Ex-boyfriend charged after Kent student has 'throat slit' at busy shopping centre

Police have confirmed suspect Joshua Stimpson was known to the victim

Molly McLaren (Kent Police )

The ex-boyfriend of a 23-year-old student whose throat was reportedly slit in a busy shopping centre car park has been charged on suspicion of murder.

Molly McLaren was violently attacked at the Dockside factory outlet shopping centre in Chatham and died at the scene from stab wounds.

Joshua Stimpson, 25, of High Street in Wouldham in Rochester, was arrested at the scene and charged with her murder, Kent Police said.

Witnesses claimed to have heard screams and the beeping of the car horn as Ms McLaren is believed to have been inside her car at the time of the attack.

Ms Stimpson is understood to have been Ms McLaren's former boyfriend but they relationship had reportedly come to an end.

Police said that "any previous reports made by the victim to Kent Police" regarding Mr Stimpson would be considered as part of the murder investigation.

Officers have also referred the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission which will determine whether another investigation into any previous contact with Ms McLaren would be necessary.

The 23-year-old was a student at the University of Kent studying Sport and Excercise for Health and she worked at The Leather Bottle Pub in Gravesend, Kent Live reports.

A spokesman for the pub told the Kent newspaper he was "too upset" to comment at this time.

She was described as popular with "an infectious zest for life" and the desire to live happily and healthy.

Grieving students and staff at the university have been offered counselling to help them come to terms with Ms McLaren's shocking death.