Police missed opportunities to prosecute double killer

POLICE missed their chance to catch a double killer, after the same officers failed to link separate investigations in which two of the man’s girlfriends had been found dead.

A new review into how Sussex Police allowed murderer Robert Trigg to escape prosecution for years has exposed “potential” shortcomings.

The force has already exonerated its own officers three times, before a fourth, independent review was carried out by a different constabulary.

Trigg, a chef, was jailed for life last year for the murder of Susan Nicholson, 52, who was found dead on her sofa in 2011, and the manslaughter of Caroline Devlin, 35, in 2006. Her body was discovered in their bed.

Despite a lengthy history of domestic violence, officers treated Trigg as a “bereaved lover” rather than a suspect.

It took Ms Nicholson’s elderly parents six years and their life savings to campaign for both deaths to be re-investigated.

Now, the force has referred itself to the police watchdog following the findings of the independent review by Thames Valley Police.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “Thames Valley Police have completed an independent review of the investigations. The review refers to potential missed opportunities and we have referred it to the IOPC [Independent Office for Police Conduct] for their consideration.”

“We are truly sorry it took so long to get justice, and it is important we learn any lessons and provide answers.”

At least two of the same police officers were involved in both investigations and were aware of Trigg’s connection to the cases.