[04 JAN 01] CRIMES, FIRES & ACCIDENTS
Photo Released Of Murdered Body

Detectives investigating a murder of a woman believed to come from Coventry have released a gruesome photo of the body to try and find her identity.

The body was found in Treales, near Blackpool, on 27 December and had been in a frozen field for several days before walkers discovered her.

Officers are appealing to Asian communities around the country to help reveal the woman’s identity.

They are convinced that the woman was killed elsewhere and brought to the area, but a previous appeal with an artist’s impression yielded nothing.

Detectives have asked people living in Coventry to contact them if they know who she is.

The woman was aged around 40, and was about five feet tall. The image has been digitally enhanced to be as lifelike as possible.

WARNING: The picture is of a disturbing nature and could easily shock or distress. To view it click here.

The man leading the murder enquiry, Det Supt Mike Arnold, said:

"Last week we released an artist's impression, but the response has been very disappointing. Although it is unusual to release a picture of a dead body, we have done so because it may be the only way to find out who she was."

A post mortem examination revealed she had most likely been asphyxiated.

Mr Arnold added:

"Our priority is to establish who this woman was. We would urge anyone with any information to contact us as soon as possible.

“Someone, somewhere must know who she was. It is highly likely she was someone's mother, daughter, sister, wife, or aunt."

He said it was possible that the woman was not a "missing" person:

"It may be that her absence has been explained in a perfectly plausible way. If she has family overseas, maybe her immediate friends and relatives believe her to be abroad."

Mr Arnold said he thinks it unlikely the woman was from the Blackpool area. He believes she was murdered elsewhere and her body - wrapped in several black bin liners - dumped, possibly several days before it was found.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the police at Blackpool on 01253 293933 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.