E-fit hope in Abigail knife case

Police said Mrs Witchalls' bravery was extraordinary

Detectives hunting the man who stabbed Abigail Witchalls plan to speak to her again in the hope of drawing up an e-fit of her attacker.

The 26-year-old mother was stabbed in the neck in Little Bookham, Surrey, seconds after her attacker held the knife to her 21-month-old son's neck.

Mrs Witchalls, paralysed by the attack on 20 April, used blinks and other signals to tell police what happened.

More than 300 calls were received since a description of the man was released.

'Emotional time'

Police now plan to show her drawings on a laptop computer and erect a plasma screen to help them compile a clearer picture of the knifeman and of the "tatty" blue estate car she saw him driving.

They said her son Joseph had "acted out" events and may also be interviewed.

Officers have already drawn up a list of possible names which they are working through but say they are still looking for more.

Profilers are helping them work on the type of person they are looking for.

Mrs Witchalls' attacker, who left Joseph uninjured, did not try to rob her.

Click to see aerial photograph with full details of Abigail's route Enlarge Image

Surrey Police said they had received more than 300 calls by Wednesday lunchtime, on top of 90 they received after an earlier appeal.

Officers said Mrs Witchalls had been through a "more harrowing experience than they had ever imagined".

She was interviewed by detectives for six hours on Monday and another six hours on Tuesday, mouthing "yes" or "no" answers to many of the questions.

Police said she had insisted on being interviewed at such length in her hospital bed at St George's Hospital in Tooting, south London.

Det Supt Adrian Harper said police had confirmed enough information directly from her that they no longer had to rely on other witness statements.

He said: "It's been a very emotional time for her and our officers."

Silver earrings

Mr Harper released a detailed description of the attacker, which had been compiled from the interviews with Mrs Witchalls.

He said: "He's between 5ft 10in and 6ft 4in tall, and she's very precise about that because he's taller than her and smaller than her husband.

"He's a male, white, aged between 20 and 35-years-old and on the day he was wearing dark clothing.

She turned around and saw the man had taken hold of Joseph and was holding the knife to his throat Det Supt Adrian Harper

"He has quite short dark hair which is either curly or wavy but quite scruffy, a long thin face with prominent cheekbones and is pale with dark bags under his eyes.

"He was wearing two silver earrings, they're hoops, three-quarters of an inch, roughly, in diameter and quite thick.

"He may have more earrings but she's very particular about at least one in each ear."

Mrs Witchalls told officers she first saw her attacker in a blue four-door estate car at 1545 BST on 20 April as she walked along a public footpath.

Mr Harper said: "About three-quarters of the way along the track, she turned and saw the same car had pulled up behind her [and the man got out]."

"She began running along the footpath with Joseph still in his buggy," he said.

Mrs Witchalls said she reached a gate and, as she struggled to open it, she heard the man tell her she had dropped her purse.

Police said it appears the knifeman did not try to rob Mrs Witchalls

"She turned around and saw the man had taken hold of Joseph and was holding the knife to his throat," said Mr Harper.

"He called to Abigail to come towards him.

"He then grabbed her hair and pulled her down towards the ground.

"As he did so he stabbed her once in the back of the neck with the knife.

"He then pushed the buggy on top of Abigail and ran off.

"Anyone who is prepared to threaten a young child and try to kill his mother in front of him is clearly capable of anything."