Teacher murder probe 'to take weeks'

Weeks of painstaking forensic work could lie ahead before police crack the murder of Jane Longhurst, senior officers have said.

Despite major developments, including the arrest of a 35-year-old man, since the teacher's burning body was discovered a week ago, police say there is still a lot of work yet to be done.

Results of forensic tests such as those on scraps of DNA could take weeks to gather, as happened in the case of eight-year-old Sarah Payne, whose body was also dumped near Pulborough.

But that forensic evidence was crucial in convicting Sarah's murderer, Roy Whiting - fibres found in his van matched those on her shoe.

A police source said: "You can never tell what the results of the forensic work will be, but some now take weeks. Our experience with Sarah Payne proved that there can be some incredibly powerful and useful results. It was months before he was charged."

On the investigation of the murder of Miss Longhurst, he added: "There is still lots of inquiry work, lots of forensics.

"It has been a very busy week with lots of developments beginning with the discovery of Jane's body and now a lot of work is in progress to achieve the goal - to bring her killer to justice."

Miss Longhurst, 31, who taught at a school for children with learning difficulties in Brighton, vanished from her home in the city which she shared with her partner Malcolm Sentence, 34, on March 14.

Detectives believe she was strangled shortly after her disappearance and kept "somewhere cool" for up to five weeks. A week ago she was dumped on Wiggonholt Common near Pulborough, at a beauty spot visible from footpaths and the road. The discovery of her watch, a match and a box of matches nearby were described as a "significant" breakthrough. These items were among those which were sent for forensic tests.

On Thursday, a 35-year-old man was arrested at his home in Hove, East Sussex. He was released on police bail without charge on Friday night.

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