Libby Squire: Inquest Into Death Of Hull University Student Opens

The 21-year-old's body was found in the Humber Estuary last week.
An inquest into the death of Libby Squire was opened on Monday
An inquest into the death of Libby Squire was opened on Monday
PA

An inquest into the death of Hull University student Libby Squire was opened and adjourned on Monday.

A statement by an identification expert read out to the coroner confirmed that Squire was identified by her fingerprints.

Detective Superintendent Martin Smalley told the inquest at Hull Coroner’s Court that forensic investigations are ongoing and the body could not be released at this stage.

She had been missing since the early hours of Friday 1 February following a night out in Hull, and her disappearance sparked an intensive search.

On Saturday, Squire’s mother described her family’s heartache at the loss of her “darling” daughter. In an emotional tribute, Lisa Squire affectionately referred to her daughter as “Pie” and said she had lost “one of the four most precious things in my life”.

Writing on Facebook, she said: “I cannot thank you enough my darling Pie for making me a mummy.

“For choosing me to be your mummy. It’s an honour, a privilege and a joy.

“I kept you safe for as long as I could and I am so sorry I could not keep you safe on that night. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”

Mrs Squire said her lowest point was having to inform her daughter’s boyfriend of her death.

In a statement issued on Friday, Smalley said: “While we have considered throughout the missing person inquiry that Libby may have come to some harm, Libby’s death and the recovery of her body now leads us to solely investigate as a potential homicide.”

The detective said a post-mortem examination had taken place but officers would not be releasing any results “for investigative and operational reasons”.

He said: “We have to protect the integrity of the investigation, which is live and very much active and ongoing, with one man who remains under investigation.”

Squire, who has been described as a popular student and studied philosophy at Hull University, vanished after going out with friends on 31 January.

She was dropped off in a taxi near her home in Wellesley Avenue at 11.29pm and was seen on a bench near Beverley Road around 10 minutes later.

Squire is believed to have remained in this area until 12.09am the following day, 1 February, but was not seen alive after that.

Her disappearance prompted a huge search effort involving more than 100 officers and a team of volunteers.

During the investigation into the disappearance, 24-year-old Pawel Relowicz, of Raglan Street, Hull, was arrested on suspicion of abduction.

He has been remanded in custody, having appeared in court on unrelated charges of burglary, voyeurism, outraging public decency and receiving stolen goods.

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