Cheshire: E-fit released in murder inquiry

The body of Diana Lee, 54, was discovered in her home in Byley Lane, in the village of Cranage, near Holmes Chapel, in affluent East Cheshire, at around 11am on Thursday, August 9.

Ms Lee, the owner of a luxury cattery, had died from head injuries and was found in the garage of her home by fire crews called to tackle a blaze.

Detectives investigating the murder have released an e-fit of a man in a hooded top who was seen trying to set fire to the victim’s car on the morning the body was discovered.

Police are also appealing urgently for the public’s help as they attempt to piece together the victim’s final hours.

Detectives believe the killer may have been a friend, an associate, or in some way knew Ms Lee as there was no sign of forced entry at her house.

They also think that the killer is likely to have knowledge of the Cranage, Holmes Chapel and Mobberley areas and most likely will have been acting differently since the morning of Thursday, August 9.

On the evening before she was found dead, Ms Lee had joined friends for dinner in Knutsford.

Friends described her as being happy and sociable during the evening and raised no concerns about her.

The investigation so far has established that she left the restaurant at around 10.15pm and her car, a Silver Corsa registration number SA59NOU, was then recorded on a traffic monitoring camera at 10.35pm.

Detective Superintendent Martin Cleworth, of Cheshire Police, said: “What is of interest to us is that Diana was in fact heading away from her home, north out of Knutsford after she left the restaurant.

“Some 42 minutes later at 11.17pm, Diana was heading back towards her home address in Cranage, south on the A50.

“We consider Diana’s final movements as significant - we do not know where she went between these times or who she may have met.

“I would ask anyone who knows Diana, or indeed anyone who may have knowledge of her movements that evening, to contact us as a priority.”

On the morning of Thursday August 9 it is believed the victim’s car was at her home address until around 10am when it was seen leaving and heading down Byley Lane in the direction of Middlewich.

Around 10.30am her car was seen again in Smith Lane, Mobberley, where a man was trying to set it alight.

After being disturbed by a witness he rode off on a blue women’s bicycle that is believed belonged to the victim.

He abandoned the bike in Pepper Street some 600 yards away and then left the area on foot across the fields.

Police have now have released an e-fit of this man.

Detectives have also been keen to reiterate that they have ways to forensically eliminate people from this investigation.

It is understood that Ms Lee operated the popular Parklands Cattery, where cats were accommodated in a lap of luxury, with separate rooms and their own television and stereos.

A 48-year-old man, from Hale in Manchester, was arrested on suspicion of murder.

He has since been released on police bail pending further investigations.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Cheshire Police on 101 quoting Operation Springfield or alternatively Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.