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DNA match over boy's 1985 murder | DNA match over boy's 1985 murder |
(10 minutes later) | |
Detectives believe they have solved the murder of a nine-year-old boy - 24 years after he was raped and strangled. | Detectives believe they have solved the murder of a nine-year-old boy - 24 years after he was raped and strangled. |
Imraan Vohra's body was found on 13 July 1985 in Avenham Park, Preston, Lancashire. He went missing two days earlier on the way home from school. | Imraan Vohra's body was found on 13 July 1985 in Avenham Park, Preston, Lancashire. He went missing two days earlier on the way home from school. |
Despite a major inquiry, his killer was never found - until police matched DNA samples to Robert Morley, a father-of-seven who died in Essex in 1997. | |
Scientists said the chances of him not being responsible are a billion to one. | Scientists said the chances of him not being responsible are a billion to one. |
Police believe Morley attacked Imraan, a pupil at Frenchwood Junior School in Preston, as he walked home from school. | Police believe Morley attacked Imraan, a pupil at Frenchwood Junior School in Preston, as he walked home from school. |
His death sparked a detailed investigation, with more than 6,000 people contacted, 2,500 statements taken and hundreds of items of evidence stored on a computer database but with no success. | His death sparked a detailed investigation, with more than 6,000 people contacted, 2,500 statements taken and hundreds of items of evidence stored on a computer database but with no success. |
As a family we would have liked to have seen justice in the courts, but justice will be done here after Imraan Vohra's family | As a family we would have liked to have seen justice in the courts, but justice will be done here after Imraan Vohra's family |
The case remained open, and in 2001, a previously unidentified DNA sample had been found, which had been left by the culprit. | The case remained open, and in 2001, a previously unidentified DNA sample had been found, which had been left by the culprit. |
After a further eight years, Lancashire Police traced it back to Robert Morley, a London man who died in Essex aged 73. He had a string of minor offences including theft and indecent exposure on his record. | |
His last conviction was in 1985 and police said they had no previous evidence linking him to the young boy's murder. | His last conviction was in 1985 and police said they had no previous evidence linking him to the young boy's murder. |
'Sad case' | 'Sad case' |
Det Ch Supt Graham Gardner said: "Many detectives and scientists have worked tirelessly on this very sad case for many years. | Det Ch Supt Graham Gardner said: "Many detectives and scientists have worked tirelessly on this very sad case for many years. |
"This result is as a consequence of that dedication and of advances in forensic science which have changed considerably, even since 2001. | "This result is as a consequence of that dedication and of advances in forensic science which have changed considerably, even since 2001. |
Imraan Vohra's family thanked the police and community | Imraan Vohra's family thanked the police and community |
"The findings clearly point to the fact that Robert Morley is responsible for Imraan' s death and we are now endeavouring to find out more about his life in Preston. | "The findings clearly point to the fact that Robert Morley is responsible for Imraan' s death and we are now endeavouring to find out more about his life in Preston. |
"We already know that he lived at various addresses in Lancashire between 1979 and 1987 having moved to the area from London . | "We already know that he lived at various addresses in Lancashire between 1979 and 1987 having moved to the area from London . |
"At the time of Imraan' s murder he lived in Lancaster House in Avenham and was known as 'Bob'." | "At the time of Imraan' s murder he lived in Lancaster House in Avenham and was known as 'Bob'." |
The victim's family thanked the police and the community for their "persistence and hard work". | The victim's family thanked the police and the community for their "persistence and hard work". |
A family statement said: "As a family we would have liked to have seen justice in the courts, but justice will be done here after. | A family statement said: "As a family we would have liked to have seen justice in the courts, but justice will be done here after. |
"Although Imraan's death will never go away, we would like to move forward and ask that our family be given privacy and respect at this difficult time." | "Although Imraan's death will never go away, we would like to move forward and ask that our family be given privacy and respect at this difficult time." |
Anyone with any information about the case or in particular Robert Morley is asked to contact Lancashire Police. |