Former Supermodel From Chiswick Mystified By Killer's Claim

Heather Stewart-Whyte say she never met man who murdered India Chipchase

A former fashion model who lives in Chiswick has said that she does not know the man who was convicted of murdering the 20-year old barmaid India Chipchase and never had any relationship with him.

Edward Tenniswood, who was found guilty of the rape and murder of India Chipchase in Northampton, claimed during his trial that he had once dated former model Heather Stewart-Whyte. She is a W4 resident who appeared on the front cover of major fashion magazines including Vogue during her modelling career.

Heather Stewart-Whyte in her heyday as a model

During his trial he claimed he dated British model Ms Stewart-Whyte in the 1980s and 1990s and kept love letters which had been written with her lipstick.

Ms Stewart-Whyte (47) is quoted in the Daily Mail saying "I've never heard of him, I don't know him."

India Chipchase was murdered by Tenniswood after he met her outside a nightclub in Northampton in January and pursuaded her to come with him, promising he would get her home safely. Instead he took her to his home and raped and killed her.

Tenniswood, who was found guilty of rape and murder following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court, told the jury during his defence that while he had not had an immensely successful life, he was lucky enough to have had some very attractive girlfriends, one of whom was a fashion model, named Heather Stewart-Whyte. He stated during the trial that he kept a picture of the model 'as a memento'.

The jury heard he kept cuttings of pictures of beautiful women, including Ms Stewart-Whyte, who bears a resemblance to Ms Chipchase.

Miss Stewart-Whyte, who lives in Chiswick, is divorced from French tennis star-turned pop singer Yannick Noah, with whom she had two children.

She told the Daily Mail; "Do you know how many times, especially when I was modelling, people said they knew me?"

She has issued a statement saying: "I have recently been made aware of certain allegations made about me during the trial of Edward Tenniswood at Birmingham Crown Court on charges of rape and murder.

"I can state categorically that I have never knowingly met this man and certainly have never had any kind of relationship with him. I'm afraid I cannot offer any explanation for this inaccurate claim."

She added: "I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sympathies to the family and friends of this beautiful young woman.

August 5, 2016