Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
£10,000 reward offered in PCSO Julia murder hunt
Police extend search beyond woods
A £10,000 reward is being offered in the hunt for the killer of community support officer Julia James.
Police had yet to identify any suspects or establish a motive more than a week after Julia, 53, was found dead in woodland near her home last Tuesday.
Crimestoppers is putting up the cash for information leading to a conviction.
Boss Mick Duthie said: “Julia’s life has mercilessly been taken away.
“If you know who was involved, please remember our charity’s unique service guaranteeing your anonymity is here for you.”
Kent Police said it is “broadening its search” beyond the initial crime scene in Snowdown, Kent.
Detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate plan searches at a number of additional locations. Assistant Chief Constable Tom Richards said: “We are keeping an open mind and not ruling anything out.”
It comes after former Met detective Peter Bleksley told Good Morning Britain: “This is a detective’s worst-case scenario on a couple of levels.
“Of course, the brutal and unsolved murder of Julia. But another massive concern will be that there’s a killer out there who may strike again. Sadly, the criminal history books have taught us that if somebody kills and gets away with it, they often do repeat offend.”
Officers have released an image showing Julia walking her Jack Russell, Toby, wearing a light blue waterproof coat, blue jeans and Wellington-style boots. It is the same outfit, apart from the gloves, that she was wearing on the day she died.
Julia’s daughter Bethan Coles, 28, herself a serving Kent police officer, shared a Sky News report of the reward offer last night. She said: “Crimestoppers are offering a £10k reward for help in finding the person who killed my mum. Please share far and wide.”
A dog walker who had been on the same path an hour before Julia was found dead there has told
If someone kills and gets away with it they often repeat offend PETER BLEKSLEY FORMER MET DETECTIVE
of her terror.
The woman in her 50s, who did not want to be identified, told ITV Meridian News: “Every day I walk my dogs there. It’s beautiful. I actually walked the path Julia walked. I was probably there an hour before she died. It’s terrifying. I don’t feel I’ll ever feel safe again.”