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Hilda Murrell murder: MP's call for Hillsborough-style inquiry | Hilda Murrell murder: MP's call for Hillsborough-style inquiry |
(about 2 hours later) | |
MPs are calling for a Hillsborough-style inquiry into the death of Hilda Murrell, a peace campaigner who was abducted and murdered in 1984. | MPs are calling for a Hillsborough-style inquiry into the death of Hilda Murrell, a peace campaigner who was abducted and murdered in 1984. |
Andrew George was convicted in 2005 of the murder of the 78-year-old anti-nuclear campaigner from Shropshire. | Andrew George was convicted in 2005 of the murder of the 78-year-old anti-nuclear campaigner from Shropshire. |
A Commons motion claims there are "serious and substantial doubts about the criminal investigations". | A Commons motion claims there are "serious and substantial doubts about the criminal investigations". |
It calls for all the relevant papers be published by the Home Office and West Mercia Police. | It calls for all the relevant papers be published by the Home Office and West Mercia Police. |
The motion backs calls by human rights lawyer Michael Mansfield QC for a commission of inquiry into the case along similar lines to the Hillsborough Independent Panel. | The motion backs calls by human rights lawyer Michael Mansfield QC for a commission of inquiry into the case along similar lines to the Hillsborough Independent Panel. |
West Mercia Police spokesperson said: "We are satisfied with the policing and judicial processes which led to Andrew George being charged and subsequently receiving a life sentence, for murder." | |
The force said there are currently no new grounds for a further police investigation, but added it was not up to them to decide if a case of this kind should be reinvestigated. | |
"The correct procedure is to appeal to the Criminal Case Review Commission," the spokesperson added. | |
Twenty five MPs have signed the motion, which was tabled by Austin Mitchell, the Labour MP for Great Grimsby. | Twenty five MPs have signed the motion, which was tabled by Austin Mitchell, the Labour MP for Great Grimsby. |
Miss Murrell, a prominent member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), was sexually assaulted and stabbed in 1984. | Miss Murrell, a prominent member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), was sexually assaulted and stabbed in 1984. |
Security services suspicions | Security services suspicions |
George, a builder's labourer with previous convictions, was arrested and charged in June 2003, after his DNA was found to match samples taken from the scene. | George, a builder's labourer with previous convictions, was arrested and charged in June 2003, after his DNA was found to match samples taken from the scene. |
Last year, Miss Murrell's nephew Robert Green relaunched a book claiming there was new DNA evidence from his aunt's fingernails, which could acquit George, who was 16 at the time of his aunt's death. | |
Members of her family have long believed the security services were involved because of her political work in opposing nuclear weapons," said the BBC's political correspondent, Paul Rowley. | Members of her family have long believed the security services were involved because of her political work in opposing nuclear weapons," said the BBC's political correspondent, Paul Rowley. |
Last year, barrister and legal campaigner Mr Mansfield described the security services as "major suspects". | Last year, barrister and legal campaigner Mr Mansfield described the security services as "major suspects". |
The motion notes that Mr Green's book makes the claim "key forensic and other evidence was not disclosed at the 2005 trial and the 2006 appeal of Andrew George". | |
It adds that Mr Mansfield views the book as raising "serious and substantial doubts about the criminal investigations to date into this controversial case". | It adds that Mr Mansfield views the book as raising "serious and substantial doubts about the criminal investigations to date into this controversial case". |