Man arrested in hunt for pregnant woman's killer

A 40-year-old man is being questioned about the murder of a pregnant 22-year-old, who was shot dead in her home.

Krystal Hart was shot twice in the head in the hallway of her flat in Clapham, south-west London, following a possible dispute with a neighbour.

The mother of the dead woman said yesterday her daughter was "indescribable in every way", adding that her death left "a gap which will never be filled".

Scotland Yard said the suspect was arrested after walking into a police station in south London. Police had been looking for a white man aged between 30 and 50 in connection with the killing. Officers and paramedics were called to Ms Hart's flat shortly after 11am on Friday. The 22-year-old, who was three-months pregnant, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post-mortem examination showed that she had died from two gunshot wounds to the head.

Detectives took the unusual step of revealing that they believed the killing may be linked to a row dating back "many months" although police no longer believe it was sparked by a dispute over parking.

DCI Colin Sutton, who is leading the murder inquiry, said: "While we continue to investigate the possibility that the murder could have been the result of a neighbour dispute, we no longer believe that this was over a parking matter". A neighbour who had reported the shooting was questioned by police, but she is not being treated as a suspect. Yesterday, Ms Hart's mother, Deborah Penfold, described her distress at losing not only her daughter, but her future grandchild.

"No words can describe the depths of our despair at the sudden and tragic loss of a most precious and beautiful young woman," she said.

"Not only have I lost my daughter but I've lost my grandchild in the senseless and tragic murder of a young woman in the prime of her life. We thank the police and local community for their sympathy and support. "We need time and privacy to begin to make sense of this incomprehensible loss of life.

"Krystal ... leaves a gap which will never be filled ... The light she shone will never be overshadowed."

Ms Hart and her boyfriend, a 21-year-old named as David Siveter, had been looking forward to starting a family. Ms Hart's stepfather Clive Lawrence, 50, said that he had installed cameras in Ms Hart's flat because of a dispute with a neighbour.

He added that Ms Hart had been involved in a row with a neighbour over "petty things". He said: "She was full of life and looking forward to being a mum. The police seem to have some idea of what happened. They said they have got a good idea about who may have done it.

"You see films and you read about it in books but you can't imagine how it feels when it happens to your own."

Detectives are examining footage from the cameras fitted by Mr Lawrence as well as other CCTV in the area, for possible clues to the identity of the killer.

Police have also appealed for anyone who was in the area at the time of the shooting to contact them.