Skip to main contentAccess keys help

[an error occurred while processing this directive]
BBC News
watch One-Minute World News
Last Updated: Wednesday, 18 February, 2004, 14:20 GMT
Missing girl's jewellery found on body
Shafilea Ahmed
Shafilea Ahmed: Disappeared in September 2003
The parents of a missing Cheshire teenager have identified jewellery found on a woman's body in a river in Cumbria as their daughter's.

Shafilea Ahmed, 17, went missing from her home in Liverpool Road, Great Sankey, Warrington on 11 September last year.

The body of a woman was found 70 miles away on 4 February in the River Kent, near Kendal, Cumbria, following flooding in the area.

Miss Ahmed's parents Iftikhar Ahmed, 44, and Farzana, 41, have identified a gold zigzag bracelet and blue topaz ring which were found on the body.

Forensic officers examine the riverbank next to the River Kent, Cumbria
Police forensic officers examined the riverbank for clues

Miss Ahmed required medical treatment after she drank bleach, apparently in protest at having a marriage arranged for her.

But no UK hospitals had reported treating anyone who matched her description since she disappeared.

Cheshire Police said divers were searching the river bed for clues and officers were waiting for DNA test results.

A spokesman said they had not launched a murder inquiry.

He said: "The young female has not yet been identified, and DNA tests could take as long as 10 days.

Badly decomposed

"We are now working with Cumbria Police to preserve and search the area."

A Cumbria Police spokesman said the body was badly decomposed when it had been found at Sedgwick.

It was of a young woman, aged 17 to 23, about 5ft 2ins tall and slim.

She was wearing long trousers, which were either white or cream with laced flies, a grey or khaki Jodie Jo T-shirt with the worlds Little Italy, 142nd Street, NYC written on it.

She was also wearing a fawn or grey woollen cardigan with a zip and hood.


SEE ALSO:
Jewellery clue to Kendal body
09 Feb 04  |  Cumbria
Missing girl mystery unsolved
11 Jan 04  |  Manchester
Missing girl's parents bailed
20 Dec 03  |  Merseyside


RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites


PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia
UK | Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature | Technology | Health
Have Your Say | In Pictures | Week at a Glance | Country Profiles | In Depth | Programmes
AmericasAfricaEuropeMiddle EastSouth AsiaAsia Pacific