A man accused of raping and murdering a Walthamstow woman is still in India, facing possible deportation.

Met Police confirmed this morning the man suspected of killing Michelle Samaraweera in 2009 remains in India.

Officers said the deportation process is ‘ongoing’.

Miss Samaraweera, 32, was found in Queens Road children's playground in May 2009.

On the night of the murder, Michelle had been staying at the home of her boyfriend, Greg Dale, in Lennox Road, Walthamstow, when she went for a walk, as she often did at night.

A large-scale man hunt began and hundreds of men voluntarily gave DNA.

A suspect who was 26 at the time was seized at New Delhi airport by Interpol in summer 2011 in connection with her death.

He is also believed to have been responsible for three other sex attacks in the area.

At the time police warned it may take a "very long time" to extradite him.

Reports from India say that despite his arrest on July 4 2011, British authorities did not submit an extradition request until August 26.

The man subsequently appealed against the move on the grounds that the application was not made within the required time limit.

But this was rejected by a judge, according to reports.

The suspect in the Samaraweera case has not been identified by the Met but has been named in the Indian media.