is expected to take place later.

The car, a silver Toyota Avensis, has been moved to a secure location where it is being examined.