Manhunt after taxi killing of young woman in Birmingham

Police cordon seals in Northfield residents after stabbing by fellow passenger who ran off









http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/aug/07/birmingham-taxi-fatal-stabbing-manhunt[/*][/list]
Forensic officers at the scene in
Northfield, Birmingham, where a woman was stabbed to death in a taxi.




Police are searching for a man who fled the scene after the fatal stabbing of a young woman in a taxi in Northfield, Birmingham on Tuesday morning.

The
victim, believed to be a 22-year-old from the local area, died after
receiving multiple stab wounds from her fellow passenger. It is thought
the pair were in a relationship.West Midlands police received a
999 call at 8am from the driver of the Peugeot taxi after the incident
at the junction of Dimsdale Road and Hoggs Lane, in a residential area.
Despite the efforts of the first officers and paramedics to reach the
scene, the woman died.Matthew Connelly said he saw paramedics
trying to revive the stabbed woman for about 30 minutes. He said: "I
looked out of my window, the police were on the scene and paramedics;
the taxi driver looked really shook up, he was chain smoking the whole
time."The West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "The woman was in
traumatic cardiac arrest with multiple stab wounds. Emergency treatment
was immediately carried out including specialist advanced life support
techniques. Unfortunately … nothing could be done to save the woman and
she was confirmed dead at the scene."Det Chief Inspector Wayne
Jones said: "Officers have sealed off the scene of this incident, and
are making significant enquiries in the local area as we search for the
man who ran from the scene."We believe that the victim and the
suspect are known to one another and one line of inquiry is that this
incident is domestic-related. The suspect we are searching for is
described as a mixed-race Asian man, around 5ft 8in tall, in his 20s,
with short black hair. He was wearing a dark jacket."We urge anyone who witnessed the incident or who has seen this man, to come forward and contact police."

A
half-mile police cordon has been erected around the scene in Northfield
as officers carry out a fingertip search of the area. Jennifer
Pickering, 37, who lives on nearby Dimsdale Road, said: "We feel like
prisoners in our own home … we certainly won't be leaving the house
until this man is caught."Bradley Swankins, 26, who lives on the
next street, said: "People are terrified, my aunt has locked herself in
her house and won't come out."Superintendent Andy Shipman, from Birmingham South police, said: "Violent crime
is very rare in south Birmingham and we hope local people can be
reassured that this is being treated as an isolated incident between two
people, at this stage of the investigation."It was later
reported that the couple were travelling in a taxi owned by cab firm
24/7 Radio Cars in Northfield. A taxi driver said: "The woman was young
and lived locally. She was a regular customer of 24/7 Radio Cars."Anyone
with information should call Force CID in Birmingham by dialling 101 or
speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.