IT has been almost six months since Essex University student Nahid Al-Manea was murdered.

The 31-year-old, who was living in Woodrow Way with her brother, was stabbed 16 times and killed on the Salary Brook Trail, Colchester, on June 17.

The student, from Saudi Arabia, arrived in the country to study in January.

The murder investigation is being run separately, but parallel to the investigation into the murder of James Attfield.

Det Chief Insp Mark Hall, who is leading the investigation, said new lines of inquiry were being set up after a major CCTV appeal identified dozens of potential witnesses.

Detectives have spoken to 43 of 88 people whose pictures were released by police.

All the pictures showed people near the Salary Brook Trail around the time of the murder.

Mr Hall said: “We continue to try to contact the other 45.

“Some have provided information leading to other inquiries.

“Names have been given to us and there are individuals we will be taking a look at.”

Mr Hall is keen to speak to other witnesses.

He said: “It is an ongoing piece of work. Nahid came to study and live in Colchester and led a quiet life. She kept herself to herself and was focused on her studies.

“She did not, to any significant extent, engage in other university social activities.

“It has been difficult to build up a picture. There were not many people who knew her, or were close to her.”

Ms Al-Manea was chaperoned by her brother while she was in England, but he was at the university at the time she was killed.

Detectives are still keen to speak to a man in the area wearing a distinctive jacket who has yet to come forward.

Mr Hall said: “I am keeping an open mind about the man. He may be a witness, hemay be more than that.”

The man was not caught on CCTV – the camera nearest to the murder scene had been broken two years earlier and not replaced.

He was walking near the footpath near the underpass on the A133 side of the trail and is thought to have been wearing a very distinctive beige Italian designer jacket, like the one pictured, which is described as being slightly longer than waist-length, with brown buttons up the front, a belt which may or may not have had a buckle and two pockets with buttons.

Detectives now believe Ms Al-Manea was killed close to 10.25am and Mr Hall is confident someone saw the killer.

He said: “The Salary Brook Trail is well used and there would have been people in the area.

“It is almost inconceivable nobody saw the killer, or killers.”

Mr Hall said about 1,300 statements had been taken, about 950 potential witnesses spoken to and 4,546 exhibits seized.

Mr Hall said he and his colleagues’ thoughts remained with Ms Al-Manea’s family adding: “The family need to know who and why. There must be a degree of frustration for the family and community, but we have to remain focused on our objective.

“We remain determined. We still have significant resources dedicated to the investigation and we have further resources available if and when aspects develop.”

A criminal profiler has been employed and work has also been carried out with the National Crime Agency to look for links with other crimes or criminals.

Mr Hall said: “There is no clear motive. If it was a stranger attack, I realise the concerns locally it could happen again.

“However, we remain confident.

There is work ongoing and there are still lots of inquiries we are following.”

Anyone with information about either murder can call 01245 282103, or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.