Mother makes suitcase murder plea

Helen Edmonds said someone must know who killed her daughter

The mother of murdered teenager Terry Edmonds has made an appeal for anyone who knows who strangled her daughter to come forward.

"I will never get over losing my beautiful daughter," Helen Edmonds said on Thursday. "It has changed our family's lives forever."

The body of 17-year-old Terry was found in a suitcase near a car park in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, on 29 April.

She was last seen on Easter Monday near the town's railway station.

Three men have been arrested and released in connection with the murder hunt.

I don't understand how someone could do this to her Helen Edmonds

Ch Supt Mark Salisbury, leading the 50-strong police team, said they had not necessarily been eliminated from their inquiries.

He said there were likely to be more arrests and he was confident the killer would be brought to justice.

Ms Edmonds said Terry's death was "horrific".

"My worst fears came true when I heard that Terry's body had been found," she said. "It is every mother's worst nightmare.

Terry Edmonds was last seen on Easter Monday in Tunbridge Wells

"She was young and clever and had her whole life in front of her - she had lots she wanted to do."

She said she could not understand why someone would commit such a crime.

"Someone must know who did this," Ms Edmonds continued. "Someone must have a son or a husband or a partner or even a daughter who knows something or who knows someone who has been behaving differently."

Terry had lived in the Christian Alliance Housing Association's Homeless Hostel in Tunbridge Wells since January, but Ms Edmonds said she regularly kept in touch with her family in Hadlow.

'Great courage'

Mr Salisbury said police had received a number of calls offering information about the suitcase in which Terry was found near Morrisons supermarket car park.

"It could have been in various places around the town centre and may have been left on rough ground or in open spaces," he said.

"Terry's mother has shown great courage in coming forward to make this appeal. If you have information, please contact us immediately."