New DNA clue brings fresh look at murder

THE whole investigation into schoolgirl Nikki Allan’s murder will be looked at again, detectives have revealed.

It has now been 25 years since the seven-year-old was found stabbed to death in a derelict building near her Sunderland home.

But to this day no-one has been brought to justice.

Nikki’s mum, Sharon Henderson, has argued the case was not properly investigated by police and opportunities were missed to convict her daughter’s killer.

And now a detective from Northumbria Police has vowed to review every aspect of the original investigation, after revealing new DNA evidence has been found.

Det Insp Paul Waugh said: “We will be speaking to people who came into the investigation originally. We are keeping an open mind and we are reviewing everything.”

A new team of detectives is now working on the case. And today they revealed that new male DNA has been found that could provide a breakthrough in the unsolved murder probe.

Sharon, 51, said: “The team what’s on Nikki’s case now, I have met them in the last couple of days and I have got confidence in them. Nikki Allan’s mum Sharon Henderson during a press conference at Southwick Police Station in Sunderland, alongside her daughter and Nikki’s sister Niomi Waldron and Det Insp Paul Waugh

“But I do feel like I have been let down by the justice system in the past 25 years. I believe Nikki’s case could have been solved over and over with the information I have given.

“I have been investigating my own daughter’s murder for the last 25 years. Nikki’s case has been left to the side for so long and not investigated properly.

“But I know it’s getting done now. I believe Nikki deserves justice.”

And Det Insp Waugh added: “The police have always kept Nikki’s case open. But I want to look to the future now.

“We all want the same thing, we want this person brought to justice.”