Teenager, 19, found knifed to death after flat fire two weeks before her baby was due

• Nikitta Grender had been stabbed twice before blaze broke out, say police

The grieving parents of a pregnant teenager who was stabbed to death before her home was set alight have spoken of their struggle to come to terms with her violent murder.

Nikitta Grender, 19, was found dead by firefighters who were called to a blaze at her flat in Newport, South Wales, on Saturday morning.

It was initially thought she had died in the fire but, following a post-mortem examination, police have confirmed that she had been stabbed twice and killed before the fire broke out.

Miss Grender's parents released a brief statement paying tribute to their daughter and unborn grand-daughter who was to be named Kelsey-May.

'As a close family we are trying to come to terms with the tragic events which have led to the untimely death of our beautiful daughter Nikitta and grand-daughter Kelsey-May,' they said.

'We wish to appeal for any persons with information to contact the police in an effort to find out why this has happened.

'We ask to be left alone at this time with Nikitta and Kelsey-May's family to come to terms, if possible, with the tragic events which have taken our daughter and grandchild from us.'

Neighbours in the community on the estate in Broadmead Park, Liswerry, where she lived, have spoken of their shock and anger at the killing.

Detectives are appealing for anyone, particularly close friends of the murdered woman, to come forward with information.

Detective Superintenant Geoff Ronayne, of Gwent CID, said she was last seen at 1am after returning to her flat after an evening out with friends.

He said: 'We need to know who called at the flat after that time.

'Someone knows who was in that flat after 1am and later.

'We are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

'It is fair to say that she was looking forward to the birth of her child and there were no difficulties.

'The key to this is to find our the previous history and we are looking for anyone she was associating with which her family may not have been aware of.

'She was living with her boyfriend who was not at the address at the time.

'He is one of the individuals we have spoken to and he is obviously distraught as well.

'I can confirm she was stabbed twice.'

Police have launched a murder investigation into the deaths of both the teenager and her unborn child.

Det Superintendent Geoff Ronayne said: This is a horrific crime where two innocent lives have been lost.

Nikitta was two weeks away from giving birth to a baby girl. This is particularly callous and something we very rarely see.

When Nikittas family should have been looking forward to the birth of her baby they are now absolutely grief stricken.

She added: 'We are working on the basis that this crime is locally based. Somebody knows where the knife is and we urge them to come forward.

'Someone will know who is responsible. Please come forward to give us that information that we need.'

Floral tributes have been placed outside the semi-detached block containing the blackened flat, at Broadmead Park on the Liswerry estate.

Neighbours thought the flat was rented by Miss Grenders boyfriend and that she moved away from her family after becoming pregnant.