Reports of serial killer confession to killing of Leeds student in 1990

A CONVICTED serial killer has reportedly confessed to killing a Leeds student in France 27 years ago.

Joanna Parrish, 21, from Gloucester who was studying at Leeds University, was raped and murdered in Auxerre in 1990, while working as an English teacher during her gap year.

Convicted rapist and murderer Michel Fourniret, dubbed “the Ogre of the Ardennes”, had for a long time been the prime suspect in the brutal attack on the student.

And according to Ms Parrish’s family lawyer the killer has finally admitted to her murder.

Lawyer Didier Seban said that over the past week Fourniret had appeared in court “two to three times” and admitted the killing on each occasion. He added that Fourniret would now be questioned further, which “should lead to charges”. Ms Parrish’s father, Roger Parrish, said the confession had come as a “shock” and that he hoped it was not another “false lead”. In May 2008 Fourniret was sentenced to life in prison for the joint rape and murder of seven girls. Joanna was found dead a week before she was due to finish teaching English. Her parents had been planning to visit her and take her belongings home, before they got the devastating news. In 2015 to mark the 25th anniversary of her murder friends and relatives gathered in St George’s Fields near Leeds University in order to plant a cherry tree in her honour.

Katie Kirk, 46, a freelance copywriter and proofreader, who was a close friend of Joanna’s, said: “We lived life in glorious technicolour - every day was sharp and sweet. I rarely saw her without a smile on her face.

“When we heard that Jo had been murdered, it seemed too unreal and too painful to accept. Those of us on the same course returned from France in disbelief.

“Our final year was not the same without her. The stone of grief didn’t become a pebble for a long, long time.”

The ceremony included a speech from Joanna’s family members, as well as a statement from Melvyn Bragg, the chancellor of Leeds University.

A memorial plaque was also put up in Joanna’s honour.