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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Claire Tiltman murder: Colin Ash-Smith to be charged | Claire Tiltman murder: Colin Ash-Smith to be charged |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A man is to be charged with the murder of 16-year-old schoolgirl Claire Tiltman, who was stabbed in Kent 21 years ago. | A man is to be charged with the murder of 16-year-old schoolgirl Claire Tiltman, who was stabbed in Kent 21 years ago. |
| The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had sufficient evidence to prosecute 45-year-old Colin Ash-Smith. | The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had sufficient evidence to prosecute 45-year-old Colin Ash-Smith. |
| Claire was stabbed more than 40 times in an alleyway near her Greenhithe home in 1993, days after her birthday. | Claire was stabbed more than 40 times in an alleyway near her Greenhithe home in 1993, days after her birthday. |
| Mr Ash-Smith will appear at Maidstone Magistrates' Court on 28 February via video link. | Mr Ash-Smith will appear at Maidstone Magistrates' Court on 28 February via video link. |
| No-one had ever been charged with the Dartford Grammar School pupil's murder. | No-one had ever been charged with the Dartford Grammar School pupil's murder. |
| Her father Cliff died in September 2012 and her mother Lin died in 2008. | Her father Cliff died in September 2012 and her mother Lin died in 2008. |
| 'Complex police investigation' | 'Complex police investigation' |
| Det Supt Rob Vinson, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate Cold Case Team, said: "Claire Tiltman's unsolved death is one of the longest-running cases for Kent Police and has remained in the forefront of the minds of investigating officers for over two decades. | Det Supt Rob Vinson, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate Cold Case Team, said: "Claire Tiltman's unsolved death is one of the longest-running cases for Kent Police and has remained in the forefront of the minds of investigating officers for over two decades. |
| "Colin Ash-Smith is now to be brought before a court following our investigations and subsequent consultation with the CPS." | "Colin Ash-Smith is now to be brought before a court following our investigations and subsequent consultation with the CPS." |
| Nigel Pilkington, of the CPS South East, said: "In November 2012 I received a file of evidence from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate relating to the murder of Claire Tiltman on 18 January 1993. | Nigel Pilkington, of the CPS South East, said: "In November 2012 I received a file of evidence from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate relating to the murder of Claire Tiltman on 18 January 1993. |
| "The investigation by the police has been a lengthy and complex one. | |
| "Following further investigation, my review of all the evidence in the case has now been completed and I have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and that it is in the public interest to prosecute Colin Ash-Smith, 45, for the murder of Claire Tiltman on 18 January 1993 in Greenhithe, Kent." | "Following further investigation, my review of all the evidence in the case has now been completed and I have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and that it is in the public interest to prosecute Colin Ash-Smith, 45, for the murder of Claire Tiltman on 18 January 1993 in Greenhithe, Kent." |
| Mr Tiltman made a fresh appeal for information about his daughter's death from his nursing home bed months before he died. | Mr Tiltman made a fresh appeal for information about his daughter's death from his nursing home bed months before he died. |
| Former school Friends of Claire have organised regular memorial events, candlelit walks and a fundraising concert over the past two decades in a bid to keep the case in the public eye. | Former school Friends of Claire have organised regular memorial events, candlelit walks and a fundraising concert over the past two decades in a bid to keep the case in the public eye. |