Family of 1986 Murder Victim Diane Sindall Appeal for New Information After Wrongful Conviction
The family of a woman murdered nearly four decades ago have made a heartfelt public appeal for information, following the exoneration of a man who spent 38 years in prison for the crime based on new DNA evidence. Diane Sindall, aged 21, was killed as she walked through Birkenhead in Wirral, Merseyside, in the early hours of August 2, 1986.
Wrongful Conviction Overturned by DNA Advances
Peter Sullivan, now 68, was freed last year after scientific advances revealed DNA evidence that proved another unknown man was responsible for the rape and murder. The conviction was quashed, prompting a renewed investigation by Merseyside Police. On Monday, as part of a Crimewatch Live appeal to locate the killer, Ms Sindall's family issued their first statement since the exoneration.
In their emotional appeal, the family said: "Diane was 21 years old with so much to live for. She had a beautiful heart and soul, and was full of love, fun, and laughter which could brighten your day. Diane's hopes, dreams, and plans for the future were cruelly taken away from her, and she never got the wedding or her own family that she wished for. The tragic loss of Diane has been felt throughout our everyday lives with a heartache that will never heal."
They added: "We cannot put into words what we as a family went through at the time of her death, and we are now reliving that terrible time and all that it brings once again. We would like to thank everyone who has already provided information directly to the police or anonymously via Crimestoppers, but we would also appeal to anyone that may still be able to help to please do so, no matter how small or insignificant you think your information is."
Police Investigation and Reward Offered
A reward of £20,000 is being offered for information given exclusively to the independent charity Crimestoppers that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible. Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson, who appeared on Crimewatch Live on Monday, emphasized the ongoing efforts to solve the case.
She stated: "Our work has continued for some time to locate Diane's killer and we will leave no stone unturned to find him and bring him to justice. It is important that we get our appeal out to as wider audience as we can, and we hope that by seeing the original Crimewatch reconstruction and being reminded of the facts of the case will jog someone's memory or encourage them to come forward with information they haven't previously spoken about."
Detective Superintendent Wilson explained the challenges of the original investigation: "In 1986 DNA was very much in the early stages and as such was not available to the detectives who originally investigated Diane's death but her murder was fully investigated by the team. Unfortunately, there is no match for the DNA identified on the national DNA database and we know it does not belong to any member of her family or her fiance at the time. We are working with the National Crime Agency, and with their support we are trying to identify the person the DNA profile belongs to, and extensive inquiries remain ongoing."
Support from Exonerated Man
In an interview with the BBC last year, Peter Sullivan expressed his sympathy for the Sindall family and offered his support. He said: "I really do feel sorry for them and what they're going through at the moment, where they're back at square one and not knowing who the person is that killed their daughter. I don't know what to say to them. I am really sorry for what's happened to their daughter, and if they need – if they want – my support when they go to court with the guy, when they find him, I will go to court with them, I will be there by their side, 100%."
The case highlights the impact of wrongful convictions on both the accused and the victims' families, underscoring the importance of continued investigative efforts and public cooperation in solving cold cases.
