Friends of a murdered Bristol prostitute say she may have known her attacker.
Nadine Hillier, 25, was found dead in a lake in Eastville Park on Tuesday. The park has been closed while detectives and divers have been searching for evidence. It re-opened on Saturday.
The mother-of-two died of internal injuries, after what police say was 'a terrible beating'. Police have also appealed for men who cruise the park for sex with other men to come forward. One woman, who preferred to remain anonymous, told the BBC: 'She was quite a good friend and would not have gone that far into the park unless she was with someone she trusted.
We are sure that somebody heard or saw something and may have seen the murderer in the park. She added: 'Maybe she was dragged in at knifepoint.'
A second woman said: 'Nobody would really go that far into the park.'
On Friday, Detective Chief Inspector Steve Tunks launched a fresh appeal for witnesses. 'We know that men often go to Eastville Park to meet other men for sex, and we believe they could be vital witnesses to this brutal murder.
'They may have been in the park at the crucial time and could have seen either Nadine or her murderer either entering the woods or leaving. 'Obviously, we would like to hear from them. We are sure that somebody heard or saw something and may have seen the murderer in the park.'
A phone-line has been set-up with the help of Tim Darch, from the Terence Higgins Trust, for people who may be reluctant to speak to the police. All calls are confidential and callers can remain anonymous.
On Thursday, it emerged that Miss Hillier survived an attack three years ago in which her throat was cut and she was partly strangled. Her attacker was caught and jailed for six years.
The local community has called for more wardens to patrol the area. Avril Horton, a warden in Eastville, said the team was currently understaffed. 'We don't patrol the park itself, just the surrounding streets. 'And we have no real power: all we can do is observe and report. 'Hopefully, though, we do reduce the fear of crime and deter wrongdoing.'
Miss Hillier is described as white, 5 ft 4 ins tall, of small build, with shoulder length dark brown hair. On the night of her murder, she was wearing a black, three-quarter length shiny jacket, white vest top, black ankle boots, a gold necklace, a silver rope bracelet on her left wrist, a silver stud in her right ear and a red stud in her left ear. The park is also used by walkers and dog-owners and police are urging them to come forward.
A man has been jailed for life after pleading guilty to the murder of a prostitute in Bristol
Albert Webb, 38, from Paulton near Bath killed mother-of-two Nadine Hillier in October 2003 and dumped her body in a lake in Eastville Park.
The judge at Bristol Crown Court recommended that Webb serve a minimum of 19 years in Jail. At the time police said Nadine had died from internal injuries after a 'terrible beating'.
Judge David Steel said: 'You've admitted murdering a 25-year-old girl after having had sex with her. She was found floating naked in a lake. 'This was a prolonged and malicious attack consistent with your callous view of human life. 'This attack on a vulnerable young girl had sadistic and sexual overtones.' Prosecutor Ian Glenn said: 'The death of Nadine Hillier was due to multiple blunt force injuries.
'These included severe internal injuries consistent with being stamped and jumped on.' The court was told Webb had a long list of previous convictions, including indecently assaulting a prostitute in Bristol in October 1997.
Ian Pringle, defending, told the Bristol Crown Court that Webb had no recollection of killing Nadine. He said: 'Mr Webb remembers having paid money and going to the park and beginning to have sexual intercourse with her.
'From that point on, his memory goes blank. His next memory is sitting by her body realising he had killed her.'
Her mother, Tina, said after her death that Nadine's life as a prostitute was down to an addiction to drugs. 'The last four years of her life were ruined by drugs and this caused her to work the streets. 'She wasn't just a prostitute or street worker, she was a loving daughter and mother of two beautiful girls.'
Nadine suffered another violent attack in 2000 while working as a prostitute.
Her throat was cut and she was part-strangled during an attack in a Bristol car park. Her attacker was caught and jailed for six years.
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