Woman found murdered went to college in Shropshire
A woman whose body was found at a flat was a former student in Shrewsbury, it has been revealed.
Christina Abbotts, 29, was found dead on Friday after failing to turn up for her own birthday celebrations in London.
The IT worker’s body was found on the bed of a flat in Crawley, Sussex, which she had been house-sitting for a friend who had gone travelling.
Christina, who wanted to be an estate agent, had studied at Shrewsbury Sixth Form College as a teenager and still had friends in Shropshire.
Her links to the county continued after her family moved to Stourbridge and two years ago she attended the Wheatland Hunt ball.
The preliminary cause of death from a post-mortem examination was blunt force trauma to the head, Sussex Police said.
A man has appeared in court charged with her murder.
Zahid Naseem, 47, of Elm Close, in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, appeared at Hove Crown Court, on Wednesday where the date for a trial was set for December 10.
He had been arrested at the flat on Friday night and police believe he was known to Christina.
The businessman is due back in court on July 16 to enter a plea but it is thought he will plead not guilty.
Following her death, Christina’s family paid tribute to their “sweet and loving” daughter.
They said of Christina, who studied in Cirencester and Oxford: “This independent lady, a much travelled person, was taken from us far too early. Her friends in London and parts of the UK will also be grieving.
“The light in our life is now extinguished. Love forever from our family.”
Detective Chief Inspector Emma Heater from Sussex Police said: “We are supporting Christina’s family and they have asked for privacy at this time. We are keen to hear from anyone who can help.”
