This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/lancashire/8243411.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
DNA match over boy's 1985 murder | DNA match over boy's 1985 murder |
(about 2 hours later) | |
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, two days after he went missing. | |
Police say they have now matched a DNA trace left by his killer to Robert Morley, who died in Essex in 1997. | |
Officers believe Morley, a father-of-seven, murdered Imraan as he walked home from Frenchwood Junior School. | |
His death sparked a thorough investigation, with more than 6,000 people contacted, 2,500 statements taken and hundreds of items of evidence stored on a computer database. | |
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 |
Police were not able to find the killer and the case remained open, and in 2001 a DNA trace was identified which had been left by the culprit. | |
After a further eight years, Lancashire Police connected it 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. | |
'Sad case' | 'Sad case' |
His last conviction was in 1985 and police said they had no previous evidence linking him to the young boy's murder. | |
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. | |
"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, and in particular Morley, is asked to contact Lancashire Police. |