DR VICTORIA ANYETEI

DR VICTORIA ANYETEI WAS FOUND DEAD

Dr Victoria Anyetei was found slumped in the front seat of her car outside her home in Dartford, Kent.

A doctor was found dead from multiple stab wounds yesterday on her front drive. Police believe that the 53-year-old children's doctor, who worked at St Thomas's Hospital in London, was stabbed to death as she left for work at 8.20am. Dr Anyetei, who has a 19-year-old son, Andrew Thompson, sustained serious injuries in the frenzied attack and died at the scene. It is believed Dr Anyetei was attacked inside her car but police have yet to confirm that. Last night one neighbour said: "I just cannot believe it. Nothing has ever happened like this before around here. "We are all devastated. This is a really quiet cul-de-sac - everyone is petrified there is going to be another attack. "I knew her son really well. He is going to be absolutely heartbroken. He and his mum were so close." Detective Chief Inspector Anne Brittain, who is leading the murder investigation, said police had stepped up patrols in the town. She added: "Officers from Kent Police are making a number of enquiries to establish the circumstances surrounding this woman's death. "At this early stage we would appeal to anyone who saw anything untoward or anyone acting suspiciously in the area, particularly before or around 8.20am when the woman left for work, to call us." Dr Frances Flinter, clinical director of Children's Services at Guy's and St Thomas's NHS Foundation Trust, last night paid tribute to her colleague. She said: "We were extremely sad to learn of Dr Victoria Anyetei's tragic death and our condolences go out to all her family and friends. "Victoria had a lovely warm manner with the children she cared for and they in turn always responded very well to her. "They liked having her as their doctor. She was also the sort of doctor that parents instinctively have faith in and she will be very sadly missed by her patients, their parents and all her colleagues." A hospital consultant stabbed to death in her car may have been killed by an angry parent or disgruntled patient, police said today. Dr Victoria Anyetei, a devout Christian who worked as a locum consultant paediatrician at St Thomas' Hospital, London, was discovered by her 19-year-old son in her silver Toyota Avensis in a cul-de-sac in Teynham Road, Dartford, Kent, at 10.20am yesterday. The 53-year-old Ghanaian's killer, who stabbed her all over her body in a "frenzied" attack, may have been lying in wait for her inside the vehicle when she left for work at 8am, police said. She may have lain undiscovered for more than two hours after the "horrific" murder, with her son just yards away, inside the house, officers added. Chief Superintendent Gary Beautridge, Kent Police Area Commander for Dartford and Gravesham, said: "It's a truly extra-ordinary crime as these things hardly ever happen: a middle-aged, professional, well respected, upstanding, devout Christian member of the community attacked in a frenzied way and struck down in broad daylight. "That is the almost unique challenge facing the murder inquiry [team] at this stage." When asked whether officers were looking at the possibility that Dr Anyetei may have been killed by a disgruntled former patient or their parents, Mr Beautridge said: "That particular aspect will be looked at and it will be looked at in some detail." However, he said officers were keeping an open mind as to the motive. No weapon has been found. Divorced Dr Anyetei, who was previously a senior registrar at St Thomas' Hospital during her paediatric training, lived with her teenage son and a younger relative who were today with relatives in Essex. Her former husband lives in Ghana. Mr Beautridge said it was "probable" that she was attacked in her car and that she was specifically targeted. He added: "Dr Anyetei died from multiple stab wounds. It is possible that the killer discarded a weapon nearby and we are appealing for people in the area around Teynham Road to check their gardens. "Someone may know who killed Dr Anyetei - that person may have returned home in an agitated state - they may have had blood on their clothing. "We're following a number of lines of enquiry at this time. The motive for the doctor's murder remains unclear and the inquiry team is keeping an open mind as to why someone would attack and kill her. "Someone out there may be able to help us throw some light on what the motive was for the murder. "This is an horrific and tragic crime." He said officers were working "round the clock" on the inquiry and an incident room has been set up at the force's major crime unit in Chatham. "We are doing everything possible to catch the person or people responsible for the doctor's murder," he added. The Toyota Avensis is undergoing forensic tests. Dr Anyetei's colleague Dr Frances Flinter, clinical director of children's services at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, earlier paid tribute to her. He said: "We were extremely sad to learn of Dr Victoria Anyetei's tragic death and our condolences go out to all her family and friends. "Victoria had a lovely warm manner with the children she cared for and they in turn always responded very well to her. They liked having her as their doctor. "She was also the sort of doctor that parents instinctively have faith in and she will be very sadly missed by her patients, their parents and all her colleagues." Neighbours of Dr Anyetei today how her teenage sons desperately tried to revive her. They said they heard screams from Dr Anyetei's sons just after 8.30am yesterday. One man who ran from his house to her driveway said: "I could see her in her car seat with her head tilted back and her neck exposed. "I could see blood on her and on her car and on the ground. She looked as if she was already dead. "She looked pale. Her sons were on the driveway screaming. They were screaming for help. They were devastated." The neighbour said he ran to call emergency services but when ambulancemen arrived 15 minutes later they were unable to revive her. He added: "My neighbour was also there. She had blood on her hands and I think she had been trying to revive her. "When I first got to the scene Dr Anyetei's car door was closed as if she had been trying to protect herself from someone. "None of us know how this happened, but it is very shocking for us all. She was a lovely woman." A post-mortem examination was carried out today but no motive for the killing has been established. A team of 20 officers was today combing the surrounding area for the murder weapon and police have been carrying out house-to-house inquiries. Relatives were today comforting-Dr Anyetei's sons, one of who was named as Andrew Thompson, 19. Colleagues paid tribute to the doctor, whom they described as highly respected. Dr Frances Flinter, clinical director of children's services at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We were extremely sad to learn of Dr Victoria Anyetei's tragic death and our condolences go out to all her family and friends. "Victoria had a lovely warm manner with the children she cared for and they in turn always responded very well to her. "Victoria was very well liked and respected by all her colleagues." Another neighbour said: "This is a quiet cul-de-sac - everyone is petrified there is going to be another attack." Detective Chief Inspector Anne Brittain, leading the inquiry, said extra high-visibility patrols had been set up in the town. Anyone with information can call Kent Police on 01622 690690 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Anyone with information can contact Kent Police on 01634 884011. DR VICTORIA ANYETEI14 Aug 2007