Hunt for killer after Sheffield woman is stabbed 19 times - here is everything we know

Sheffield mum Michaela Hague was stabbed to death in Sheffield 20 years ago.
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She was knifed a total of 19 times in her neck and back.

Two decades on nobody has ever been charged over the brutal attack, which happened on Bonfire Night as families across the city enjoyed firework displays.

Paul Broadbent, the detective who led the investigation into Michaela Hague's murder, at the crime scenePaul Broadbent, the detective who led the investigation into Michaela Hague's murder, at the crime scene
Paul Broadbent, the detective who led the investigation into Michaela Hague's murder, at the crime scene

Michaela, who was working as a prostitute when she was killed, was picked up by a man trawling the streets of Sheffield’s red light district.

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He picked the 25-year-old up in a car from Bower Street, off Corporation Street, in the city centre and drove her to a secluded car park nearby – opposite a pub known then as The Manchester, but which is now The Harlequin.

An old-style blue Ford Sierra was seen driving away from where Michaela’s body was discovered by another sex worker, who raised the alarm.

PC Richard Twigg was the first police officer to arrive at the crime scene and Michaela managed to pass on some valuable information about her attacker, which the police officer jotted down on his hand as he tended to her before she was rushed to the Northern General Hospital, where she died three hours later.

Michaela Hague was murdered in Sheffield in 2001Michaela Hague was murdered in Sheffield in 2001
Michaela Hague was murdered in Sheffield in 2001

The mum-of-one, of Lopham Street, Pitsmoor, told the police officer that her attacker was white, clean-shaven and wore a wedding ring.

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He was around 38 years old, 6ft tall and was wearing a blue fleece and glasses.

A police E-fit was later produced in the hope that he would be recognised but detectives have never identified the killer.

An E-fit of Michaela Hague's killer was produced by the policeAn E-fit of Michaela Hague's killer was produced by the police
An E-fit of Michaela Hague's killer was produced by the police

Appeals for information were even made on the BBC’s Crimewatch programme in case the killer was from elsewhere in the country and may have only been travelling through the city on the night of the fatal stabbing.

Michaela, who had a five-year-old son, worked as a prostitute to fund a heroin habit. She had started working on the streets just six months earlier, an inquest into her death was told.

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In a press conference held after her murder, Michaela’s heartbroken parents, Jackie and Mick Hague, who lived in Parson Cross, spoke of how their daughter was loving and from a caring family.

Mrs Hague described her as a ‘lovely, beautiful daughter’ and said her death had ripped their family apart.

PC Richard Twigg jotted down notes on his hand while talking to Michaela Hague after she was stabbedPC Richard Twigg jotted down notes on his hand while talking to Michaela Hague after she was stabbed
PC Richard Twigg jotted down notes on his hand while talking to Michaela Hague after she was stabbed
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The investigation into Michaela’s murder is one of the largest in South Yorkshire Police’s history, with thousands of people interviewed.

It also took officers across the length and breadth of the country in their efforts to track down all the owners of blue Ford Sierras in circulation at that time in the hope of tracing the killer.

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On the tenth anniversary of the murder, Michaela’s partner, Mick Holmes, urged those with information to come forward.

“There can be no bigger sin than taking a mother away from her child,” he said.

Mick also said he feared that the killer would strike again.

Paul Broadbent at a press conference organised after Michaela Hague was stabbed to death in SheffieldPaul Broadbent at a press conference organised after Michaela Hague was stabbed to death in Sheffield
Paul Broadbent at a press conference organised after Michaela Hague was stabbed to death in Sheffield

Chris Dorries, the coroner who oversaw the inquest into Michaela’s death, said at the time that he hoped advances in forensic technology would eventually snare the murderer.

Anyone with information should call South Yorkshire Police on 101.