Schoolgirl Stacey Lawrence murder still haunts West Bromwich a year later

Aug 31 2010 by Chris Henwood, Birmingham Mail

THE murder of Midland schoolgirl Stacey Lawrence strangled by her mother’s fiancé still haunts the community where she lived – a year after her death.

Nine-year-old Stacey’s body was found in the cab of a white Spar lorry parked in a lay-by on August 29 last year.

The youngster, from West Bromwich, had been on a delivery run with 40-year-old Darren Walker, who she called dad.

Walker’s body was found hanging from a tree in nearby woodland in Warmington, Northants, with the same strip of cord he had used to kill Stacey round his neck.

A year on, one of Stacey’s neighbours has revealed the community’s anguish at the schoolgirl’s death remains as strong as ever and he said that it was believed her mum has since moved away.

The neighbour on Bagnall Street, who does not wish to be named, said: “It was a shocking thing, I remember everyone talking about it.