Woman 'may have known her killer'

DETECTIVES in Wiltshire are hunting the killer of a young woman whose throat was cut in her home while her 17-month-old daughter lay in a cot upstairs.

The body of Tracey Carey, 20, was discovered in the hallway of the house in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, by her father, Derek. He called at 3.45pm on Sunday, as he did every Sunday, to take his daughter and granddaughter home to dinner.

Ms Carey received multiple stab wounds in the face and neck. Police have not found the murder weapon but believe the killer used a knife.

Detective Superintendent Tom Fraser, who is leading the murder inquiry, believes Ms Carey, who was single, knew or recognised her killer, and has appealed for witnesses. There was no sign of a forced entry to the house. He said there was nothing to indicate that robbery was a motive and Ms Carey had not been sexually assaulted.

Det Supt Fraser said: 'I know it is a cliche that is used quite a lot, but it was a frenzied attack. There is no doubt she attempted to defend herself - she had defence wounds on her right hand.'

The child, Kayleigh, who was unharmed, was taken into council care and is being looked after by foster parents. Police say they are still waiting to speak to her father, who they have not named, and who lives in the Home Counties.

One of Ms Carey's neighbours reported hearing raised voices coming from her home early on Sunday morning. Caroline Sherred, who lives two houses away, said: 'I couldn't make out what they were saying. They were muffled but they must have been loud for me to hear them.' Police are trying to trace a man said to have been seen in the garden of Ms Carey's home on Saturday afternoon.