Woman killed in handbag chase is identified
The woman who died after being run over by a pair of handbag thieves has been named as Liz Sherlock.
A murder hunt has been launched after the 42-year-old, from Chiswick, west London, chased the thieves and was run over by their getaway car.
The woman, whose handbag was snatched at London's Euston station, died in an operating theatre at the Royal London Hospital.
She had clung to the bonnet of the car before slipping under its wheels and being run over. Passers-by outside the station watched in horror as the victim hung on for about half a minute as the robbers swung the car around trying to shake her off.
Mrs Sherlock, 42, a freelance costume designer, and her husband were on their way to visit relatives in Lancashire when the incident took place.
A post-mortem is being carried out.
Detective Inspector Martin Lee said the circumstances leading up to the woman's death were a little sketchy.
He added: "It may have been that she attempted to stop the vehicle or she may have been inadvertently caught in the road. The vehicle drove off without stopping and it was later found abandoned in Endsleigh Street, which is just south of Euston Road."
He added: "At present no arrests have been made but we are appealing for information from anyone who saw the event or saw the vehicle being abandoned."
The victim's ordeal began when she was in a coffee shop on the station concourse.
Scotland Yard said the two thieves suddenly grabbed her handbag. She gave chase as the pair ran out into nearby Eversholt Street and leaped into a white Ford Fiesta saloon car. Stunned passers-by looked on as the woman was run down.
Detectives are searching the area around the station for the suspects, who it is understood are known to the police.
