The body of a woman of found hanged in a wooded area of a recreation ground has been identified as that of Juthi Punmagar.

Dog walkers were confronted with a taped-off Latchmere recreation ground on Tuesday morning when the 50-year-old Kingston woman’s body was found.

Detectives are understood to be treating the grim discovery as a suspected suicide.

A workman, who asked not to be named, said: “We were just told it was a woman hanged.

“We just saw the body covered and then a van came and took it.”

Another resident walking his dog said: “The police told me it was a lady found dead.

“I am gobsmacked. It is very sad.”

Peter Hilton, 68, a retired engineer, said: “I left to go the airport at 4.15am and there was nothing.

“When I came back there were two ambulances, two paramedics, two patrol cars, a doctor’s car and a lot of people.

“I thought if it was something serious they would knock on the door but nobody has.

“It’s life. It happens all up and down the country.

“Why she did it I wouldn’t like to guess. It is almost a sign of the times these days.”

A spokesman for London Ambulance said they were called at about 5.30am and sent a car and an ambulance to the park, but said the person was already dead when they arrived.

A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police said they were called early on Tuesday morning and pronounced a woman dead at the scene.

The Met spokeswoman said: “Her death is being treated as non-suspicious and has been referred to the coroner.”

Details of the post-mortem examination were due as the Surrey comet went to press.

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