Dig ‘ongoing’ at home linked to Lamplugh murder suspect

SEARCHES of a back garden in connection with the murder of Suzy Lamplugh are continuing into a second week.

Miss Lamplugh, who was from London, disappeared in 1986 and was declared dead — presumed murdered — in 1994, although a body has never been found.

The Metropolitan Police Ser- vice said the searches, which began on October 29 in Shipton Road, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, are still “ongoing”.

The force said officers, supported by specialist forensics teams and West Midlands Police, would remain on site until the search is complete.

The back garden and semi-detached house were once owned by the mother of convicted killer John Cannan.

Cannan was named by the Met in 2002 as the prime suspect over Miss Lamplugh’s murder.

At the end of last week, Cannan expressed hopes that the search of his mother’s former home will conclude swiftly to “end speculation” that he murdered 25-year-old Miss Lamplugh, his solicitor has said.

In his first comments since excavations began, Cannan reiterated his denial that he killed the estate agent who went missing 32 years ago.

Solicitor Matthew Claughton received a letter on Friday from his client in Full Sutton prison, where he is serving a life sentence for murdering Bristol newly-wed Shirley Banks.

Mr Claughton said: “John Cannan continues to deny involvement in the 1986 disappearance of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh. Mr Cannan hopes that the search of his mother’s former home will conclude swiftly so as to bring to an end speculation as to his involvement in this matter.”

“Cannan has no idea why the search has come now, with the development coming ‘out of the blue’,” the solicitor added.

Estate agent Miss Lamplugh went missing, having left her west London offices to meet a mystery client known only as Mr Kipper.