Detectives hunting the killer of Maria Carter have renewed appeals for information about her last return train journey to Bradford.

The appeal follows new witness sightings of the 34-year-old, who was found stabbed to death at her London home on January 18.

She was murdered just days before she was due to announce her engagement to her Bradford boyfriend.

Detectives retraced her last train journey from Bradford to London last month, and posters appealing for information have been put up at Bradford Interchange.

As a result, a witness has now positively identified Maria as being a passenger on the 8.40pm Kings Cross to Leeds train on January 14 and described a man she was talking to.

Detective Chief Inspector Phil Kent said the witness saw her sitting at a table in the only smoking carriage at the rear of the train.

Throughout the journey she talked to a white male, in his late 20s, approximately 6ft tall and of slim build. He had short, straight brown hair, was unshaven, and wore a blue baseball cap and blue jeans. He was carrying a dark rucksack.

The witness said that during the conversation he mentioned owning a dog and was met at Leeds station by his girlfriend, who was driving a dark, possibly blue, Escort car. He said he was visiting his girlfriend and returning to London after the weekend.

Maria spent the weekend with her boyfriend in Bradford before catching the 11.05am GNER service from Leeds to Kings Cross on Monday, January 17. Detectives believe she talked for some time to a man during the journey. The following morning she was found stabbed to death.

DCI Kent, of the Metropolitan Police South East area major investigation squad, said: "We are very anxious to speak to this man and would ask him to come forward so we can eliminate him from our inquiries."

Two officers from the Metropolitan Police have already visited Bradford to carry out inquiries. Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 0171 230 1733.

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