Teenage girl's death starts murder inquiry

The victim, named at the scene as 16-year-old Jessie Wright, was discovered in King's Cross, north London. Her body was found by local authority workmen in a rarely-used alleyway off Outram Place.

Police said it was not clear how she died. She was not stabbed or shot. A post-mortem examination was due to take place yesterday.

The teenager was found beside a block of flats and scaffolding and police are examining if she fell.

Murder squad detectives were questioning a 19-year-old man at a north London police station.

His relationship to the victim is not known, but several people at the scene said he was the teenager's boyfriend.

Police declined to comment on reports that the girl's body was found partially clothed.

Tearful groups of friends, some dressed in school uniform, laid bouquets inside a police cordon yesterday. Two older women, believed to be relatives of the victim, were comforted by plain-clothes police officers.

One woman, who was overcome with emotion, said: "She was the most beautiful girl you would ever see in the whole world."

One teenage girl said Jessie was a former pupil at Maria Fidelis Catholic School for Girls in north London.

Speaking at the scene, she said: "She was beautiful. She was a very kind and outspoken person, a bubbly girl.

"She had a heart of gold and was always happy. She would have put up a fight – I cannot believe we are talking about this. I have known her since we were about 12."

One middle-aged woman, who lives in a flat near the scene, said she saw an ambulance arrive in Outram Place at about 3.50pm on Thursday.

Police crime scene spotlights could be seen at the end of the alleyway, a short distance from the disused York Road Tube station.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "An investigation has been launched by the Homicide and Serious Crime Command under Detective Chief Inspector John Macdonald.

"We retain an open mind at this early stage about the circumstances of the death."