Continued appeal to find Diane Sindall's killer 40 years on
Diane was murdered on August 2nd 1986.
Merseyside Police are continuing to appeal for people to come forward with information on the 40th anniversary of the murder of Diane Sindall in Birkenhead.
Diane, 21, was murdered in the early hours of Saturday 2 August 1986. Her body was discovered by a member of the public in an alleyway off Borough Road several hours later. She had been sexually assaulted and suffered extensive injuries.
Following advances in forensic science, the investigation into Diane’s murder was reopened in 2023 after new DNA evidence was confirmed not to be a match for the man previously convicted of her murder.
Extensive enquiries, including working with the National Crime Agency to identify the person the DNA profile belongs to, remains ongoing.
A Crimestoppers reward of up to £20,000 for information given exclusively to the charity that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for Diane’s murder remains in place.
Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson said: “It’s unthinkable that 40 years on from Diane’s murder her killer has still not been brought to justice but I want her family, friends and the wider public to be reassured that we are doing everything in our powers to find that person.
“We have a dedicated investigation team who have been painstakingly reviewing the original investigation, re-interviewing witnesses, carrying out DNA tests and following up new information submitted by the public.
“We remain determined that Diane’s family get the answers they have waited so long for and that we get justice for Diane.
“Forty years is a long time but it is never too late for someone to do the right thing and come forward with any information they have which may help to assist our enquiries.
“In 1986 DNA was very much in the early stages and as such was not available to the detectives who originally investigated Diane’s death but her murder was fully investigated by the team.
“We believe the DNA profile will be key to finding the killer and to date have eliminated 575 people with 32 currently under review.
“It is also possible that someone could hold information about the identity of Diane’s killer but either through fear or a misplaced sense of loyalty has not yet come forward.
“To those people I would say please have the courage to tell us what you know.”
Anyone with information should contact Merseyside Police social media desk via X or Facebook @MerPolCC. You can also report information via their website: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ or by calling 101.
Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website here: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously
Crimestoppers is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. No-one will ever know you contacted them. With Fearless.org and Crimestoppers-uk.org, computer IP addresses are never traced. For telephone calls to the independent charity’s UK Contact Centre, there is no caller line display and no 1471 facility. You will stay 100% anonymous. Always.