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Jersey bones 'may suggest murder' | |
(21 minutes later) | |
Bone fragments found in the cellar of a former Jersey children's home "could suggest homicide", police say. | Bone fragments found in the cellar of a former Jersey children's home "could suggest homicide", police say. |
They have been investigating Haut de la Garenne since claims of abuse and the discovery in February of what was thought to be part of a child's skull. | They have been investigating Haut de la Garenne since claims of abuse and the discovery in February of what was thought to be part of a child's skull. |
Seven milk teeth and 30 bone fragments have been found, with evidence that a body or bodies had been cremated in a fireplace at the former home. | |
Deputy Chief Officer Lenny Harper said there were about 70 suspects. | |
'Unexplained death' | |
"Some of the bones do indicate a homicide or an unexplained death. Our anthropologist has indicated certain features on one or two of the bones that we are looking at. | |
"There is no doubt there are the remains of children in that cellar and no-one would expect us to walk away and leave it." | |
He continued: "We have sent the bones off to be tested and if the results show they died in the '50s or '60s or more recently we would say it is a homicide inquiry." | |
Previously there were about 40 suspects, but Mr Harper said that had risen to 70. | |
"They will all be questioned and most of them will be arrested," he added. | |
More than 160 people who spent time at the home have come forward with claims of abuse between the early 1960s and 1986, when the home closed. | More than 160 people who spent time at the home have come forward with claims of abuse between the early 1960s and 1986, when the home closed. |
Wood | |
Mr Harper earlier this week defended his decision to withhold information about a "skull" fragment, which it is now believed to be either wood or coconut. | |
Deputy Chief Officer Lenny Harper said he thought disclosing doubts about the fragment would "distract from the inquiry". | Deputy Chief Officer Lenny Harper said he thought disclosing doubts about the fragment would "distract from the inquiry". |
No one has been arrested in connection with the investigation, which began 18 months ago. | |
However, the investigation did uncover allegations of indecent assault against a former home warden, Gordon Wateridge. | |
He appeared before magistrates earlier in May, facing three charges to which he has yet to enter a plea. |