Missing Belfast woman's body found

Police have confirmed that the body of a woman found in a house in south Belfast early on Thursday morning was that of Ms Maria…

Police have confirmed that the body of a woman found in a house in south Belfast early on Thursday morning was that of Ms Maria McConnell.

The 22-year-old west Belfast woman had been missing since the early hours of July 14th.

Detectives investigating her murder are still questioning a 20-year-old man in connection with the death.

Yesterday afternoon, police said his detention had been authorised for a further 12 hours and that this could ultimately be extended to five days.

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An RUC spokesman said forensic scientists were continuing to carry out a "meticulous" search of the house at Canterbury Street, in the university area of the city. This was expected to last until some time today.

Police have still not traced the taxi driver who picked up the victim and a man at Vicos, a city centre nightclub.

Footage from a security camera at the nightclub showed her getting into a taxi outside at approximately 3 a.m. with a man. When interviewed by the police, the man said Ms McConnell was dropped off at Elmwood Avenue on the Lisburn Road in south Belfast and the man travelled on towards Finaghy.

Detectives also want to hear from the man who made the anonymous telephone calls which led them to the body.