Police search garden in estate agent Lamplugh murder case

● Home previously owned by main suspect’s mother under investigation

Police investigating the 32-year mystery of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh’s murder are preparing to excavate the garden of a home previously owned by the prime suspect’s mother.

Misslamplughwasdeclared dead, presumed murdered, after going missing aged 25 in 1986, having left her west London offices to meet a mystery client known only as Mr Kipper.

The Metropolitan Police yesterday were leading the search at a Birmingham semi previously belonging to John Cannan’s mother.

The convicted killer, who is currently in jail for rape and murder, was named as the prime suspect by police in 2002 and her death has remained one of the UK’S most notorious cold cases.

Miss Lamplugh’s brother Richard said he hoped her body would be found at the property in Sutton Coldfield so the family could have a “proper goodbye”.

“It has been a long time and we have had our expectations raised before but it would nice if we could finally have some closure,” he said.

Insurance marketer Phillip Carey said he purchased the home in Shipton Road from Sheila Cannan in 1992.

“From our point of view, we bought the house 26 years ago, from the suspected person’s mother, Sheila,” the 52-yearold said.

“We knew who she was, we became aware who she was as we went through the relationship, and obviously it was high profile at the time.”

Asked if he was frustrated at the police returning to the property years later to continue the investigation, Mr Carey said: “There is an element of frustration.”

Forensic activity yesterday was focused in the rear of the garden at the site of a dismantled garage, built on a concrete base. It is not the first time police have been at the family home, the father-of-two said, with officers visiting the garden over several months about 15 years ago. Jim Dickie, the detective superintendant leading the investigation between 2000 and 2006, confirmed his officers did not dig or perform an “extensive” search of the home.

“We had no evidence or intelligence to lead us to believe John Cannan may have secreted Suzy’s body there,” he said.

At the scene, specialist forensics scientists from the private company Alecto arrived carrying equipment throughout the morning. What sounded like an angle grinder was used in the garden. A blue tent was erected over where the garage stood behind gates leading to the rear of the home. 0 Forensic teams at the Birmingham property possibly linked to the disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh, far left, who was due to meet a client named as Mr Kipper, left. A tent was erected in the garden yesterday, below left. Below, Miss Lamplugh’s parents, Diana and Paul