THE police have launched a murder inquiry following the death of a 35-year-old nursery nurse in the early hours of Sunday.
Tracy Burns, who worked on the children’s Robin Ward at the General Hospital, was found lying unconscious in Paris Lane, close to the Stampers in First Tower, just before 2 am.She had been beaten about the head and died just over an hour later in the accident and emergency department, never having regained consciousness.
She was attacked just yards from her flat in Hinchcliff, Victoria Avenue.Paramedics who carried her from the scene said she had suffered severe facial injuries.
The police described the assault as a ‘physical attack’ and said that they did not believe a weapon had been used.A post mortem is due to be held tomorrow.Her next of kin have been informed and her mother is understood to be on the way from her native Newcastle.
It was left to a distraught colleague to identify her beaten body early yesterday.An 18-year-old labourer from Northern Ireland, who has been in the Island for just six weeks, was arrested at the scene and was today being questioned by murder squad detectives.Chief insp André Bonjour, who is heading the inquiry, said that the police were not looking for anyone else in relation to Miss Burns’s death.He said his officers were still trying to establish a reason for the attack, adding that robbery and a sexual motive had not been ruled out.Mr Bonjour said he was not able to say whether any of her possessions were found on the man when he was arrested.Detectives have yet to establish any connection between the 18-year-old and Miss Burns, but Mr Bonjour stressed that if the incident did turn out to be a stranger attack, such incidents were ‘very, very rare’.The police were called to Paris Lane by a member of the public who reported hearing screams and seeing a woman being assaulted between 1.30 am and 1.50 am in Paris Lane.A patrol car was at the scene within a minute and arrested the 18-year-old.
He was described as being ‘intoxicated’ when the police took him back to their Rouge Bouillon headquarters.The investigation team has established that Miss Burns had been out in St Helier with friends on Saturday night.
They had enjoyed a meal together, before visiting a number of pubs and bars.
Miss Burns is thought to have said goodbye to her friends at around 1 am.Mr Bonjour said: ‘We are aware of how the lady came to be in First Tower, how she got back to First Tower from town.
It is not clear how our suspect came to be in First Tower.
We believe he has walked from town along the Inner Road or along Victoria Avenue.
We know he was in town earlier in the evening.’Immediately after arresting the 18-year-old, the area around Paris Lane was cordoned off and forensic teams moved in to comb the area for evidence.Officers wearing white suits and face masks, so as not to contaminate potential evidence, conducted a fingertip search and men with metal detectors searched the area nearby.A cherry-picker crane was brought in to take photographs of the crime scene from above to help the police build a more comprehensive picture of the incident.House-to-house inquiries were carried out over the weekend and were continuing today.Anyone with any information should call the police on 612612 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.The suspect is described as being 5 ft 7 in tall, with short, brown, curly hair.
He was wearing blue jeans and a light khaki-coloured coat.Miss Burns is described as being 5 ft 6 in tall, with light brown, long hair.
She was wearing black trousers and a light beige coat with a fur hood.
The police are hoping to release a photograph of her later today.She is believed to have first come to Jersey 12 years ago and had a relative in the Island.Tributes have been paid to Miss Burns by her bosses at the General Hospital.Hospital manager James Le Feuvre said today that everyone was very shocked and distressed by the tragic events of the weekend.’Tracy was a lively and very popular member of the Robin Ward team.
She loved her work and was very well liked by the children and their parents, as well as colleagues.’Tracy joined the team in April last year as a nursery nurse and was a tremendous support to the nurses and medical staff.
She will be sorely missed,’ he said.Mr Le Feuvre said that hospital staff wished to convey their sincere sympathy and condolences to her family and friends.His sentiments were echoed by Health and Social Services president Senator Stuart Syvret.’The entire organisation is deeply shocked and upset by this tragic incident.
She was well known, well liked and a very popular girl,’ he said.The Senator said that he wanted to send his heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and colleagues.
He added: ‘Words are never adequate in situations like this.’
Article posted on 15th March, 2004 - 12.00am
Most Commented: