Victoria Park murder: Reward over Margaret Muller death

Margaret Muller was studying at the Slade School of Art in London

A reward of £20,000 has been offered to find the murderer of a jogger who was stabbed to death in a park in east London exactly eight years ago.

Margaret Muller, a 27-year-old American artist who lived in Hackney, could have been the victim of a failed robbery attempt in Victoria Park, police said.

Her killer may have used the Queen's Gate entrance of the park on the morning of 3 February 2003, they added.

There have been seven arrests over her death but no charges have been brought.

The money is being put forward by the Metropolitan Police for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the attacker.

Miss Muller had travelled from the United States to study at the Slade School of Art, part of University College London. She was buried in Falls Church, Virginia.

She was "a talented young woman with a bright and exciting future ahead of her," said Det Ch Insp Nicola Wall, who is heading the Metropolitan Police's investigation.

"That was all taken away when she was brutally struck down in Victoria Park eight years ago.

"Officers have worked tirelessly on this case and have managed to sift through literally hundreds of pieces of information and leads.

"Despite the tremendous support from the local community, we know that some people still hold vital information about Margaret's murder.

"Together with information already gathered they could help us achieve justice for Margaret and her family and friends."

Police have asked anyone who was in Victoria Park on the morning of the killing to come forward if they have not already done so.

Any suspicious activity around the Queen's Gate entrance or on the nearby Gascoyne Estate, particularly a person sprinting away, was of interest, they added.