Man seen running with park victim

Police hunting the killer of an American artist stabbed while jogging in a busy park are trying to find a man seen running alongside the victim shortly before she was murdered.

The suspect is described as 6ft and was seen in Victoria Park, Hackney, east London, on Monday morning with a woman wearing similar clothes to those of Margaret Muller, 27.

Police also want to contact a second man seen with the artist the night before her death. Detectives are still trying to trace two men of Middle Eastern appearance seen running from the park around the time of the stabbing. The motive for the killing is still unclear but is likely to have been robbery.

Det Ch Supt John Shatford, who is leading the inquiry, said: "There's been a sighting in the park on the morning that Margaret was killed of a young lady fitting her description in that she was wearing a green fleece similar to Margaret's.

"At one stage she was seen to be in company with a man who ran beside her.

"He is a white male, 6ft tall, of medium build, with dark hair and unshaven stubble, which was gingerish. He was also wearing a luminous yellowy- orange running top.

"It is important that we speak to that woman if it wasn't Margaret but more importantly to the man.''

Police also want to contact a male friend seen with Ms Muller at the Good Mixer pub in Camden, north London, on the night before her murder. He is described as between 30 and 35, white and 6ft.

Ms Muller's parents are due in Britain today from Washington and will visit the murder scene in the next few days.