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DNA link found in 1975 killings | DNA link found in 1975 killings |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A DNA link has been found in the unsolved murders of two young women more than 30 years ago. | A DNA link has been found in the unsolved murders of two young women more than 30 years ago. |
Eve Stratford, 22, was stabbed to death in Leyton, east London, in 1975. Lynne Weedon, 16, was raped and killed in Hounslow, west London, later that year. | Eve Stratford, 22, was stabbed to death in Leyton, east London, in 1975. Lynne Weedon, 16, was raped and killed in Hounslow, west London, later that year. |
No-one was charged with either murder, but detectives re-examining the cases found the same DNA on both victims. | No-one was charged with either murder, but detectives re-examining the cases found the same DNA on both victims. |
Det Ch Insp Andy Mortimer said: "We believe the killer could have confided in someone over the years." | Det Ch Insp Andy Mortimer said: "We believe the killer could have confided in someone over the years." |
Forensic advances | |
Miss Stratford, who worked as a club waitress or "bunny girl", was last seen walking home in March 1975. | Miss Stratford, who worked as a club waitress or "bunny girl", was last seen walking home in March 1975. |
Later that day a neighbour heard a conversation between a man and woman coming from her flat, followed by a loud thud. Miss Stratford was found tied up with her throat cut. | Later that day a neighbour heard a conversation between a man and woman coming from her flat, followed by a loud thud. Miss Stratford was found tied up with her throat cut. |
In September that year schoolgirl Lynne Weedon was hit over the head with a blunt instrument as she walked home. | In September that year schoolgirl Lynne Weedon was hit over the head with a blunt instrument as she walked home. |
She was then thrown over a fence into the grounds of an electricity sub-station, where she was raped. Miss Weedon later died of her head injuries. | She was then thrown over a fence into the grounds of an electricity sub-station, where she was raped. Miss Weedon later died of her head injuries. |
Lynne Weedon, 16, was raped and killed in September 1975 | |
DCI Mortimer said advances in forensic science had enabled detectives to re-examine such cases "with the very real possibility that some progress can be made that would not have been possible previously". | DCI Mortimer said advances in forensic science had enabled detectives to re-examine such cases "with the very real possibility that some progress can be made that would not have been possible previously". |
Detectives now believe the same man killed both young women, and that he may have confided or "bragged about" the murders in the intervening years. | Detectives now believe the same man killed both young women, and that he may have confided or "bragged about" the murders in the intervening years. |
"They have kept a dark secret for the last 30 years and I'm sure they would have felt the need to share this burden with someone," DCI Mortimer said. | "They have kept a dark secret for the last 30 years and I'm sure they would have felt the need to share this burden with someone," DCI Mortimer said. |
Miss Weedon's mother Margaret said: "The actions of this one unknown person were the same for both lots of family and friends - our girls would never bring home friends, new interests, grandchildren." | Miss Weedon's mother Margaret said: "The actions of this one unknown person were the same for both lots of family and friends - our girls would never bring home friends, new interests, grandchildren." |
She added: "The world is a very different place now and we had our doubts over the wisdom of spending time and money on investigating something which happened all that time ago. | She added: "The world is a very different place now and we had our doubts over the wisdom of spending time and money on investigating something which happened all that time ago. |
"But it would be very satisfying to have a final closure to the events of 1975 and to know what happened and why." | "But it would be very satisfying to have a final closure to the events of 1975 and to know what happened and why." |
Earlier this month the government announced that forensic scientists would begin reviewing an extra 4,000 unsolved sex crimes. | Earlier this month the government announced that forensic scientists would begin reviewing an extra 4,000 unsolved sex crimes. |
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