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New details about headless body New details about headless body
(about 8 hours later)
Forensic tests on a body that was exhumed in Sussex as part of a murder inquiry have revealed new information about the identity of the victim.Forensic tests on a body that was exhumed in Sussex as part of a murder inquiry have revealed new information about the identity of the victim.
The body was found with its head and hands removed in woodland off Broxmead Lane in Bolney in 1991 and the case was reopened in March this year.The body was found with its head and hands removed in woodland off Broxmead Lane in Bolney in 1991 and the case was reopened in March this year.
Police, who will make a TV appeal on Crimewatch, now believe the man was healthy and in his 30s when he died. Police said on an appeal on the BBC's Crimewatch programme they believed the man had been healthy and in his 30s.
Tests on bones have also shown where he spent a large part of his life.Tests on bones have also shown where he spent a large part of his life.
Forensic experts have used "geochemical provenancing" techniques on a femur, rib bone and toenails from the corpse. Forensic experts tested a femur, rib bone and toenails from the corpse, which were not available 18 years ago.
Someone, somewhere must be missing a loved one Det Supt Andy GriffithsSomeone, somewhere must be missing a loved one Det Supt Andy Griffiths
The results of those tests, which were not available 18 years ago and have produced key identifying features, are being revealed on the BBC's Crimewatch programme on Thursday. During the BBC's Crimewatch programme on Thursday, Det Supt Andy Griffiths revealed the tests had shown the man could have spent some years in central or eastern Europe.
Det Supt Andy Griffiths said: "Our key priority is to identify this man. They also showed that during the last period of his life he had been living somewhere in the middle or eastern part of the UK or in Germany.
"Someone, somewhere must be missing a loved one. "This man was white, he was in his mid to late 30s, he was 5ft 6ins to 5ft 8ins tall.
"He was also circumcised and he was strongly built, but had a protruding belly," Det Supt Griffiths said.
He added that the man also had a star-shaped mark on his right thigh and was probably a smoker.
Police issued a picture of a shirt with a motif, identical to one the man wore
At the time of his death, he was wearing a blue shirt, with a motif on the pocket, and trousers. Both were from Fosters and were made in 1986.
The trousers, which were a 32 inch waist, had been turned up and were hand sewn.
"Our key priority is to identify this man.
"Someone, somewhere must be missing a loved one," Det Supt Griffiths said.
"By putting the case on Crimewatch, we hope that we will receive vital information that leads us to his identity and, ultimately, to his killer.""By putting the case on Crimewatch, we hope that we will receive vital information that leads us to his identity and, ultimately, to his killer."
'Active and strong'
He added: "We now know that the man was white and aged at around mid to late 30s at the time of his death - somewhat younger than the previous estimate of 45-60."
He added: "The opinion of the anthropologist is that he was an active, strong man between 5ft 6ins and 5ft 8ins.
"His bones showed no signs of degenerative illness and he was well-nourished."
In March this year, the coffin containing the man's skeleton was lifted from a grave in Western Road Cemetery, Haywards Heath, where it had been buried in 1994.In March this year, the coffin containing the man's skeleton was lifted from a grave in Western Road Cemetery, Haywards Heath, where it had been buried in 1994.
A DNA sample was taken during the original inquiry in the 1990s but it failed to provide a match, and no cause of death was given at the time because the head and hands were missing. A DNA sample was taken during the original inquiry in the 1990s but it failed to provide a match.
No cause of death was given at the time because the head and hands were missing.