Serial killer alert
Detectives investigating the frenzied murder of care worker Corinne Bailey are examining reports of other attacks on women amid fears they are hunting a potential serial killer.
Miss Bailey, 38, a divorced mother of two, was attacked 200 yards from where another woman, a prostitute, was nearly throttled to death on the same night.
Police believe she was the victim of an attacker who "went out to kill someone".
Miss Bailey died from multiple injuries to her head and neck in an attack described as "random, frenzied and vicious". It happened as she returned from an all-night store in Croydon just after 4am on Saturday. She was dragged into an alley and beaten to death, her body left near a car.
Police are linking the murder to a nearby attack on a 26-year-old prostitute two hours earlier.
The woman was assaulted by a man looking for sex. After a dispute about payment he grabbed her around the throat and strangled her until she lost consciousnessfor a few moments. When she came round the man was still there and she started screaming, alerting two young men who chased off the attacker.
Police believe the assailant may have become angry and attacked Miss Bailey at random, perhaps in the mistaken belief that she was a prostitute.
Detective Chief Inspector Gary Richardson said he would be examining possible links to other attacks across London, including an attack on a woman in the area last December.
He said: "So far there are no obvious similarities with other attacks. This was a unique attack in terms of its severity and we will be able to tell pretty quickly if it is linked. It certainly looks as if he was out to kill somebody that night. We are warning women to be on their guard."
The man was described by the first victim as white, aged 26-27 and 6ft tall, of slim build, cleanshaven and with short fair hair.
Miss Bailey, who was born in the Caribbean, lived with her boyfriend of a year in Campbell Road. Anyone with information should call 020 8247 8223 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
