Boyfriend of murder victim: 'numb and devastated'

The partner of murdered schoolteacher Jane Longhurst today told how he was “devastated” at the discovery of her burning body in woodland.

Malcolm Sentance, 34, who shared a house with the 31-year-old in Brighton before she disappeared last month, said he hoped the find would now lead police to her killer.

The education welfare officer, who was staying with friends in Stratford-upon-Avon when he heard the news over the weekend, said: “I feel numb. Devastated. It’s such a waste of life. She was beautiful.”

He said that he had spoken to Miss Longhurst’s mother, Liz, and sister, Sue Barnett, on the phone shortly after police confirmed that it was her body that had been set alight in woodland near Pulborough, West Sussex, on Saturday evening.

He said: “We were all crying. It’s such a waste of life.”

He added: “Police said they would be stepping up the inquiry big time. They’ve now got forensic evidence to look at, whereas previously they had nothing to go on.

“Hopefully it will lead them to the killer.”

Detectives believe the music teacher’s body was preserved “somewhere cool” for up to five weeks before it was set alight in part of an RSPB nature reserve.

However, a police spokeswoman said it was “speculation” to suggest that the body had been frozen in some way.

“We don’t know where it was kept. All that we know is that it was probably somewhere cool because it was well preserved,” she said.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Dennis, who is leading the investigation, said that officers would “work round the clock” to catch the teacher’s killer.

“Somebody must have seen something strange in the area where her body was found on Saturday and we would urge anyone with information to contact us immediately.”

The countryside where the body was set alight was still being searched by forensic experts today in the bid to find vital clues.

Sussex police believe that Miss Longhurst was strangled to death shortly after she went missing and her body only dumped after the killer panicked.

At Uplands special school in Brighton, where Miss Longhurst had been a teacher for around three years, flowers remain tied to the gates.

A message with one tribute read: “To the best teacher. I will miss you Miss Longhurst.”