Police apology over 1986 schoolgirls murder case

The families of two schoolgirls murdered in 1986 have received an apology from Sussex Police over mistakes in its investigations.

Russell Bishop killed nine-year-olds Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway in a woodland den in Brighton in 1986.

In 1987, he was cleared of their murders, but went on to kidnap another girl, leaving her for dead.

Bishop was convicted of the murders in 2018 after double-jeopardy laws were changed, permitting a second trial.

He died in prison in 2022.

The girls' families said in a joint statement that there were "still more answers to be sought" in relation to the mistakes in the 1980s, but they welcomed the apology.

"It will help with our reconciliation of aspects that we had never fully understood, things that we always suspected but had never been addressed."

Following the case, the girls' families complained to Sussex Police, prompting a review to be commissioned by Jo Shiner, then the force's deputy chief constable.

The independent review, by Surrey Police, has pinpointed failings in the 1986 criminal investigation, which became known as the Babes in the Wood case.

In addition, Nicola's father Barrie should not have been arrested as part of a linked inquiry in 2009, Surrey Police said.

Sussex Police said Ms Shiner, now Chief Constable, had separately met with both families to formally apologise.

Ms Shiner said: "Throughout the years, the families have continued to engage constructively with Sussex Police and I pay tribute to their strength, their determination and their dignity.

"When I was deputy chief constable I made a commitment to ensure that all their outstanding complaints were answered, and that Sussex Police would take full responsibility for any past mistakes no matter the passage of time.

"It is clear that, despite the successful prosecution in 2018, mistakes were made in those earlier investigations in 1986 and 2009."

"This two-fold apology from Sussex Police is very much welcomed," the families said.

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