A NINE-YEAR-OLD girl whose body was discovered in a lorry was not the victim of a sexual assault, police said yesterday. Stacey Lawrence, from the west midlands, was found strangled at a lorry park near Warmington, Northamptonshire, on Saturday.
The body of her mother’s long-term partner, Darren Walker (40), also from the west midlands, was found hanging in nearby woodland. Detectives said they were treating the case as a murder and suicide. They said the initial postmortem results indicated she had not been sexually assaulted.
It is understood that Stacey had accompanied Walker as he made deliveries to Spar stores in Norfolk on Friday as a holiday treat.
The lorry was later found unlocked next to a busy rural road with the curtains in the cab drawn.
Det Chief Insp Tricia Kirk said Stacey’s mother had no concerns prior to her death. “Our investigation is to try and find out what led to this tragic event . . . We believe the girl was murdered and the man then committed suicide . . . We are not aware of any medical condition and we are not aware of any family arguments.”
It is believed Stacey’s mother had been in a relationship with Walker for at least a year and was comfortable with Stacey being in his company. Insp Kirk said family members had not raised any concerns. – (Guardian service)