Jennifer Dornan murder: Victim 'stabbed before home set on fire'

Jennifer Dornan, 30, was found dead in her home on Sunday morning

Belfast murder victim Jennifer Dornan was stabbed before her house was set on fire, police have said.

Detectives revealed new details about the mother-of-three's death at her home in west Belfast at the weekend, as they appealed for help to catch her killer.

They have released a photograph of a knife, similar to one that they believe was used to attack her.

The 30-year-old's body was found following the fire at her home at Hazel View, Lagmore, on Sunday, 2 August.

The following evening, police announced they were treating her death as murder, saying they believed that she may have been killed before the fire.

'Distinctive knife'

In a fresh appeal on Thursday, the officer leading the investigation, Det Supt Kevin Geddes, said: "I can confirm that Jennifer was stabbed during the attack early on Sunday morning.

"We are appealing to anyone who has come across a knife like this since Sunday to contact us."

The knife is almost 14 inches long and has distinctive orange and white markings.

Police released a photograph of a knife, similar to one that they believe was used to attack Ms Dornan

A 39-year-old man, who was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of withholding information about the murder, has been released pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service.

Mr Geddes said detectives were "following a definite line of inquiry".

Clothing change

He added: "We are particularly interested in the movements and whereabouts of a man seen leaving Jennifer's home at 4.20am on Sunday.

"We believe he walked from Hazel View, through Lagmore to Poleglass. We believe he was wearing a grey T-shirt or sweat top and a light-coloured bomber jacket.

"At some stage, we believe he got rid of the grey top and light-coloured jacket and obtained a red and gold sports jersey.

"We are appealing to anyone who lives on the route between Hazel View and Poleglass and who has knowledge of any of these items of clothing or the knife to contact us."

Mr Geddes also thanked the local community for their support and "the enormous amount of assistance" they have provided to police investigating the murder.

Forensic investigators examined the murder scene in Hazel View two days after Ms Dornan's body was found