From today’s Telegraph:

‘Police admitted yesterday that they had missed opportunities to arrest the former boyfriend of the murdered mother-to-be Hayley Richards in the days before her death. The 23-year-old restaurant waitress, who was three months' pregnant, dialled 999 alleging that her Portuguese ex-boyfriend, Hugo Quintas, now the prime suspect, had attacked her on June 5. She told police that although she was not injured, she was pregnant and frightened. On Saturday, six days after her call, Miss Richards was found dead in her home in Trowbridge, Wilts. Police disclosed last night that her throat had been cut and she had suffered stab wounds. Officers were hunting for a knife or similar sharp instrument. Quintas, also 23, is believed to have flown to Portugal. The search for him was continuing last night. Wiltshire Police said there had been two potential opportunities in which Quintas might have been arrested. But the officers involved, who had spoken to him about other matters, had not been aware that he was wanted on suspicion of an alleged assault. Assistant Chief Constable Peter Vaughan said: "There were potential opportunities for other officers, not directly involved in this investigation, to arrest Hugo Quintas, which were not taken. This is a cause of concern, which requires further investigation." '

Posted by melanie at June 14, 2005