University of Hull student Libby Squire, 21,
Libby Squire’s death IS being treated as murder, say police after student’s body was found washed up in docks
The death of student Libby Squire is being treated as a ‘potential homicide’, police said today.
Humberside Police found the 21-year-old’s body in the Humber Estuary earlier this week following a six-week search after her disappearance during a night out with friends in February.
The force confirmed today it is now ‘solely investigating’ her death as a possible murder and have stopped probing other causes.
A post mortem took place last night but police are not releasing the results due to ‘operational reasons’.
The University of Hull student, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, had not been seen since the early hours of February 1. She had been on a night out in Hull but is believed to have been refused entry to a nightclub and put in a taxi by her friends.
Humberside Police believe she may have ‘come to harm’ and a 24-year-old man suspecting of abducting her has been charged with a number of unrelated offences.
Officers confirmed that Polish butcher Pawel Relowicz, from Hull, was still under investigation, although he has never been charged in relation to her disappearance.
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University of Hull student Libby Squire, 21, who is originally from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, was last seen in the early hours of February 1 this year. Police have confirmed they are treating her death as a ‘potential homicide’
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Mourners have been coming to the bench in Beverley Road, Hull, throughout the morning to pay their respects to the student
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Floral tributes have been left in her memory on a bench where she was last seen in Hull
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Messages of love and support for Libby and her family have been left alongside flowers
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Her body was pulled out of the Humber Estuary on Wednesday and tests last night confirmed it was Libby. Pictured are police at the scene on Wednesday
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Libby Squire has not been seen since the early hours of February 1. A timeline shows how the police investigation has progressed since her disappearance. On Wednesday a body was recovered from the Humber Estuary near Grimsby docks
In a statement, Detective Superintendent Martin Smalley said: ‘Our thoughts remain today with Libby’s family and friends at this incredibly sad and devastating time for them.
‘The loss of a loved one is always an upsetting and traumatic experience to go through, but the circumstances surrounding Libby’s death will only intensify the heartache for her family.
‘Specially trained officers continue in supporting Libby’s family and we will do all we can to provide further support and assistance to them in any way we are able to.
‘The University of Hull have also created a space for tributes to Libby, which is open to both students and the community to attend and remember Libby and offer any messages of condolence.
‘In regards to our investigation, while we have considered throughout the missing person inquiry that Libby may have come to some harm, Libby’s death and the recovery of her body now leads us to solely investigate as a potential homicide.