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| Elsie Frost murder: New leads over girl's 1965 Wakefield killing | Elsie Frost murder: New leads over girl's 1965 Wakefield killing |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Detectives investigating the 50-year-old murder of a girl killed as she walked home have uncovered new lines of inquiry following a cold case review. | Detectives investigating the 50-year-old murder of a girl killed as she walked home have uncovered new lines of inquiry following a cold case review. |
| Elsie Frost, 14, was found dead on a towpath, in Wakefield, in 1965. She had been stabbed in the back and head. | Elsie Frost, 14, was found dead on a towpath, in Wakefield, in 1965. She had been stabbed in the back and head. |
| West Yorkshire Police want to trace a man seen near the scene and identify someone who may have been meeting Elsie in secret in the days before her death. | West Yorkshire Police want to trace a man seen near the scene and identify someone who may have been meeting Elsie in secret in the days before her death. |
| The force said her murder is one people have "never stopped talking about". | The force said her murder is one people have "never stopped talking about". |
| The re-investigation of the case was prompted by a BBC investigation into Elsie's murder, on 9 October 1965. | The re-investigation of the case was prompted by a BBC investigation into Elsie's murder, on 9 October 1965. |
| Det Ch Insp Elizabeth Belton said: "Elsie's death may be many decades ago, but the pain of her loss remains as fresh as ever for her brother Colin and sister Anne. | Det Ch Insp Elizabeth Belton said: "Elsie's death may be many decades ago, but the pain of her loss remains as fresh as ever for her brother Colin and sister Anne. |
| "Her brutal murder shattered their family and with such a significant anniversary near, I would ask anyone who may not have come forwards then, for whatever reason, to do so now and provide them with answers." | "Her brutal murder shattered their family and with such a significant anniversary near, I would ask anyone who may not have come forwards then, for whatever reason, to do so now and provide them with answers." |
| Elsie was attacked as she walked through a railway tunnel, which now leads onto Monckton Road, just off the Calder and Hebble Canal towpath. | Elsie was attacked as she walked through a railway tunnel, which now leads onto Monckton Road, just off the Calder and Hebble Canal towpath. |
| She had been on her way home after leaving Horbury Lagoon at about 15:50 BST. Her body was discovered at the foot of the "ABC" railway service steps by a dog walker about 25 minutes later. | She had been on her way home after leaving Horbury Lagoon at about 15:50 BST. Her body was discovered at the foot of the "ABC" railway service steps by a dog walker about 25 minutes later. |
| The reinvestigation of her death has been carried out by the force's Major Investigation Review Team, assisted by newly recruited civilian investigators, many of whom are retired detectives. | |
| Much of the evidence gathered in 1965 in connection with the case was, however, destroyed. | Much of the evidence gathered in 1965 in connection with the case was, however, destroyed. |
| Despite the lack of evidence, Det Ch Insp Belton said: "We now believe at least one person, who was never interviewed at the time, was seen near the location where Elsie was murdered on the canal towpath. | Despite the lack of evidence, Det Ch Insp Belton said: "We now believe at least one person, who was never interviewed at the time, was seen near the location where Elsie was murdered on the canal towpath. |
| "He was described as white, 25 to 30-years-old and riding a black bike with a basket on the front and wearing a white lab type coat possibly of the style then worn by someone who could have been a delivery boy, butcher or abattoir worker. | "He was described as white, 25 to 30-years-old and riding a black bike with a basket on the front and wearing a white lab type coat possibly of the style then worn by someone who could have been a delivery boy, butcher or abattoir worker. |
| "Enquiries also suggest that when staying at a friend's a couple of weeks before the murder Elsie got dressed up and went out, possibly to meet someone." | "Enquiries also suggest that when staying at a friend's a couple of weeks before the murder Elsie got dressed up and went out, possibly to meet someone." |
| "Elsie's murder may be nearly 50 years old but it is a crime people in Wakefield have never stopped talking about." | "Elsie's murder may be nearly 50 years old but it is a crime people in Wakefield have never stopped talking about." |
| Only one arrest has been made in the case since 1965. But, after being committed for trial in 1966, the accused man - Ian Bernard Spencer, then aged 33 - was cleared on the orders of the judge who heard the case. | Only one arrest has been made in the case since 1965. But, after being committed for trial in 1966, the accused man - Ian Bernard Spencer, then aged 33 - was cleared on the orders of the judge who heard the case. |
| Anyone with information is asked to contact the Major Investigation Review Team on 101. | Anyone with information is asked to contact the Major Investigation Review Team on 101. |