​

Abhi

9:00am - 11:00am
Email
Listen Live Sunrise Gold

    Search

    Retired detective honoured after helping solve historical Bradford murder case

    Wednesday, 26 February 2020 07:00

    A retired detective from Avon and Somerset who helped crack a 1994 Bradford murder has been recognised with a prestigious Chief Constables Award.

    Amy Shepherd was strangled and murdered at her sheltered accommodation in Folly Hall Gardens in Wibsey in 1994.

    Despite extensive enquiries, the murder of the 86-year-old remained un-detected but in 2018 cold case detectives from West Yorkshire Police took another look.

    Advances in DNA profiling since the murder helped detectives to identify a suspect but they could find no other evidence to strengthen their case.

    Enquiries led them to Avon and Somerset as they tried to trace a retired officer who it was thought could assist.

    They knew a DC 488 Watts had been the officer in the case for a crime which made the pages of the Western Gazette in April 1977 when a 77-year-old lady was robbed.

    They knew they needed to trace ‘DC Watts’ but knew nothing more about them – even if the retired officer was a man or woman.

    But the appeal worked with the former DC 488 Brian Watts coming forward. He remembered the case well.

    He then helped in the case against the suspect – Raymond Kay – by providing evidence used in the trial about how the assault in 1977 was very similar to the assault on Amy, resulting in a conviction.

    Share

    More from Local and National News

    Listener Club

    Get more with the Listener Club!

    • Bhangra Nights Bhangra Nights

      Get over the Weekday blues - Every Tuesday night is party night with the best Bhangra and Urban Asian Beats. The Bhangra Show every Tuesday between 8pm-11pm

    • Legal Show Legal Show

      Once a fortnight we dedicate a show to discussing legal issues and family / matrimonial law in particular. Alternate Friday mornings between 9am-11pm.

    • The Golden Era The Golden Era

      The golden era of Bollywood celebrated in this weekly show full of classics taking you back in time. Every Sunday between 5pm - 7pm

    • Remix Saturdays Remix Saturdays

      Every Saturday evening we turn to remixes of hit songs to get you in the Saturday night party mood! Every Saturday between 5pm - 8pm