A post mortem examination on Oxfordshire tourist Joanne Clarke, murdered by a suspected serial killer in the Bahamas, was due to take place today.

Police spokesman Supt Arnold Josey said the autopsy was to be performed by Dr Cyril Wecht, a specialist forensic pathologist from Pennsylvania.

The body of Joanne, 24, of Warwick Road, Banbury, was discovered in undergrowth on Paradise Island on Saturday, a few feet from the beach where she was last seen alive the previous day.

Experts will try to discover the exact cause of the teacher's death and whether there was any sexual motive for the killing.

The discovery of a second body nearby, believed to be that of American tourist Lori Fogleman, 32, who disappeared last month, has sparked fears that a serial killer is at large.

Earlier, Mr Josey said a number of people had been interviewed but there were as yet no suspects.

He confirmed a report that police had interviewed a Canadian construction worker with whom Ms Fogleman was staying on the island.

He said she went missing on July 20, the man reported that to police on July 23, he was interviewed then, had left the island, and might be interviewed again.

Supt Josey declined to comment on a report that detectives were checking transactions made on Ms Fogleman's bank card.

The Bahamas government has offered a reward for information leading to the capture of the killer and invited three former senior Scotland Yard detectives to help their investigation.

A team of FBI murder detectives has arrived from America led by Paul Mallett, the bureau's Miami chief.

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