Top Home Office aide hunted over murder of ex-girlfriend

He served in the home secretary's private office and as a crime adviser when David Blunkett and Charles Clarke were in the senior political role.
Collett's former partner Angela Hoyt was found dead at her home in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, on Tuesday.
Her identical twin had raised the alarm from across the Atlantic after instinctively knowing that something was wrong.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission has launched an inquiry into Hertfordshire Police's response to Canadian-born Miss Hoyt's pleas for protection from Collett, who family members said had become increasingly abusive towards the Red Cross worker after their relationship broke down.
Miss Hoyt, 34, had asked the police for help just four days earlier after being subjected to harassment.
She had previously worked at the Home Office as a press officer before joining the Red Cross in a media relations role in February 2008.
One friend said: "Angela worked on the planning desk in the Home Office press office and was very highly regarded by everyone.
"It was while working there that she and Martin met.
"It's all been a terrible shock. Everyone who knew Angela is still reeling."
Miss Hoyt and Collett are believed to have split up about six months ago.
Collett, 35, has connections in Southampton, Bristol and Stratford upon Avon. In his former job at the Home Office he was believed to have worked as a diary secretary before being promoted to a specialist role briefing the Cabinet minister on issues including crime and immigration.
Detectives believe Miss Hoyt was killed between May 22 and Tuesday evening, when officers entered her home to discover her remains. A post mortem examination has been carried out but police have not disclosed the cause of the victim's death.
Ami Watanabe, Miss Hoyt's identical twin, said last week that she called British police from her home in Ontario, Canada, to raise concerns after her sister failed to get in touch after returning from a three month trip to Pakistan.
"I knew something was wrong. Call it twin instinct," said Mrs Watanabe.
Miss Hoyt moved to Britain in 1999 to travel and study, but stayed after marrying in 2000. That relationship later broke down.
Dog handlers and a police helicopter were involved in searching the grounds of Hatfield House, near Miss Hoyt's home, on Friday after reports of a man matching Collett's description being seen in the area.
Mr Blunkett said: "I do recall eight years ago a briefing officer of this name but nothing about his personal circumstances. It is impossible for me to comment."