Merseyside Police have launched a fresh appeal for information about the murder of Julie Finley, 32 years after her body was found in a carrot field near Rainford. The 23-year-old was strangled in August 1994, and her nude body was discovered by a cyclist near the A540 on August 6. No attempts had been made to hide her remains.
Last seen alive
Julie was last seen alive at around 10.30pm on August 5, 1994, near the Royal Liverpool Hospital. She was talking to a white man of average build, aged in his 20s or 30s. A witness reported seeing a young woman arguing with a man outside the Wheatsheaf public house in Rainford at about 12.30am that night. The man was allegedly trying to force the woman into a white Transit van, just yards from where Julie's body was later found.
Police appeal
Detective Inspector Sam Davies from the major incident team said: “It is 32 years since Julie was murdered but the investigation into her death remains ongoing. We know that back in 1994 people may have had information about Julie’s death which, either through loyalty or fear, they didn’t bring to our attention. My message would be it is never too late to do the right thing and tell us what you know, no matter how small. One piece of information could be key to solving the case and bringing the person responsible to justice.”
Family's plea
Julie, who trained as a hairdresser at a college in Garston, was a music lover and a fan of Phil Collins. Her life had taken a troubled turn after she began taking drugs in her late teens. In 2014, her parents released childhood photographs in a bid to prompt new information. Her mother Pat said: “Albie and I have been put through 20 years of hell and torment and Julie’s sudden and tragic loss has affected the whole family. It’s difficult to explain what the last 20 years have been like, but for me I still feel like it’s 1994 and I’m constantly waiting for Julie to come through the door, but she never does and never will.”
Tragically, Albie died in 2018 without seeing his daughter's killer brought to justice. Pat told the ECHO: "It was so important to him to get justice for Julie. He had all Julie's pictures and all these little mementoes next to him. He would always say 'looks like we're getting no justice for you girl'. I would at least like justice while I am still alive." She added: "On the Friday before she was found she had a shower in this house and then told me 'I will see you on Sunday for my dinner'. On the Saturday I got a phone call, 'have you heard from our Julie, she's not turned up, is anything wrong?' I wasn't even dreaming that anything was wrong, then on the Saturday night the police knocked on the door. I don't really recall what was said, honest to God, I didn't believe it. I got my other daughter to come with me and I knocked on every door of people who knew Julie. It was like I was floating on air, I kept thinking she was going to come in later that morning."
How to help
Police have said they “remain committed” to helping Julie’s family get justice. Anyone with information about her death has been asked to message @MerPolCC, call 101, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
