TV detective’s daughter ‘murdered at festival’
Man arrested after woman’s body is found in wooded area of Lulworth Castle site on her 25th birthday
Police have launched a murder inquiry after the body of Taggart actor John Michie’s daughter, Louella, was found in woodland during a music festival. It was her 25th birthday. Police have arrested a 28-year-old man from London on suspicion of murder
‘Louella, you are the most beautiful soul. You made me smile constantly. I am sending a prayer for you and all your family’
THE daughter of former Taggart actor John Michie was murdered at a music festival, police believe.
The body of Louella Michie was found at Bestival, a four-day music event in Dorset, in the early hours of Monday morning, her 25th birthday.
A 28-year-old man from London has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
In a statement on behalf of Michie, ARG talent agency said: “Sadly, I can confirm the tragic death of John Michie’s daughter, Louella, at Bestival.
“John and his wife, Carol, ask that the privacy of their family be respected at this traumatic time.”
Mr Michie is known for his roles as DI Robbie Ross in detective drama series Taggart and Karl Munro in Coronation Street. He also played Guy Self in both Casualty and Holby City.
The actor lives in north London with his wife, Carol. As well as Louella, the couple have two children: Daisy, 27, a stylist, Samuel, 26, a video director.
In an interview published just this weekend, he spoke about how his children regularly returned home for Sunday lunch and said the family went on holiday together to a Spanish campsite.
Officers at Bestival were alerted just before 1am on Monday after friends expressed concern for the welfare of Miss Michie, who was missing. The body of the model, actor and dancer was later found in a wooded area of the festival site at Lulworth Castle.
Her parents reportedly rushed to the site when they became aware of concerns for her safety.
Dorset Police said they had arrested a man “to enable officers to conduct an interview under caution to help establish the full circumstances”.
Miss Michie studied performing arts at the Tiffany Theatre College in Essex and had recently lived in Miami.
Friends last night expressed shock at the news. Ro- byn Adams wrote on Facebook: “I’m completely and utterly devastated … Louella Michie you are the most beautiful soul inside and out. You made me smile constantly. I am sending a prayer tonight for you and all your family.”
Ch Insp Chris Weeks described her death as “devastating” and appealed for witnesses to come forward.
He said: “The family has been informed and the death at this stage is being treated as unexplained. A post mortem is due to take place and after that we’ll have a clearer indication of how the death occurred.
“The area has been secured by officers and is being forensically examined.”
On Saturday, police at Bestival warned festivalgoers about a rogue batch of tablets on the site. Drugs have not been linked to Miss Michie’s death.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the force at dorset.police.uk, via email at 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk, or by calling 101, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or crimestoppers-uk.org.