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Weekly UpdatesA NINE-YEAR-OLD girl who was found strangled in her mother's boyfriend''s lorry might have been sexually assaulted, police said today. Stacey Lawrence was found dead on Saturday in the cab of a white Spar lorry, which was parked at the side of the A605 in Warmington, Northamptonshire.
Her mother's partner Darren Walker, 40, is believed to have murdered Stacey then hanged himself from a tree in nearby woodland.
Detective Chief Inspector Tricia Kirk, of Northamptonshire Police, said today that police could not rule out that there was some sexual touching involved in the incident that led to her death.
Speaking at a press conference at Northamptonshire Police headquarters, Ms Kirk said a physical examination showed signs of a possible sexual assault.
"We cannot rule out now that there was some sexual touching involved in this incident," she said.
She said Stacey was the youngest of four children, described by her mother as a very popular girl at school, artistic with a lively imagination.
She said she loved animals and hoped one day to become a zoo keeper.
Ms Kirk also revealed Walker, 40, the boyfriend of Stacey's mother Roxanne, had a history of a domestic incident involving his wife of three years who he was currently in the process of divorcing.
She said: "He was cautioned for that offence and we have no other criminal records for him."
She said the incident involved an assault on his wife in 2006.
Ms Kirk told the press conference they were making inquiries, with help from West Midlands Police, to find other previous partners of Walker. Ms Kirk said there was a possibility that Stacey suffered some form of sexual touching and was then strangled.
But she said there was no further sexual assault on the schoolgirl.
She said detectives were trying to piece together what happened in the run-up to the killing.
Walker and Stacey were thought to have arrived at the lay-by in Warmington just after 3.35pm on Friday after making deliveries to Spar stores across Norfolk.
She said the pair were spotted leaving the lorry to use a toilet at the services.
They ate a meal of macaroni cheese and Stacey's mother Roxanne last heard from Walker some time between 7.30pm and 8pm that night.
Ms Kirk said Stacey was strangled using a ligature of black fabric. The same sort of fabric was also used by Walker, who was found hanging from a tree in nearby woodland, to kill himself.
She said it was still unclear exactly what the fabric was and forensic tests are continuing.
Speaking to a national newspaper, Stacey's mother Roxanne said her life had been ruined.
She said: "Stacey was a really happy little girl and was very popular, with lots of friends.
"I just can't believe she is gone. It shocked all of us because he was such a lovely family guy.
"We never dreamed he would do anything like that."
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DEAD: Darren Walker is believed to have killed Stacey Lawrence
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