Anger at 'no action' Lamplugh decision

The father of Suzy Lamplugh today spoke of his "anger and frustration" that the man he believes murdered her has not been brought to justice.

Paul Lamplugh was commenting after police told a press conference in London how convicted murderer John Cannan remained a key suspect for the killing.

Miss Lamplugh, then 25, vanished in July 1986 after going to show a house in Fulham, west London, to a man calling himself Mr Kipper. She was declared dead in 1994 but her body has never been found.

Cannan, 47, who was jailed for life in 1989 for the rape and murder of newly–wed Shirley Banks in Bristol, was questioned by detectives last year about Miss Lamplugh and a new file was later submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service.

But the CPS has advised Scotland Yard detectives that there is insufficient evidence to bring charges against him.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Bill Griffiths told the same news conference at Scotland Yard that Cannan had not been eliminated as a suspect.

He said he had been interviewed twice by police in connection with the case.

"More and more questions about his involvement remain unanswered," he said.

And Mr Griffiths appealed for anyone who could assist the inquiry as a witness to come forward.

"It's never too late to speak to us," he said.

"We would all like to see that final piece of the jigsaw put in place to allow the Lamplugh family to move on."

"We are greatly distressed and indeed considerably angered that after all these years it is still not possible to prosecute the person who both we and the police believe murdered Suzy," said Mr Lamplugh.

Mr Griffiths also apologised for "significant opportunities" which were missed during the original inquiry.

He said that in those days the Metropolitan Police dealt with missing people and murder inquiries very differently.

Officers did not have access to information technology, and there was a huge interest in the case.

"No management systems were put in place to cope with this influx of calls," he said.

"It is a matter of great regret for us all at the Metropolitan Police that significant opportunities were missed during the original inquiry.

"If these had been grasped, it may have led us to a prosecution many years ago."

He said that as a result of the reinvestigation into the murder, police had submitted a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service in June this year recommending a prosecution.

"They recently advised us that they felt we had insufficient evidence at this time."

Detectives had left no stone unturned to seek justice for the Lamplugh family, he said.

"It has been a lengthy and complex process that has been driven with vigour and determination," he added.

"We have had the benefit of cutting edge technology, every piece of forensic evidence has been revisited and re–examined.

"I and the other officers involved believe we are closer now to a prosecution than ever before."

He said detectives in the inquiry were proud to be able to progress the investigation, but they were personally and professionally disappointed that they could not bring it to a close at this stage.

And he added: "We greatly regret that we have not been able to find her so far."

And he said that while the Crown Prosecution Service felt there was not enough evidence to prosecute at this time, the investigation was not over.