Alice Gross

[dorasee]

Just gutted for this family... how can they hang onto any hope when the man connected to her disappearance has such a monstrously violent history? My heart bleeds for this young girl.

They're really not sure she's with him yet.

Hope she comes back safe and has just run away.

It's awful, the guy is clearly a psychopath, her family must be beyond terrified. I hope for, but can't really envisage a safe return for Alice.

This whole case has made me uneasy for a really long time. First, Alice' picture was circulating on Twitter when she first went missing, but nothing seemed to be reported in the press at all. Then, just as I was wondering how much longer a young girl needs to be missing for it to be a news story it finally made the front pages/headlines. So that was all pretty concerning in itself.

Now a man who has not yet been connected with her disappearance is outed by the police as a convicted murderer in his home country. This worries me because even if he is connected (and yes, the evidence suggests he is), and even if he is convicted of her kidnapping and/or murder, how can he possibly receive a fair trial? Past convictions of accused people in court are withheld from the jury as they're supposed to have no bearing on the case they're hearing - so why has this been made public?

Not only will it jeopardise a trial, it must also be absolutely horrifying for Alice's poor family to have such a person connected to her on nothing else but suspicion. The whole thing is just awful.

The police wouldn't be doing it if it were to jeopardise a trial. Wanted people are frequently made public. That's how you catch them

I realise that, I just wondered why they revealed that he was a convicted murderer. They usually just say that they are looking for this person don't they?

No I think they quite often divulge relevant details. Crime watch does it every month. Hopefully it will help

Ah, I don't watch Crime Watch as it gives me the willies :(

The times is reporting that the police didn't even make the connection between Alice disappearing and Arnis Zalkalns, a journalist realised when he saw missing posters for him along the same stretch of canal a few days later that they could be linked.

Well that really is . And very depressing. I can't help feeling that from the very beginning this wasn't taken as seriously as it should have been. Her poor poor family.

I suspect the police had to manage an inquisitive media who have found out a lot of these details for themselves and it can't be easy. As he hasn't been arrested yet they don't have a legal way of stopping the media or the public making connections and digging for details in his home country as far as I know.

just heard that a body has been found in a nearby river, this is now a murder enquiry, though the body has not been formally ID'd yet.

God bless her and her family.

This beautiful little girl is dead because he was released from prison only a few sort years after murdering his wife. There needs to be EU wide laws banning the release of violent offenders and making their governments responsible if they ever get the opportunity to re offend.

I am so sad. The thought of her there all this time is awful. I am however glad they can have her back in a way....if they'd not found her it would be worse...if that's possible. Poor Alice so beautiful and talented and just gone!

The police are obviously sure this is her & I agree it's always better for the family to have the body back. I really feel for the families of the Moors Murder victims, who died never knowing where their children were buried.
I feel so sad for Alice's family at this time, I have a 14yo myself. I hope the culprit is brought to justice.

Feel so sad for this poor girl's family. My heart goes out to you and Alice may you rest in peace. Xx

Tragic and so very very sad. Her poor parents and sister. Rest peacefully now Alice.