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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Nicola Payne: Two arrests in missing mum search | Nicola Payne: Two arrests in missing mum search |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Police investigating the disappearance of a Coventry mother last seen 21 years ago have arrested two men. | Police investigating the disappearance of a Coventry mother last seen 21 years ago have arrested two men. |
| Nicola Payne went missing from the Wood End area in December 1991. She was 18 and had a six-month-old son. | Nicola Payne went missing from the Wood End area in December 1991. She was 18 and had a six-month-old son. |
| West Midlands Police began searching parkland off Purcell Road on Tuesday following new information. | West Midlands Police began searching parkland off Purcell Road on Tuesday following new information. |
| Det Ch Insp Matt Markham said a 74-year-old man and a 45-year-old had been arrested on suspicion of conspiring to prevent the lawful burial of a body. | Det Ch Insp Matt Markham said a 74-year-old man and a 45-year-old had been arrested on suspicion of conspiring to prevent the lawful burial of a body. |
| He said the arrests of the men, both local to Coventry, were "directly linked" to information police were given on Tuesday. | He said the arrests of the men, both local to Coventry, were "directly linked" to information police were given on Tuesday. |
| He added: "News of these arrests may cause people to reconsider their position and if they haven't so far felt able to come forward with information, then I would urge them to now do so in light of these arrests." | He added: "News of these arrests may cause people to reconsider their position and if they haven't so far felt able to come forward with information, then I would urge them to now do so in light of these arrests." |
| Excavation work | Excavation work |
| The latest search has focused on a section of woodland with specially-trained dogs and ground X-ray and metal detection equipment being used. | The latest search has focused on a section of woodland with specially-trained dogs and ground X-ray and metal detection equipment being used. |
| Police said reasonable progress was being made with clearing the ground with a view to some excavation work taking place later in the search. | Police said reasonable progress was being made with clearing the ground with a view to some excavation work taking place later in the search. |
| Det Ch Insp Markham said: "We're committed to doing a detailed and thorough job, we owe that to Nicola's family and friends and the community of north east Coventry for whom this was a significant event." | Det Ch Insp Markham said: "We're committed to doing a detailed and thorough job, we owe that to Nicola's family and friends and the community of north east Coventry for whom this was a significant event." |
| Miss Payne's parents, John and Marilyn, said they were being kept fully informed by officers. | |
| In a statement, released through the police, they said: "As there is a lot of information for us to currently take in, we would please ask that you respect our privacy while this is happening. | |
| "We hope the arrests and activity will allow anyone who may have important information to come forward and speak to the police. | |
| "We can then finally find out what has happened to Nicola." | |
| Miss Payne was last seen near to the Black Pad in Wood End on 14 December 1991. | Miss Payne was last seen near to the Black Pad in Wood End on 14 December 1991. |
| In 2007 a man was arrested in connection with her disappearance and released on bail. | In 2007 a man was arrested in connection with her disappearance and released on bail. |
| No-one has ever been charged in connection with the case. | No-one has ever been charged in connection with the case. |