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| Arrest over 1996 river murder | Arrest over 1996 river murder |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of a Cardiff woman whose tied-up body was found in a river in the city 11 years ago. | A man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of a Cardiff woman whose tied-up body was found in a river in the city 11 years ago. |
| South Wales Police said a 58-year-old has been arrested and is being questioned over the death of Karen Skipper, who was 34 and from Ely. | South Wales Police said a 58-year-old has been arrested and is being questioned over the death of Karen Skipper, who was 34 and from Ely. |
| Mrs Skipper's body was found in the River Ely in March 1996. She had drowned after her hands were tied up. | Mrs Skipper's body was found in the River Ely in March 1996. She had drowned after her hands were tied up. |
| Her husband, who died in 2004, was cleared by a jury of the murder. | Her husband, who died in 2004, was cleared by a jury of the murder. |
| Mrs Skipper's body was found by a walker who spotted her two dogs sitting on the river bank on Sunday, 10 March 1996. | Mrs Skipper's body was found by a walker who spotted her two dogs sitting on the river bank on Sunday, 10 March 1996. |
| Her body was recovered from the water near Birdies Lane in Ely where police discovered her hands had been tied behind her back. | Her body was recovered from the water near Birdies Lane in Ely where police discovered her hands had been tied behind her back. |
| South Wales Police will never close an unsolved murder case Det Ch Insp Stuart McKenzie | South Wales Police will never close an unsolved murder case Det Ch Insp Stuart McKenzie |
| It is thought she was attacked while on a late-night walk with her dogs. | It is thought she was attacked while on a late-night walk with her dogs. |
| A murder investigation was launched and five weeks later Philip Skipper was charged with the crime. | A murder investigation was launched and five weeks later Philip Skipper was charged with the crime. |
| However, he was cleared of murder by a jury at Cardiff Crown Court following a trial in 1997. | However, he was cleared of murder by a jury at Cardiff Crown Court following a trial in 1997. |
| Mr Skipper died in November 2004, aged 48. | Mr Skipper died in November 2004, aged 48. |
| On Tuesday, South Wales Police arrested a man on suspicion of Mrs Skipper's murder. | On Tuesday, South Wales Police arrested a man on suspicion of Mrs Skipper's murder. |
| The murder of Mrs Skipper was described as "particularly horrific" | |
| Det Ch Insp Stuart McKenzie, who is leading the investigation, said: "The thoughts of everyone involved in this investigation are today with the family and friends of Karen Skipper whose lives were devastated on March 10, 1996. | Det Ch Insp Stuart McKenzie, who is leading the investigation, said: "The thoughts of everyone involved in this investigation are today with the family and friends of Karen Skipper whose lives were devastated on March 10, 1996. |
| "It is also important that we respect how the family of Philip Skipper are feeling today. | "It is also important that we respect how the family of Philip Skipper are feeling today. |
| "South Wales Police will never close an unsolved murder case and we remain 100% committed to bringing the person responsible for this particularly horrific crime to justice. | "South Wales Police will never close an unsolved murder case and we remain 100% committed to bringing the person responsible for this particularly horrific crime to justice. |
| "Someone out there may have information regarding the perpetrator or at the very least have information that could be crucial to our investigation. | "Someone out there may have information regarding the perpetrator or at the very least have information that could be crucial to our investigation. |
| "Maybe people were reluctant to give information back in 1996, but now we ask them to come forward." | "Maybe people were reluctant to give information back in 1996, but now we ask them to come forward." |
| Mr McKenzie said an incident room has been set up at Fairwater. | Mr McKenzie said an incident room has been set up at Fairwater. |
| DNA profiling | |
| "Officers are on stand-by to take calls, and I would urge anyone with information to contact us so the family of Karen Skipper can finally have justice for Karen and go some way towards giving them closure," he added. | "Officers are on stand-by to take calls, and I would urge anyone with information to contact us so the family of Karen Skipper can finally have justice for Karen and go some way towards giving them closure," he added. |
| The murder of Karen Skipper is one of several unsolved cases South Wales Police are reinvestigating following the development of new techniques in DNA profiling. | The murder of Karen Skipper is one of several unsolved cases South Wales Police are reinvestigating following the development of new techniques in DNA profiling. |
| Chief Superintendent Josh Jones, Divisional Commander for Cardiff, said: "None of us in South Wales Police have ever forgotten the murder of Karen Skipper and our thoughts are with her family and friends and also those of Philip Skipper. | |
| "Ely as one of Cardiff's most close-knit communities was deeply affected by this murder but I know many other communities across the city were also shocked and saddened." | "Ely as one of Cardiff's most close-knit communities was deeply affected by this murder but I know many other communities across the city were also shocked and saddened." |
| Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room at Fairwater police station on 029 2022 2111 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. | Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room at Fairwater police station on 029 2022 2111 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. |