Tributes paid to little Mollie

nine-year-old victim of a suspected murder.

Many have laid floral tributes as a mark of respect to little Mollie Haynes in the hours after her death.

One message on a spray of flowers simply read: "Little Mollie, God bless, sleep tight."

Mollie died in hospital on Monday night, a day after she and her mother were found with severe head injuries at their home.

Her mother, Helen Perkins, 41, remains in a critical but stable condition at Hurstwood Park Neurological Centre in Haywards Heath after being transferred from Eastbourne District General Hospital.

Mollie was transferred from the same hospital to King's College Hospital, London, where she died during the night.

The community near their house in Cavalry Crescent, Old Town, Eastbourne, has been left shocked and saddened by the young girl's death.

Flowers with messages of sympathy from friends and neighbours yesterday covered the garden of the family home.

One message read: "Dearest Mollie, we heard what happened and you will always be remembered in the centre of our hearts forever."

Teachers at Mollie's school described her as a delightful and friendly little girl.

Mark Trott, head teacher of Ocklynge School where she was a pupil, said: "At school, Mollie had developed into a gentle and sociable girl, well liked by her peers and always polite and helpful to adults.

"Like most nine-year-old girls, she was fond of a chat with her friends and was becoming a keen athlete with skills in gymnastics and dance. She could write imaginative stories and her generous nature was an asset when making models and carrying out group activities.

"She could handle the world of technology with growing enthusiasm and treated other children's views and ideas with respect.

"To people who knew her, Mollie was a friendly and delightful girl whose kindly disposition and cheery outlook on life will be sadly missed."

Pupils and members of staff cried when the news was announced that morning during a special assembly.

The Reverend David Gillard of St Elizabeth's church in nearby Victoria Drive, said: "This is desperately sad. Our thoughts and our prayers go to Mollie and everyone who knew her."

Meanwhile, police stepped up their murder investigation and officers appealed for more witnesses to come forward.

A police spokeswoman said: "From the beginning the case has been treated as an attempted murder investigation and so police are now treating it as murder."

Ms Perkins' partner, Michael Hooker, of Northbourne Road, Eastbourne, appeared before Eastbourne magistrates yesterday charged with the attempted murder of Mollie and her mother.

The 49-year-old, who is not thought to be Mollie's father, was arrested at the house in Cavalry Crescent.

He was remanded in custody to July 29 when he is due to appear at Lewes Crown Court.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said a post mortem examination would be carried out on Mollie in the near future.

The mother and her daughter were found by police in a serious condition at about 10pm on Sunday.

Neighbours had heard Mollie screaming but thought she was just playing until six police cars and three ambulances arrived in the quiet street.

John Evenden 48, who has lived in Cavalry Crescent for eight years, said: "It is the first time I have known something like this happen here. This is a fairly quiet neighbourhood where people come and go and get on with their lives."