THE boyfriend of the Walthamstow rape and murder victim is appealing for information to help catch her killer.

On the night before Michelle Samaraweera's body was discovered in a children's playground in Queen's Road on May 30, she had been staying at her boyfriend’s house in Lennox Road, Walthamstow, when she went for a walk, as she often did at night.

Her boyfriend, Greg Dale, 29, who suffers from mental health illnesses and battles drug and alcohol addictions, had been sleeping and did not know his girlfriend was missing until he received a knock at the door from police on Saturday morning saying she had been murdered and he was being arrested as a suspect.

Following questioning, Greg was eliminated from the police enquiry after officers tracked an electronic tag he had been wearing for a drugs possession crime, which proved that he had been at home that night.

The whole experience was traumatic and he is now grieving the tragic loss of his girlfriend who his family say was “a lovely girl” who was “keeping him on the straight and narrow”.

He told the Guardian: “I hope they hurry up and catch the person who has stolen Michelle from me so there will be justice for her and so no one else gets hurt.”

His mum, Janice Dale, 56, said her son became involved with Michelle a year ago.

She said that although their relationship had been volatile at times because of their mental health issues and his drug problems, they seemed happy.

The mum-of-three said her daughter received a call from the police on Saturday to say Greg had been arrested for murder.

She said: “It was sheer horror. But I knew in my heart that he wouldn’t do something like that.

“He cannot talk about what has happened and keeps breaking down.

"He is in shock and keeps saying, I should have been there to protect her. He feels he wasn’t there when she needed him.”

Her daughter Leeane Dale, 33, said Ms Samaraweera, who had worked at clothing store TK Maxx in Ilford before being made redundant, phoned her days before her death asking Miss Dale to go to see a Britney Spears concert together.

Miss Dale said: “You read these things in the news and never think it would happen to someone you know and you have no idea what the family goes through.

“I want the killer caught because this person who is out there cannot be walking about.

"I strongly urge people to come forward with information.”

The Dales are annoyed that the gates of the council-owned park were unlocked on the night of Michelle’s murder, even though there is a sign saying they will be locked at 6pm.

Mrs Dale said: “There is an issue with that park because it is often open at night. There is no light and it is so dark.

"And there is a CCTV camera facing a car park but not the play area. There needs to be something done to make it safe.”

A council spokesman confirmed that there are no CCTV cameras in the playground but there are ones nearby in the Kelmscott Leisure Centre car park.

However, he said the council could not comment on whether the park was locked or not because the murder investigation is on-going.

Of the four people arrested in connection with the murder, police have confirmed that two men aged 29 and 35 were released with no further action.

Two other men, aged 32 and 34, who were also questioned have been bailed to return to a police station in mid-July.

Anyone with information should call the incident room on 8345 3715 or to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.