Police sources tell Sky News that a Dutch man they have been questioning
over the murder of a British woman has now confessed. Sarah Groves, 24, was found in a pool of blood inside the houseboat she had been living on for up to two months on the Dal Lake in Srinagar, Kashmir.
Officers have named the suspect as Richard de Wit, 43, and said he claimed to have been under the influence of drugs. He had been staying on a neighbouring boat. When he was arrested 60 miles away he was carrying only his passport and was not wearing shoes.
Local police said Miss Groves, from Guernsey, had been stabbed at least 25 times with what was described as a "mountain knife". The door to her room had also been forced open. Her body is being sent for medical examination to determine whether she was sexually assaulted before being killed.
Deputy General Inspector Ahafadul Mujtaba told Sky News: "He has told us he killed the girl - we don't know why. He also says he had taken drugs, cannabis. "We have taken his blood samples and have sent them away for testing. We have also not ruled out a sexual motive but there was no direct evidence at the scene. We are awaiting medical results."
Under Indian law a confession to a police officer is not admissible in a court of law. The police say de Wit will be held in custody for the next 14 days whilst they continue to gather evidence.
over the murder of a British woman has now confessed. Sarah Groves, 24, was found in a pool of blood inside the houseboat she had been living on for up to two months on the Dal Lake in Srinagar, Kashmir.
Officers have named the suspect as Richard de Wit, 43, and said he claimed to have been under the influence of drugs. He had been staying on a neighbouring boat. When he was arrested 60 miles away he was carrying only his passport and was not wearing shoes.
Local police said Miss Groves, from Guernsey, had been stabbed at least 25 times with what was described as a "mountain knife". The door to her room had also been forced open. Her body is being sent for medical examination to determine whether she was sexually assaulted before being killed.
Deputy General Inspector Ahafadul Mujtaba told Sky News: "He has told us he killed the girl - we don't know why. He also says he had taken drugs, cannabis. "We have taken his blood samples and have sent them away for testing. We have also not ruled out a sexual motive but there was no direct evidence at the scene. We are awaiting medical results."
Under Indian law a confession to a police officer is not admissible in a court of law. The police say de Wit will be held in custody for the next 14 days whilst they continue to gather evidence.
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