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Helen McCourt murder: Body of 1988 killing victim not in grave | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The remains of murder victim Helen McCourt were not in a grave that has been exhumed, police have confirmed. | |
Merseyside Police have confirmed the occupants of the grave in Billinge "are in keeping" with cemetery records. | |
Officers dug up the grave in St Aidan's Church, after intelligence linked it to the 1988 murder of Miss McCourt. | |
A police spokeswoman said her family "have now been advised in relation to the result of the search." | |
Miss McCourt's remains have never been recovered despite extensive searches. | |
Pub landlord Ian Simms, a married father of two, was convicted of her murder and given a life sentence after blood and an earring identical to one owned by the 22-year-old were found in his car boot. | |
Old mine shafts have previously been searched along with drain ditches and drained ponds. | Old mine shafts have previously been searched along with drain ditches and drained ponds. |