DNA evidence helps UK police close in on Punjab-origin woman’s killer
1996 MURDER five weeks. She had been strangled, possibly with some sort of ligature (a thing used for tying or binding something tightly), some weeks previously, the police said.
Now, detectives from the West Midlands Police have reviewed evidence and a DNA profile has been uncovered which has led to several people being eliminated from the original inquiry, but it does not match anyone on the national database. There are also unidentified fingerprints taken from the address.
Investigator Sab Johal said, “We are keen to trace an Asian man who drove a Jaguar XJS, with the partial registration RAJ, who has been mentioned by other witnesses during the investigation. He was believed to rent a room in Vicarage Road, Handsworth. The man was never identified. We think someone may know who he is or remember the car.”
“If they do, I would urge them to come forward with a name. There are measures we can take to protect the identity of anyone with information. If you are that person and you were not involved in the death of Surinder, you can come forward and be eliminated through DNA comparison. You can come forward in the strictest of confidence.”
The last known sighting of Varyapraj was on February 4, 1996, when she was seen sweeping snow from the alleyway at the rear of her home.the police said she was fit and active and wellknown locally. She was divorced and lived alone, but was known to have three children, a 14-year-old boy and two girls aged 15 and 12 at the time, who lived with her ex-husband.