`Blood-stained' man sought in hunt for killer of Kate, 14

A man, with a possibly blood-stained shirt, was seen running from the area where a 14-year-old Devon girl had her throat slit, it was disclosed yesterday. Police believe the sighting could be the first break-through in the murder hunt launched after Kate Bushell's body was found by her father in a field last Saturday.

Kate, who had been taking a dog for a walk, was found 300 yards from her home on the edge of Exeter in Devon. Her throat had been cut in what the police said was a planned attack.

Detective Superintendent Mike Stephens told a news conference yesterday that a man was seen between 7.30pm and 7.50pm on Saturday running from fields in the area where Kate's body was found. The man, who ran into a housing estate, was about 5ft 11in, aged between 30 and 35 and of medium build. He had short brown hair, a moustache and was wearing a blue sweatshirt, which the police said had staining on the front that could have been blood. His jeans and trainers were muddy.

The detective also announced that a businessman had offered a pounds 20,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the killer.