DNA hope for 25-year-old murder

Updated 12.52 Thu Oct 30 2008
Keywords: DNA, police

Detectives have developed a DNA profile of the killer of a trainee hairdresser who was murdered 25 years ago.

Colette Aram, 16, was abducted as she walked from her home to her boyfriend's house in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, on October 30, 1983.

"You can never imagine the impact that has had on Colette's family and friends" - Det Supt Kevin Flint

She was raped and then strangled before her naked body was dumped in a field just over a mile from where she went missing. Detectives found it the next day.

Despite the case being the first ever featured on Crimewatch and hundreds of officers being deployed to hunt for the killer, he was never caught.

Now Nottinghamshire Police say they have developed a DNA profile of the man who murdered Colette thanks to advancements in forensic technology.

The profile was formed last year after items recovered during the original murder investigation were re-examined using new forensic techniques.

Since then police have ruled out 1,500 possible suspects, including 800 men who were eliminated after the DNA profile of the killer was compared to their own mouth swabs.

Officers will spend the next three weeks distributing leaflets reminding people about Colette's murder to 15,000 homes in south Nottinghamshire.

Det Supt Kevin Flint, who is leading the investigation code named Operation Odyssey, said: "In 1983 this was a massive investigation. Hundreds of police officers were dedicated to the inquiry.

"I want to ask the public to listen to the account of Colette's family. For this to happen is a parent's worst fear - for your daughter to leave home to walk a short distance and never return and be found murdered in a field - you can never imagine the impact that has had on Colette's family and friends."

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.