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A woman's body, dismembered into parts and wrapped in a white plastic bag in a black bin liner, has left the police puzzled.

Paula Fields, whose head, hands and feet were missing, was found in Regent's Canal, between Royal College Street and St Pancras Way in several holdalls on 19 February 2001.

DCI Howard Groves said: “Someone out there knows who committed these attacks and we appeal to anyone who has information which will allow us to catch the killer to come forward.

Another victim's body, identified as 33-year-old Melissa Halstead, was discovered in Westersingel canal by officers in Rotterdam in 1990.

Both of these investigations were linked last year and a Joint Investigation Team was formed.

Howard added: “These two women were killed and their bodies disposed of in the most callous and undignified manner possible.”

The bags are described as dark green duffle with green piping, two pockets at either end.

They all have brown handles, one carrying strap, and one front pocket with press stud buckle.

The bags were quite heavy as they were weighed down with bricks and tiles.

Paula, of Liverpool, known as Michelle or Lisa Barton, was white, of slim build, and it is believed she was addicted to crack cocaine.

She was believed to work in the Queen's Drive area of Stoke Newington as a prostitute.

It was there the victim was last seen on 13.12.00 getting into a red saloon car.

(250 words)

Appealing for witnesses of dismembered body

Officers are appealing for witnesses and information after the discovery of a body in Camden nine years later.

The dismembered body of Paula Fields, whose head, hands and feet were missing, was found in Regent's Canal in several holdalls on 19 February 2001.

DCI Howard Groves said: “These two women were killed and their bodies disposed of in the most callous and undignified manner possible."

In 1990, officers in Rotterdam discovered a body in Westsersingel canal, and the victim was identified as 33-year-old Melissa Halstead.

Both these investigations were then linked, and a unique Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was formed in February 2009.

“Someone out there know who committed these attacks and we appeal to anyone who has information which will allow us to catch the killer to come forward.” Said Mr Groves.

A post Mortem, carried out in 2001 at St Pancras Mortuary, failed to determine the cause of Paula's death.

When the body was found it was not clothed, and was just wrapped in a white plastic bag in a black bin liner.

Paula, also known as Michelle or Lisa Barton, was 5'2'', and spoke with a Liverpool accent.

She was white, of slim build with long, medium brown hair and blue/green eyes.

(208 words)