Bicester death: Father's tribute to “uniquely beautiful” daughter found dead

18 May 2013, By Vicky Smith, http://www.mirror.co.uk

As officers combed the house and garden for clues, police made an urgent plea for her mother to return

A mum who flew to Africa hours before her toddler daughter was found dead was last night being hunted by police.

My joy: Dad's photo of little Sarah Dahane

The body of Sarah Dahane, 20 months, was discovered at home after a worried relative alerted police.
Yesterday, as officers combed the house and garden for clues, police made an urgent plea for her mother, named locally as Angela Whitworth, to return.

Det Chief Insp Ian Hunter said: “It would appear she left during Wednesday evening and travelled to Kenya.

Grief: Nabil Dahane lays flowers for his daughter Sarah

“Her exact whereabouts are unknown and we are working with other authorities to establish her location. We urgently wish to speak to her.”

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Last night Sarah’s dad, Nabil Dahane, 33, laid flowers at the house in Bicester, Oxon, where the body of his “uniquely beautiful” daughter was found on Thursday morning.
His new partner, Nicki Playford, 49, lives across the road.

Tragic: Message left for little Sarah

In a moving tribute, the grieving dad, of Banbury, Oxon, wrote: “You have meant the world to me.
“The time spent with you, though it has been cut very short, was an absolute joy and the sweet memories will stay with me for as long as I live.”
Mr Dahane also released a photograph of his smiling daughter.
Other pictures on his Facebook profile show her playing in the park last month.

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The cause of death remained unknown yesterday despite a postmortem. Further tests are taking place.
Mr Dahane has been separated from Sarah’s mum, who is believed to be in her 30s or 40s, for some time.
Oxfordshire County Council said they had “a limited involvement” with the family but not in recent months.
Police commander Supt Colin Paine said: “Incidents such as these are very sad but isolated and rare.”