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| Police 'closing in' on Lynette killer Officers investigating the 14-year-old murder of a prostitute in Cardiff say they are closing in on the killer. Advances in DNA testing have enabled police to build up a profile of a man they believe was involved in the murder of 20-year-old Lynette White. Detectives investigating the case have announced they are to carry out a massive DNA screening in a bid to catch her killer. Ms White, 20, was stabbed to death at her flat above a betting shop in the Butetown area on Valentine's Day in 1988. Three men, who became known as the Cardiff Three, were convicted of her murder in 1990 but freed two years later by the Court of Appeal. Now South Wales Police are to take genetic samples from up to 5,000 people they believe are linked to the murder scene at the flat on James Street. Tony Paris, one of the "Cardiff Three" jailed for the killing and later freed by the Court of Appeal, told Radio Wales that he welcomed the latest development. "I am happy they are finally getting somewhere," said Mr Paris. "Let's hope they can find the person or persons, and clear my name," he added. "They shouldn't have arrested us in the first place, because they took our DNA at the time." Mouth swabs At a press conference on Thursday morning, police revealed the new inquiry, launched in September 2000, will include "an intelligence-led DNA screening process." Detectives have identified profiles belonging to men and women who visited the flat. The operation will see forensics teams obtaining mouth swabs from a number of people. Assistant Chief Constable Tony Rogers told journalists: "Using an independent forensic company, Forensic Alliance, South Wales Police has broken new ground in forensic work which had yielded a number of DNA profiles, both male and female, that can be linked to the murder scene. "One particular male profile is of significant interest to the investigating team. "The male is believed to be directly involved in the murder. This is a significant breakthrough." The man on the team's list has already been contacted and arrangements are being made to test his swab sample. Police review And Mr Rogers said the 20-strong team would be boosted if necessary. He added that a review of all undetected murders using DNA technology had led to the move and to the identification of the suspected killer of three teenage girls from Neath in 1973. The latest inquiry followed a 15-month study by senior officers brought in from Lancashire and an independent panel of lay people into the original investigation. It was on the recommendations of their report the police ordered a fresh inquiry. Chief Constable Tony Burden announced police would follow new lines of inquiry and use new DNA technology to investigate the case. Yusef Abdullahi, Tony Paris and Stephen Miller were jailed for life for the murder of Lynette White following a trial at Swansea Crown Court in 1990. Three freed A campaign was launched by relatives, friends and wellwishers who believed them to be the victims of a serious miscarriage of justice. Dubbed the Cardiff Three, their case received high profile support from black American preacher and community leader the Reverend Al Sharpton. He came to Britain to lend his voice to the campaign, claiming the three men were innocent victims of racism as "people of colour". They were freed by the Court of Appeal in 1992 after judges ruled that the convictions based on a confession given by Stephen Miller after 13 hours of questioning were unsafe. In the 10 years since the release of the three men, no-one else has been arrested or charged in connection with the murder. 18th January 2002 |
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