Hunt for killer after woman murdered metres from home on Christmas Eve

Police are hunting a killer after a young woman was brutally murdered in a public park several hundred metres from her home on Christmas Eve.

A major investigation is under way after the body of Iuliana Tudos, 22, was discovered in Finsbury Park, north London, on Wednesday afternoon.

She died as a result of a stab wound to the abdomen and a head injury, a post-mortem examination found.

Ms Tudos, who police said was of Russian and Greek origin, was last been seen by friends at around 8pm on December 24 when she headed for a bus home from Camden.

She was due to meet them at a friend's home in Enfield, north-east London, later that evening before spending Christmas Day there, but never arrived.

Police said her next of kin, who are abroad, have been informed.

On Thursday, an area in the north-east corner of the park, close to a baseball pitch, was cordoned off as murder detectives investigated the scene.

Forensics officers marked out what appeared to be clothing scattered on the grass.

Ms Tudos's home in nearby Upper Tollington Park was also searched by police.

Neighbour Sebastian Jonathan said: "She was a very nice person, young and gorgeous. I met her twice when she came over for beers when we had barbecues last summer.

"The police refused to give me any information, I had to Google it to see that she was the one found in the park."

Ms Tudos, who called herself "Julie", was from Moscow and worked at the World's End pub in Camden, according to her Facebook page and neighbours.

Scotland Yard released a missing person appeal following her disappearance.

Ms Tudos, who was 5ft 1in tall with a slim build, was last seen in Camden Road. She was wearing a black and red hooded top with "Agnostic Front" - the name of an American punk band - on it, with light jeans and black and white Vans shoes.

Police said she was wearing glasses and was carrying a black and white fabric bag with "Fighting against Animal Testing" written on it.

He body was found in the park shortly before 4.30pm on Wednesday.

Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Wall, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command, is leading the investigation.

She said: "Iuliana's body was discovered in an outbuilding next to a sports pitch.

"We believe that she may have been attacked on Saturday December 24 - Christmas Eve - but we want to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious in that part of Finsbury Park over the Christmas period.

"We are still trying to piece together a timeline of events and are pursuing a number of lines of inquiry as regards to a motive."

Police said no arrests have been made.

Anyone with information is asked to call the dedicated incident room on 0208 785 8244, tweet @MetCC or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.