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| Jessie Earl death: Parents want inquest verdict changed | Jessie Earl death: Parents want inquest verdict changed |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The parents of an art student who went missing nearly 40 years ago have said the recorded cause of her death should be overturned. | The parents of an art student who went missing nearly 40 years ago have said the recorded cause of her death should be overturned. |
| Jessie Earl was 22 when she disappeared in May 1980 in Eastbourne, East Sussex. Her remains were found in March 1989. | Jessie Earl was 22 when she disappeared in May 1980 in Eastbourne, East Sussex. Her remains were found in March 1989. |
| An inquest took place in Eastbourne four months later, and the coroner recorded an open verdict. | An inquest took place in Eastbourne four months later, and the coroner recorded an open verdict. |
| Jessie's father, John Earl, said: "She was naked, she had been tied up with her bra. She was murdered." | Jessie's father, John Earl, said: "She was naked, she had been tied up with her bra. She was murdered." |
| He added: "Jesse didn't get herself killed by accident, suicide or anything else." | He added: "Jesse didn't get herself killed by accident, suicide or anything else." |
| Post-mortem examination | Post-mortem examination |
| Miss Earl's remains were found in dense scrubland at the top of the cliffs at Beachy Head. | Miss Earl's remains were found in dense scrubland at the top of the cliffs at Beachy Head. |
| Sussex Police said a post-mortem examination found the cause of her death to be "unascertainable". | Sussex Police said a post-mortem examination found the cause of her death to be "unascertainable". |
| The death was recorded as "suspicious", and police reopened the case in January 2000, formally recording it as murder. | |
| The force submitted a fresh report to the coroner, but no further inquest was held. | The force submitted a fresh report to the coroner, but no further inquest was held. |
| Tobin victims | Tobin victims |
| Mrs and Mrs Earl believe their daughter may have been killed by convicted serial killer Peter Tobin, who was living in the area at the time. | |
| Tobin is serving life sentences for murdering Polish student Angelika Kluk, Scots schoolgirl Vicky Hamilton and Essex teenager Dinah McNicol. | Tobin is serving life sentences for murdering Polish student Angelika Kluk, Scots schoolgirl Vicky Hamilton and Essex teenager Dinah McNicol. |
| However, Sussex Police said: "We have no evidence implicating Peter Tobin or any other named or known individual in the murder of Jessie Earl. | |
| "We understand the continuing anguish of the [family] and our thoughts remain with them. | |
| "We will never close [this case] until and unless some resolution and closure is found for them." | "We will never close [this case] until and unless some resolution and closure is found for them." |
| The Attorney General's Office said it had not yet received an application for a new inquest into the art student's death. | |
| A spokesman said: "Once a request is received a Law Officer will consider whether to grant their consent. | |
| "To do this, the Law Officer must be satisfied there is a reasonable prospect of the application succeeding in the High Court. | |
| "It is then for the High Court to determine whether it is in the interests of justice for a new inquest to be held." |
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