A man, believed to be the partner of the woman shot dead on Valentines day, is said to have left the scene with police confident he later entered the River Thames in Kent near the Queen Elizabeth Bridge
The body of a man suspected of shooting his wife dead on Valentine’s Day has been seen in the Thames, police said.
Lisa Smith, 43, from Slough, was killed in Knockholt near The Three Horseshoes pub just after 7pm on Friday, Kent Police said. The force believes the man, named as Edvard Stockings or Smith, fell from the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge which crosses the Thames at Dartford 17 miles away.
A car containing a handgun was found abandoned on the bridge and a man was seen on the wrong side of the barrier, but his body has yet to be found.
DCI David Higham told KentOnline the force has “good, reliable witness evidence” from motorists over the Dartford Crossing and CCTV that the suspect entered the water from the bridge.
He also revealed there had been a sighting of a body on Saturday – but it could not be recovered as it “became submerged again”. DCI Higham said: “It gives me total confidence the suspect has fallen into the river. We had a very large search parameter under the Dartford Crossing.
“At around midday on Saturday, we did have a sighting of a body. Unfortunately, we were unable to recover it before it became submerged again but I am confident from the description that it is the suspect for our offence.”
DCI Higham previously said: “We have carried out a full and extensive investigation into Lisa’s tragic murder and our inquiries have concluded that the suspect is believed to have died after falling into the River Thames.
“Multiple searches of several areas of the river have since been assisted by the Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade and Coastguard, but at this stage we have not recovered a body.
“These searches are ongoing and whilst our investigation will continue, we will be preparing our findings and reports to assist the coroner. This murder has led to the senseless loss of a beloved daughter and mother and our thoughts remain with Lisa’s family.’
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