THE best friend of a teenager found dead in Bournemouth has told how she searched for her hours before her body was found at Horseshoe Common.

Malwina Marcinczyk hunted for Linda Lietaviete after a call from her mum saying she had not returned home from a trip to a shop.

“Her mum was worried about her. She thought she was with me but she wasn’t so I started looking for her,” said Malwina.

“I looked everywhere, then I went to her home to tell her mum I couldn’t find her. When I got there I saw everyone was crying and the police told me they had found her body.”

Malwina, who knew Linda for three years and went to Glenmoor School with her, said: “She had gone to Tesco in Bournemouth Square but didn’t come home.”

She described her friend as a “family person” and added: “She liked to joke about everything, she was very positive.

"She was doing a business course at college and wanted to go into banking.”

Tributes have continued to pour in for the Bournemouth and Poole College student, who died of stab wounds to the chest.

She worked as a volunteer in a charity shop raising money for Hampshire children’s hospice Naomi House.

Naomi House spokesman Keith Wilson said: “Linda is remembered fondly by those who worked with her at our Boscombe shop.

"She was an extremely diligent girl who was as kind as she was hard working.

“The whole team at Naomi House would like to send our deepest sympathies to Linda’s family and friends at what must be an unimaginably difficult time.”

Former school friend Hannah Pardey told the Daily Echo: “She was a kind and caring person and did everything she could to help others. She was an amazing friend and she will be missed. She was always caring about other people. She was a bright, funny, pretty and honest girl and she will be missed deeply.”

And Sophie Bartlett added: “It is such a tragedy what has happened to such a beautiful, kind and caring young girl. I just want to pay respect to her and her friends and family.”

Lauren Short said: “Linda was such a lovely, kind caring girl. Every time I saw her in lessons and around school, she was always happy and smiling. It’s so sad to lose such a great friend.”

Former Glenmoor employee Steve Wakeford said: “I had the pleasure of dealing with Linda’s exam entries at Glenmoor and she was such a lovely student.

“A tragic loss – Linda had such a promising future ahead of her. My thoughts are with her family and friends at this dreadful time.”

Linda’s body was found in the early hours of December 13.

  •  A 25-year-old man appeared before Bournemouth magistrates on Monday charged with the murder of Linda Lietaviete. Alvin Jay Santos, of Wimborne Road, Bournemouth, was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Winchester Crown Court today.
  • An inquest heard yesterday that Linda Lietaviete, 16, died of stab wounds to the chest.
  • Her friend Diana Plume formally identified the body on December 14. The inquest was adjourned until April 4.