Warrant for Hannah murder suspect

Warrant for Hannah murder suspect

Hannah was last seen after a night out in Southampton

A warrant has been issued for Indian police to arrest the prime suspect in the murder of teenage schoolgirl Hannah Foster.

The 35-year-old man went to the Punjab after the 17-year-old's body was discovered in a country lane near Southampton, Hampshire.

The warrant, issued by magistrates in the city, will be sent to India with documentation being drafted by specialist lawyers from the Crown Prosecution Service.

The man's wife was arrested a fortnight ago over the murder, but later released on police bail.

The married couple live at an address a few hundred metres from Hannah's home.

The teenager, who had won a place at university to study medicine, was found raped and strangled on 16 March.

A Hampshire police spokesman said: "I can confirm that a warrant has been issued for our suspect in connection with the murder, kidnapping, false imprisonment, rape, manslaughter of Hannah Foster, and for perverting public justice."

The accompanying document, known as a letter of request, will ask Indian authorities to arrest the suspect.

A team of six Hampshire police officers working on Operation Springfield remains on stand-by to fly out to India and bring the man back to the UK.

Hannah disappeared minutes from her house in Portswood, Southampton, after a night out with friends.

Her body was discovered two days later dumped in undergrowth on Allington Lane, West End.

The suspect's home has already been searched by forensic experts for clues.