Chatherine Wynter stabbing: Mother found babysitter’s body

A young woman who was killed while babysitting her three-year-old nephew and four-year-old niece was found dead by her mother, police said.

Chatherine Wynter, also known as Katie, was found stabbed on Tuesday at her sister’s home in Borehamwood, Herts.

An 18-year-old man from Borehamwood and a 26-year-old man from north London were questioned on suspicion of murder. The older man was later released.

Police said the 19-year-old knew the two arrested men.

She had been staying at the mid-terrace house in Beech Drive on Boxing Day night while the children’s mother was away.

Family liaison officers are with Miss Wynter’s niece and nephew, who have been reunited with their mother.

Hertfordshire police said the children were not injured and specially-trained officers were interviewing them.

The force said it did not yet know how much the children saw or heard of what happened to their aunt, who regularly babysat as a favour to her sister.

Birthday plans

A post-mortem examination confirmed that Miss Wynter, who also went by the surname Briscoe, died as a result of stab injuries.

She lived at another address in Borehamwood and was a student at West Hertfordshire College in Watford.

Her mother called police at 08:00 GMT on Tuesday and paramedics pronounced her dead later that morning.

Police have sealed off the area around the house

Police began a murder inquiry and appealed for information, especially from anyone who was in the Beech Drive area on Boxing Day at about 17:00 GMT.

Supt Mick Hanlon said it was known that Miss Wynter was still alive at about 19:00 GMT on Boxing Day.

He said no weapon had been found but a number of searches were taking place on Wednesday night.

Police are investigating whether there were any signs of a break-in at the house where Miss Wynter was found, but said she and the children were the only people staying there on the night.

‘Bubbly personality’

Friends said Miss Wynter was planning to celebrate her 20th birthday with a visit to a Dr Who exhibition.

A neighbour in Beech Drive, Doreen Foster, 76, said: “She was a mad Dr Who fan and they were all planning to go to the exhibition.

 

Supt Mick Hanlon appeals for information

“She had been a friend of my granddaughter for 16 years and told me I was her adopted grandmother.

“She was a lovely girl. She had a bubbly personality and was never in a bad mood.”

The road was cordoned off as police searched bushes and bins for clues. Forensic officers in white suits carried out a search of the house itself.

Miss Wynter’s family released a brief statement through police which said: “Katie was a quiet girl who enjoyed life.

“She was a loving auntie to her niece and nephew, who she was looking after on Boxing Day.”

bbc