Indian origin constable stabbed to death

London, May 13 (UNI) A special constable of Indian origin Nisha Patel-nasri 29 was stabbed to death outside her home in north London when she reportedly ventured out just before midnight after hearing thieves trying to steal two high-value cars belonging to her husband parked outside.

Detectives are hunting for a man in a hooded top, who was spotted running from the scene immediately after the attack on the constable.

The off-duty special constable was stabbed in the leg and bled heavily before dying just yards away from her home in Wembley.

Her neighbours rushed outside after suddenly hearing her scream. She was heard saying: ''Somebody stabbed me, please call the police'' before collapsing on the pavement. Residents went to her aid and tried to stop the bleeding, before alerting her husband, Fadi- who had been out and calling the police. When officers arrived, she was given further emergency first-aid and taken to Northwick Park Hospital, where she succummed to her injuries.

Police were investigating a possible link between the murder and an attempted burglary at her home the previous week. Last Saturday night, three black men had tried to break into her house and only fled when she challenged them in the porch.

One theory was that one of the three men could have returned to the house. Detective Superintendent Julian Worker, who is leading the hunt for her killer, said there was ''an awful lot of blood at the scene'' and that as a result the suspect was likely to be heavily bloodstained. He said: ''They may have come home with bloodstained clothes. There may be people who have their suspicions. I'm asking them to come forward. This sort of crime is just so atrocious and so horrendous. No loyalty even to a family member or to a friend is worthy of not coming forward.

''It is absolutely tragic that somebody who gives up their time and serves their community meets their death in such tragic and violent circumstances.'' Mrs Patel-Nasri and her husband had been married for around three years and had no children. Sources from the local community said that Mrs Patel-Nasri's younger brother was due to get married at a civil ceremony this weekend. However, the wedding and a further Hindu ceremony planned for a few weeks' time had been cancelled.

Her husband ran a business hiring stretch limos for social functions and he owned the stretch limousine and a ''Hummer''-style vehicle parked outside their home. They are now being examined by forensic experts.

Mrs Patel-Nasri, also a successful hairdresser, was hugely popular among colleagues in the Special Constabulary and her murder has shocked the local community. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair led the tributes to her.

He said: ''It is a tragedy that a young woman who willingly gave up so much of her valuable free time to work as a police officer in her local community lost her life in this terrible way,'' he said.

Special constables are voluntary police officers and they have the powers of fully-sworn officers. They assist with police duties in their free time.

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