Police have announced a new lead in the Abigail Witchalls stabbing case, as the hospital where she is being treated revealed that her condition is improving.

Mrs Witchalls has been moved out of intensive care into a spinal injuries unit and can now breathe without the aid of a ventilator, the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital said today. But it could be "some months" before doctors know whether the 26-year-old stabbing victim will fully recover.

Mrs Witchalls was left paralysed after being stabbed in the neck as she pushed her son, Joseph, in a buggy.

Police believe that Richard Cazaly, 23, who killed himself last month, is a prime suspect for the attack in April near Mrs Witchalls’s home in Little Bookham, Surrey.

Yesterday Mrs Witchalls failed to pick out one of the main suspects in her attack in a photograph identity parade.

DNA tests have so far failed to link Cazaly or a 25-year-old Surrey man to the attempted murder. Detectives said there were, however, still some exhibits that could provide "further forensic opportunities", and they revealed that a new witness had come forward.

Mrs Witchalls, who is being treated at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, northwest London, was said to be "disappointed" that she was unable to identify anyone. It raises the possibility that the culprit is someone not yet known to police.

Detective Superintendent Adrian Harper, who is leading the investigation, said: "Another witness who was in the area shortly before the attack will go through a similar identification process involving the picture of Richard Cazaly.

"Richard Cazaly remains a suspect in this investigation. We have had the opportunity to interview Abigail further. She has provided more valuable evidence about the circumstances of her attack.

"We are collating all the evidence that links Richard Cazaly to the attack, which will shortly be submitted to the CPS for their advice."

A Surrey Police spokesman said today the new witness is a woman who was riding in woods near the attack scene.

He said: "This new witness is a horse rider who rides in woods close to the scene of the attack in Little Bookham. She is saying she saw someone, who matches the description of the person we are looking for, shortly before Abigail was attacked. Next week she will be going through the same identity parade process we did with Abigail."

The new witness will see nine pictures, one of which is of Cazaly, he said.

The hospital said in a statement today: "Earlier this week, Abigail was moved from the Intensive Care Unit into the Spinal Injuries Unit to commence her rehabilitation.

"This is a positive move towards Abigail’s longer term progress, however it will still be some months until specialists at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital will be able to form a better picture of her potential recovery.

"Abigail is making significant progress and is now breathing without the aid of a ventilator during the daytime and can talk to her family and the hospital staff, but it is quite a physical effort and she gets rather tired at times.

"Abigail regularly sits up in a chair for short periods with some assistance."

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