Sex-assault theory in India death of Briton

Police in India are investigating whether a British woman was sexually assaulted before she was stabbed to death on a floating hotel.

Sarah Groves, 24, was found in a pool of blood inside her room on the house boat, on Dal Lake in Srinagar, Kashmir, on Saturday.

A Dutch national, widely named in reports as Richard De Wit, who had also been staying at the hotel, has been arrested on suspicion of her murder.

The door to Miss Groves’s room had been smashed open.

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Local police said the victim had multiple stab wounds all over her body and a knife was found next to her.

De Wit, 43, fled with only his passport, leaving behind all his belongings before he was arrested in Qazigund, a town just under 45 miles south of Srinagar.

Miss Groves spent more than a month on the houseboat while
De Wit booked into a separate room on Thursday, police said, adding that they were investigating whether the two knew each other.

Police said the victim’s body will be examined to determine whether she was sexually assaulted before being killed.

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Samir Shoda, the son of the houseboat’s owner, was helping police with their inquiries, the Sunday Telegraph reported.

He told the paper he met Miss Groves during a holiday in Goa and that he had invited her to stay at the hotel.

Mr Shoda, who said he had been out with friends at the time, added: “She was an amazing person. She understood everything; we shared our problems, everything.”

His father, GM Shoda, said he was woken by a commotion at 2.30am and sent his other son, 
Irfan, to investigate. He found Miss Groves dead.

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Tributes have been paid to Ms Groves, who was from Guernsey, on Twitter.

@Rouxelfc said: “Our world is cruel. Sarahgroves was one of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure to meet. My life has been touched at the cost of hers.”

While @SarahGuernsey3h wrote: “Truly pure innocent beautiful girl.”

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