More time to question man on killing in Horfield

POLICE have been given more time to question a man arrested in connection with the killing of a woman in a Horfield street.

Barach Bandavad, 35, was detained in the early hours of Sunday morning after an overnight search and appeal to the public for help in finding him.

Detectives were last night given an extra 36 hours to question him over the death of a woman in her 50s.

The woman was stabbed on Highbury Road just before midday on Saturday and died shortly afterwards.

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Police are trying to find a knife used in the incident and are calling on anyone who has seen one dumped or hidden to come forward. They have also appealed for anyone who knows where Mr Bandavad was between midday on Saturday and 1am on Sunday to contact them.

People in the area have spoken of their shock following the incident, which took place in a quiet residential area.

Rob Pickard, 33, who lives a few yards away from where the incident took place, told the Post he was unable to get in to his house for 24 hours after the police cordon was put up.

"Police had the whole road closed and I couldn't get back in until the following morning," he said. "We were relieved when the cordon was lifted but everyone has been in shock really. We never thought anything like this could happen here."

Further down the street, a paramedic who has lived on Highbury Road with his family for eight years said that neighbours had been shaken by the incident.

The man, who asked not to be named, said: "A few of the elderly neighbours were quite visibly disturbed at what went on.

"It's really a sad and tragic thing to happen on this street. It's normally such a nice and quiet place, with friendly people all looking after each other. We can't believe it."

Police have confirmed that the victim was not a resident of Highbury Road but her identity had yet to be revealed last night.

Residents and neighbours say they believe the arrested man lived at the property which overlooks the pavement where the woman died.

A pensioner who lives opposite said that the Victorian terraced house was rented by short-term tenants.

The woman, who asked not to be named, said: "There are people moving in and out of there all the time. Not many people on the street know who they are.

"The police have been extremely efficient in doing their job and the place seems back to normal now."

Police helicopters were immediately deployed after the woman's death in an attempt to track down her killer.

Mr Bandavad was arrested in Southmead.

Gemma Stone, 30, who lives on Southmead Road, said: "When we heard a man had been arrested in the area we were knocked back a bit."