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Police seek canal killer John Sweeney's victims | Police seek canal killer John Sweeney's victims |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Police have appealed on Crimewatch to trace further victims of a man who killed two women and dumped their bodies in canals. | |
John Sweeney, 54, of no fixed address, had denied murdering Paula Fields, 31, and 33-year-old Melissa Halstead. | John Sweeney, 54, of no fixed address, had denied murdering Paula Fields, 31, and 33-year-old Melissa Halstead. |
Ms Halstead's body was found in a Rotterdam canal in 1990. Miss Fields was found in Regent's Canal in 2001. | Ms Halstead's body was found in a Rotterdam canal in 1990. Miss Fields was found in Regent's Canal in 2001. |
Officers are now hoping to hear about a Colombian, a Brazilian and an English woman they fear may be further victims. | Officers are now hoping to hear about a Colombian, a Brazilian and an English woman they fear may be further victims. |
The Old Bailey ordered Sweeney, originally from Merseyside, to serve a whole-life tariff. | The Old Bailey ordered Sweeney, originally from Merseyside, to serve a whole-life tariff. |
Judge Mr Justice Saunders said: "These were terrible, wicked crimes." | Judge Mr Justice Saunders said: "These were terrible, wicked crimes." |
Police now hope to hear about a Brazilian called Irani who was living in the north London area in 1996-97. | Police now hope to hear about a Brazilian called Irani who was living in the north London area in 1996-97. |
They released what is believed to be a picture of her drawn by Sweeney. | They released what is believed to be a picture of her drawn by Sweeney. |
They also hope to trace a Colombian called Maria who was in the same area between 1997-98. | They also hope to trace a Colombian called Maria who was in the same area between 1997-98. |
The third potential victim, thought to be English, was in her late 20s or early 30s in the late 1970s or 80s. | The third potential victim, thought to be English, was in her late 20s or early 30s in the late 1970s or 80s. |
She was living in the Holloway Road area of north London and training to be a nurse. | She was living in the Holloway Road area of north London and training to be a nurse. |
Officers also believe she went to Switzerland to work and was a devoted churchgoer. | Officers also believe she went to Switzerland to work and was a devoted churchgoer. |
Det Ch Insp Howard Groves said: "As Sweeney contemplates a life behind bars, I can assure him that this investigation will continue as we seek to identify and trace other potential victims. | Det Ch Insp Howard Groves said: "As Sweeney contemplates a life behind bars, I can assure him that this investigation will continue as we seek to identify and trace other potential victims. |
"We don't know what happened to these women - we just need to find out more about them and their relationship with Sweeney." | "We don't know what happened to these women - we just need to find out more about them and their relationship with Sweeney." |
Sweeney was described as a "handsome and charming man who led a bohemian and transient life working as a carpenter". | Sweeney was described as a "handsome and charming man who led a bohemian and transient life working as a carpenter". |
He used a number of aliases such as Joe Johnson, Joe Carroll and Scouse Joe and he spoke with a stutter. | He used a number of aliases such as Joe Johnson, Joe Carroll and Scouse Joe and he spoke with a stutter. |
The Met asked anyone who knew him in the 1970s or 80s to get in touch, releasing a new photo of him at that time to jog memories. | The Met asked anyone who knew him in the 1970s or 80s to get in touch, releasing a new photo of him at that time to jog memories. |
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