Police question stabbed Abigail

Police think the attack may have been a robbery which went wrong

Stab victim Abigail Witchalls has given a statement to police officers from her hospital bed by mouthing answers.

Mrs Witchalls, who was stabbed in the neck while walking with her baby son in Little Bookham, Surrey, is paralysed but is described as stable.

Two female detectives spent several hours on Monday interviewing her after doctors said she had recovered enough to assist in the investigation.

Police said she communicated with them by mouthing "yes" or "no" answers.

'Enormous dignity'

Mrs Witchalls, who was pregnant with her second child when she was attacked last Wednesday, has been communicating with family members through facial expressions and by blinking.

Officers interviewed her in short sessions over the space of five hours in St George's Hospital, Tooting.

They recorded the interview on audio and video tape but said it could take several days to piece together a full account of the vicious assault.

Mrs Witchalls' husband, Benoit, has been keeping a vigil at her bedside

They have not revealed whether the discussions with Mrs Witchalls, who teaches English to immigrants, uncovered any new leads.

Det Supt Adrian Harper, who is leading the investigation, said: "Apart from her son Joseph, Abigail is the only person who saw her attacker and the information that she may be able to give us will be crucial to our investigation.

"Both Abigail and her family have handled the terrible situation in which they find themselves with enormous dignity and courage and I believe that Abigail will want to give us all the help that she can to find the person who attacked her."

Mrs Witchalls was walking her 21-month-old son in a buggy when she was attacked in a quiet residential area.

Two people released

She was given only a 50% chance of survival, but has now regained some feeling in parts of her body.

But doctors have said it is not known to what extent she will recover and it has not been revealed if her unborn baby has survived.

Surrey Police have increased their presence in the Little Bookham area

Police said the incident room has now received more than 300 calls from the public, many of them with information that is being followed up. Officers are also examining biological forensic material gathered after the attack.

The force said that about 100 officers were working on the case, which is also focusing on information provided by the public during house-to-house inquiries

Since the attack there has been an increased police presence in the village, said to be one of the safest parts of England.

Two people arrested over the attack on Friday have been released.

A man, aged 28, was released on police bail, after being arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and a 29-year-old woman was released without charge. The man's car was seized.

Detectives believe the attack was either part of a robbery that went wrong, or Mrs Witchalls was targeted at random.