THE sister of murdered Michelle Samaraweera said she fears it could be years before the killer is caught. The 35-year-old's body was found partially clothed in a children's playground near Kelmscott Leisure Centre, in Queens Road, Walthamstow on May 30.

The widow had been raped and strangled.

On Sunday, Ann Chandradasa, 37, went to the spot her younger sister was killed to mark the three month anniversary since her death.

The mum-of-two said: “It is difficult waiting for a call from the police with good news. I believe it is going to happen, but it could take years if he is lying low.

"It is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

“Some days are really difficult for me, but I just have to get on with it and hope and pray that the phone call will come one day soon.”

A dectective hunting the rapist and murderer said the investigation is progressing and she is confident he will be caught.

Detective chief inspector Caroline Goode said: “Obviously we still haven't caught him but the DNA sweep isn't the only thing we are doing.

“We are following up on all the information given to us from Crimewatch and we are reviewing other crimes coming in on a daily basis – nationally, not just locally.”

DCI Goode said although police believe he is local to Wathamstow, there is no way of knowing whether he has left the area.

She added: “We are still confident we will find him. Some crimes can be solved in a day but others take far longer.

“We are lucky because we have his DNA, but we still have to be methodical and that is what we are doing.”

Ms Samaraweera was last seen in Somerfield in Markhouse Road at about 1am on May 30, four hours before her body was found.

The killer has been linked by DNA evidence to the rape of a 59-year-old woman in her own bedroom, in Queens Road on March 24.

He also raped a 46-year-old woman in an alleyway in the South Grove area, off Markhouse Road, on April 22.

The investigation, which has 75 full-time officers working on it, is the largest operation of its kind since the murder of teenage model Sally Ann Bowman in 2005.

The suspect is Asian, aged between 30 and 40, between 5ft 6ins and 5ft 10ins tall and speaks English with an accent.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the incident room on 8345 3715 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.