Detective’s partner on murder charge

Detective Constable Heather Cooper, a mother-of-two, died from a blow to the head and a stab wound to the throat.

Her partner, Peter Foster, a former police detective, was last night charged with her murder and is due before Worthing Magistrates Court this morning.

The body of Miss Cooper, who was originally from York, was discovered in Blackdown Woods, near Lurgashall, in West Sussex, after concerns were raised for her safety on Sunday night.

The 33-year-old joined Surrey Police eight years ago and in 2009 was given a commendation by the force in recognition of her “professionalism, dedication and commitment”.

She worked in the Public Protection Investigation Unit based at Guildford Police Station but was on maternity leave at the time of her death.

Her parents, James and Caroline Cooper, are understood to have travelled from their home in Acomb in York to identify her body.

Surrey and Sussex Assistant Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney claimed the tragedy has had “a profound effect” on Miss Cooper’s colleagues. But she paid tribute to their professionalism as many have continued to do their jobs “at a time of personal grief”.

Police cordoned off the area of National Trust woodland where Miss Cooper’s body was found while forensic officers carried out their investigations. The detached house where Miss Cooper had lived with Foster in West Street, Haslemere, in Surrey, has also been cordoned off as teams examined the property.

A Surrey Police spokesman said that detectives are hoping to trace witnesses who saw a silver BMW estate car in the area of West Street in Haslemere and Tennyson’s Lane near the Blackdown Woods car park between 11am and 11pm on Sunday.