DNA ‘CLUE’ TO GIRLS’ COLD-CASE MURDERS
Second trial 32 years later
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A PAEDOPHILE cleared of the sex killings of two nine-year-old girls was accused again after DNA breakthroughs.
Russell Bishop, 52, was acquitted of the murders of Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway who were found dead in woods in 1986.
Both had been sexually assaulted and strangled.
Three years later, the roofer was convicted of kidnapping, indecently assaulting and attempting to murder a girl of seven.
Bishop had been found not guilty of the killings in 1987.
But the Court of Appeal quashed the acquittal because of new scientific evidence.
Brian Altman QC, prosecuting, said a blue Pinto sweatshirt found in the woods during the search for the missing girls had “given up its secrets” three decades on.
Search
Though DNA profiling was available at the time it was “in its infancy”.
It now allegedly linked the sweatshirt to Bishop and the two girls.
Nicola and Karen, who were pals and neighbours in Brighton, vanished after going out to play after school. Their bodies were found the following day after a massive search which Bishop had taken part in.
He was 20 at the time and had a live-in girlfriend and a 16-year-old lover, the court heard.
Bishop was nearby when the girls’ bodies were discovered.
When a police officer asked Bishop how the girls were, he replied: “They’re f***ing dead.’’
But Mr Altman said that would not have been immediately obvious as it was “very hard to see the girls in the undergrowth”.
Karen’s head was lying in Nicola’s lap and both appeared to be sleeping.
Earlier Bishop had told the same officer he was not searching any more.
Asked why he replied: “The Old Bill wouldn’t believe it, would they, if I found the girls and if they were done in I’d get the blame, I’d get nicked.’’
Mr Altman said: “If the defendant had nothing to DAILY STAR, Wednesday, October 17, 2018