Murdered student tried to call 999

The murdered student Hannah Foster made a 999 call 10 minutes after she was last seen, police said yesterday. Detective Superintendent Alan Betts, who is leading the investigation, said her call did not last long enough to allow connection to an operator.

Hannah, 17, waved goodbye to a friend at 10.50pm on Friday in Highfield Lane, Portswood, Southampton – just five minutes' walk from her home in Grosvenor Road.

Ten minutes later she made the call from her mobile, which lasted for less than two minutes. Det Supt Betts said faint sounds could be heard in the background of the recording but nothing was discernible.

"I have heard the tape – it is very difficult to determine anything. They didn't have a conversation," he said. Police said they could not respond to the call because they had no idea where it was made from.

Hannah's parents made an emotional appeal for help in catching their daughter's killer. Trevor Foster, 53, fought back tears as he paid tribute to his daughter.

With his wife Hilary, 46, clinging to his arm, Mr Foster said: "We as a family are devastated by the loss of Hannah. My wife and I have lost our beautiful daughter and Hannah's 14-year-old sister Sarah has lost her big sister and friend. Hannah was a warm, kind-hearted 17-year-old girl who could always see good in others. She was a gentle and graceful girl who was a beautiful dancer."

Police appealed for an Asian man, who approached Hannah on two occasions in the past two months close to her home, to come forward. Another Asian man, aged 36, who came forward last night has been eliminated from police inquiries.