‘SCREAMS’ IN MILLIONAIRES’ ROW MURDER
Police manhunt after woman is found stabbed to death in flat
A WOMAN was found stabbed to death on a millionaires’ row after neighbours reported hearing two high-pitched screams.
Friends had called 999 saying they were concerned for her welfare before her body was discovered in the flat near Hyde Park in Central London.
Police launched a manhunt for the murderer after forcing their way into the woman’s home on Monday morning.
One elderly neighbour, who wished to stay anonymous, said: “I did hear very, very high-pitched screams on Sunday evening coming from that direction.
“I recall two – they were very unusual. There was no other sound other than the screams, then silence.
“My neighbour was leaving her flat yesterday morning and saw police beating the door down. We saw two forensic trucks. We knew it was murder.”
Residents of Stanhope Place said they do not believe the attack was random.
One said she regularly saw young people entering and leaving the flat. The woman, who gave her name as Katherine, said her partner heard “alarming” noises on Sunday night. She said: “I don’t think it was a random attack.”
The Grade II-listed building, dating back to around 1830, used to be owned by the Ethiopian Embassy.
Scotland Yard said a postmortem will be held as officers work to track down the woman’s next of kin.
Det Chief Insp Adam Clifton said: “I understand this news will be concerning, and that local women especially may be worried. We are keeping an open mind as to the motive.
“My team is working 24/7 to establish what happened, and to identify and arrest whoever may be responsible.”
Appealing for information, he asked locals and motorists to check doorbell cameras and dashcams for footage.
No arrests have been made yet.