According to police, Peter Sullivan spent almost four decades behind bars after being wrongly accused of beating 21-year-old Diane Sindall to death. Mr Sullivan was freed last year after a DNA profile was recovered from the murder scene, and it proved to be categorically not a match for him. Merseyside Police have re-opened the case and are taking a look at his DNA evidence afresh, after ruling out 500 men through testing.
Police are turning their attention to DNA found at the murder scene. Semen was left at the murder scene and the DNA was not matched by anyone on the national database. That sample is now being tested for potential familial links to see if any relatives of the killer can be tracked down.
Police hope 'familial' DNA searches could track the killer down. Familial DNA is a forensic technique that identifies potential suspects by finding partial matches and database records of relatives, including parents, siblings and children. The UK National DNA Database (NDNAD) holds more than 6 million records of criminals, suspects and crime scenes.
Det Supt Rachel Wilson told how they can use new DNA techniques, which were not available in 1986, and are now retesting to see if they can get a partial DNA match with potential family members of the suspect. She said, 'So even if the man responsible has now passed away or emigrated. ' The identity of the 'Beast of Birkenhead' and their current whereabouts remain unknown.
Diane Sindall was killed in a frenzied sex attack in Birkenhead, Wirral, on August 1st, 1986, after her car ran out of petrol. Sindall was doing part-time bar work to save up for her wedding when she was ambushed on her way home from a late shift at the Wellington Pub in Bebington. 45pm driving her blue van which then ran out of petrol.
She is thought to have then set out on foot along Borough Road, either to get to a bus stop or to try and find an all-night garage. She was wearing jeans and a 'very distinctive white top with big green spots on'. Two witnesses, who worked in a shop at the time, said they saw Diane park the blue van up after running out of petrol.
03am. Seven minutes later a taxi driver spotted her. Det Supt Rachel Wilson said, 'Semen was left at the murder scene on Borough Road.
That DNA profile is not on the national database. ' She also stated, 'It was a brutal murder. ' Det Supt Wilson noted, 'Her death has a significant impact on the community of Birkenhead.
' That teen girl was wearing a distinctive yellow top and pants. The exact connection between this assault and Diane Sindall's murder is unclear. The fresh appeal was focusing on a couple seen arguing on Borough Road, close to where Sindall was last seen alive.
The identities of this couple and whether they are suspects or witnesses have not been disclosed. The specific new DNA techniques being used and whether they have yielded any partial matches have not been revealed.