Chatherine Wynter stabbing: Mother found babysitter's body

Chatherine Wynter was found by her mother on Tuesday morning

A young woman who was killed while babysitting her three-year-old nephew and four-year-old niece was found dead by her mother, police said.

Chatherine Wynter, also known as Katie, was found stabbed at her sister's home in Beech Drive, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, on Tuesday.

An 18-year-old youth from Borehamwood and a 26-year-old man from London have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Police said the 19-year-old knew the two arrested men.

Family liaison officers are with Ms Wynter's niece and nephew, who have been reunited with their mother.

Hertfordshire police said they were working on a number of lines of inquiry and a post-mortem examination would be carried out to ascertain the cause of death.

Ms Wynter lived at another address in Borehamwood and was a student at West Hertfordshire College in Watford.

Birthday plans

Her mother called police at 08:00 GMT on Tuesday and paramedics pronounced Ms Wynter dead later that morning.

Police have sealed off the area around the house

Police began a murder inquiry and appealed for information, especially from anyone who was in the Beech Drive area on Boxing Day at about 17:00 GMT.

"It is not yet known when over the Christmas period the woman died," a police spokeswoman said.

"We are trying to establish when the incident happened."

Later Supt Mick Hanlon said it was known that Ms Wynter was alive between 19:00 GMT and 19:30 on Boxing Day.

'Bubbly personality'

Friends said Ms Wynter was planning to celebrate her 20th birthday with a visit to a Dr Who exhibition.

A neighbour in Beech Drive, Doreen Foster, 76, said: "She was a mad Dr Who fan and they were all planning to go to the exhibition.

Supt Mick Hanlon appeals for information

"She had been a friend of my granddaughter for 16 years and told me I was her adopted grandmother.

"She was a lovely girl. She had a bubbly personality and was never in a bad mood."

The road was cordoned off as police searched bushes and bins for clues. Forensic officers in white suits carried out a search of the house itself.

Miss Wynter's family released a brief statement through police which said: "Katie was a quiet girl who enjoyed life.

"She was a loving auntie to her niece and nephew, who she was looking after on Boxing Day."