Abigail Witchalls hopes to be going home soon

The 26-year-old, who defied all expectations after being stabbed four months ago, is making slow but steady progress, insiders at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital said.

Mrs Witchalls was knifed in the neck on 20 April as she pushed her toddler son Joseph near her home in Little Bookham, Surrey.

She remains paralysed but has regained some feeling in parts of her body.

Yesterday her father, Martin Hollins, said the family was looking forward to her coming home. He added that all appeared well with her unborn child, due in January.

Her family are adapting the house she and her husband, Benoit, had planned to move in to. Reports said her parents and her in-laws would care for her. The family were said to have built a house for her parents in the grounds. They have also constructed a chapel.

Earlier this month, Surrey Police said it had passed details of its investigation to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Richard Cazaly, 23, has been treated as the chief suspect since his apparent suicide in Scotland days after the attack.