A £20,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the conviction of the killer of Diane Sindall, after the man originally convicted spent 38 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. The 21-year-old florist was murdered in Birkenhead, Merseyside, in August 1986, and Peter Sullivan was wrongfully convicted in 1987. His conviction was quashed in 2025 after DNA evidence pointed to another person.
Diane Sindall was sexually assaulted and suffered extensive injuries, with her cause of death confirmed as a cerebral haemorrhage. Her body was discovered in an alleyway off Borough Road on the morning of 2 August 1986. Sullivan, who had protested his innocence throughout his imprisonment, was released after the Court of Appeal heard that the DNA found at the scene did not match him.
Detectives are continuing to investigate and have eliminated 461 males from their inquiries, with results pending for a further 43 samples. The DNA profile does not match anyone on the national database, and police have conducted voluntary screening in several cities, including Swansea, Perth, London, Hull and Newcastle.
Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson said: “It is devastating for Diane’s family that they are still waiting for answers. We remain committed to identifying the person whose DNA was left at the scene.” She added: “It is never too late to do the right thing.”
Police have appealed for anyone who was on Borough Road on the night of 1 August or early hours of 2 August 1986, or who saw a man running from a fire on Bidston Hill on 3 August, to come forward. The reward, offered by Crimestoppers, is available for three months until 22 April 2026.
