Police take 200 calls on murder of teenager

Detectives hunting the killer of 19-year-old Marsha McDonnell said they had received more than 200 calls over the weekend after appeals to help trace her last movements.

Scotland Yard said it was pleased with the response to the appeals, which included an emotional plea from Ms McDonnell's uncle, speaking near the spot in Hampton, south-west London, where the student was attacked. But police said they had still to hear from seven people who were on the same bus as Marsha when she returned from the cinema in the early hours of Tuesday.

"There is nothing on its own significant in the calls so far but they are little bits of the jigsaw that could lead to something significant," a Scotland Yard spokesman said.

Police are continuing to look at possible links with an attack on another teenager in the same area, which is being re-investigated since Ms McDonnell's murder. On Saturday detectives revealed that a girl had suffered head injuries while walking home at 9pm on 8 January. The incident was at first treated as an accident as it was believed that the girl had slipped in icy conditions.

Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Cook, who is heading the murder hunt, said: "We are concerned about the injuries she received. We can't say if it is connected to this matter but we are keeping an open mind. One minute she was walking along, the next she was in hospital with head injuries, and we are looking at the nature of the injuries."

Det Ch Supt Cook said: "She could not remember what happened and she is recovering from her injuries after she was hospitalised for a period of time."

Ms McDonnell was killed by three massive blows to the head as she walked home after getting off the bus from Kingston-upon-Thames. Police released CCTV footage from cameras on the bus in the hope of jogging the memories of fellow passengers who may be able to help in the hunt for the killer. But Det Ch Supt Cook said they had yet to trace any of the passengers. He said: "There were seven males on the bus at that time, plus the driver, and I would appeal for them to come forward."

He said that despite house-to-house enquiries and an extensive search, detectives were still baffled by the killing on a quiet suburban street. "This crime is a complete mystery. We are treating it as a stranger attack and naturally that gives us cause for concern. Marsha was of exceptionally good character, from a good family background."

Ms McDonnell died in hospital on Wednesday when her life-support machine was turned off. She was attacked yards from her home, where she lived with father Phil, 53, mother Ute, 47, two sisters and her brother.