Second man held in connection with murder of nurse
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Detectives investigating the murder of a nurse stabbed to death outside an Essex hospital arrested an 18-year-old man yesterday.
Cheryl Moss, 33, was killed during what police described as a "frenzied attack" in the grounds of St George's Hospital in Hornchurch on Thursday after she had stepped outside for a cigarette.
Mrs Moss had worked on the hospital's geriatric ward for more than a decade and was a popular and respected member of staff.
She had gone out for a break in a park behind the hospital when she was repeatedly stabbed. Her body was discovered at about 11am and an ambulance was called but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Yesterday, Scotland Yard confirmed officers had arrested an 18-year-old man in connection with the attack.
The arrest followed the discovery of a blue bag in a road close to St George's Hospital in Hornchurch, Essex. It is the second arrest in connection with her death. The man is being held at a north London police station.
Since the attack, security has been stepped up at the hospital to reassure staff, who are deeply shocked by the killing.
Ralph McCormack, head of Havering Primary Care Trust, paid tribute to Mrs Moss, and said his thoughts were with her family, who have been too distressed to speak publicly.
He said: "Cheryl dedicated herself to the support and care of others. She's been working in health services support for the last 17 years.
"She was very well respected and liked and known by her colleagues and had a great deal of admiration and respect from them. Clearly her loss will be a grave one."