Brother asks for help as murder case reopened
THE brother of a murdered girl has told how her death tore his family apart, after police relaunched the investigation on the 20th anniversary.
Schoolgirl Kate Bushell, 14, had her throat cut while walking a neighbour’s dog in what remains one of Britain’s most notorious unsolved murders. Kate’s father Jerry, a retired local government officer, found his daughter’s body in a field close to her home in Exeter, Devon, on Nov 15 1997.
Her killer has never been found, but to mark the 20th anniversary of her death a team of serving and retired detectives and staff, some of whom worked on the 1997 inquiry, have been re-examining key evidence in the hope of finally catching her killer.
Detectives have launched a renewed appeal and say the public still hold vital clues they hope will finally bring the killer to justice. A £10,000 reward has been issued by Crimestoppers.
As part of the appeal Tim Bushell, 35, Kate’s brother, revealed that the murder tore his family apart and said they hope the new appeal could finally get the closure they crave.
He said: “It has had a massive effect on the family, turning our lives upside down. It has been hard growing up and missing the key milestones and any children she might have had. I have missed having a sister growing up and my parents a daughter.”
Tim said he still hopes the killer will be caught and welcomed the new inquiry.
He said: “Obviously in 20 years a lot has changed in my life and probably in someone else’s. Maybe previously they might have thought they had to support or protect someone, or something didn’t add up, but if they had those kind of nagging doubts at the time maybe they are not protecting that person now.”