DNA evidence that proved he killed her

A GROUND-BREAKING DNA technique was the key to convicting Ian Simms.

Without a body, police had to prove that blood and hairs found at his pub, on his clothes and in his car were Helen McCourt’s.

After taking blood samples from Helen’s parents, scientists were able to extract her ‘genetic fingerprint’. It was the first time this technique was used in a criminal trial.

It proved that blood found on Simms’s clothing was 126, 00 more likely to have come from a child of Helen’s parents than anyone else.

But for grieving mother Marie McCourt, one in 126, 00 was not enough. Following a chance meeting with then Merseyside Police Chief Constable John Murphy two years ago, she revealed that, because of advances in forensic testing over the past three decades, she wanted to pay for new tests on the samples to eliminate any doubt that Simms was her daughter’s killer.

The top cop pledged that the force would do it for her.

And the results were unequivocal. Scientists revealed that there was now a one in 1.1 billion chance that the blood came from someone else other than Helen.

‘There was never any doubt in my mind that he did it, but I wanted the highest possible proof,’ Mrs McCourt said. ‘Now there is no doubt he killed my daughter. If he gets out I’m sure he will continue to say he is innocent, but the DNA is damning and I want people to know that.’

As well as blood found on Simms’s clothing that he dumped 1 miles away from the pub, there was also blood in his car boot.

Helen’s earring was found in his car boot, and hairs from Simms’s dog were found on her clothing.