Model murder suspect's mother quizzed

A policewoman who is the mother of the man accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend Amy Leigh Barnes is being quizzed by police.

Police sources said the 49-year-old woman, an officer with West Midlands Police, was detained on Wednesday.

Her son, Ricardo Morrison, 21, has appeared in court charged with Miss Barnes' murder.

The 19-year-old part-time model and actress was stabbed to death on Saturday at her home in Bolton, Greater Manchester.

Morrison, an amateur footballer and aspiring professional, was remanded in custody when he appeared at Bolton Magistrates Court.

Hours later, the case took a dramatic twist when police sources confirmed his mother had been arrested.

Greater Manchester Police said the woman was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and is being questioned by officers.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "We can confirm that the woman is a serving police officer in the West Midlands."

Morrison, originally from Birmingham but currently of no fixed address, nodded when asked to confirm his name and date of birth during the brief hearing.

Jan Azakli, chairman of the bench, told the defendant: "This case is going to be adjourned until November 19 at Manchester Crown Court."

Miss Barnes was taken to hospital with stab wounds after police were called to her home on Saturday morning. She died in hospital hours later.

Morrison was arrested on Saturday night in the West Midlands and taken to Manchester by police.

Miss Barnes had modelled for Cosmopolitan and Nuts magazines and had appeared in Channel 4 teen soap Hollyoaks.

A number of her friends and professional footballers, including Premier League striker Benni McCarthy, have spoken of their devastation at the teenager's death.

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