Dognapper clue to PCSO murder
THE hunt for the killer of police worker Julia James took a new twist yesterday as it emerged her village was warned about a dognapper seen near the murder scene.
Community support officer Julia, 53, was battered to death on a secluded country path as she walked her beloved Jack Russell terrier Toby.
A man in his 60s, who had a black BMW, asked two dog walkers to “exchange” their pets for cigarettes on March 16, the parish magazine reported.The incident, between
Aylesham and Nonington, Kent, happened a short distance from where Julia’s body was found in Snowdown last Tuesday.
Kent Police have yet to find a murder weapon or a significant clue to identify her killer.
Julia’s uncle, Michael Turnbull, 65, from Canterbury, urged people to help, saying: “Let’s find this monster before he can cause more grief to another family.” He added: “Julia has been taken from us by some worthless, cowardly excuse for a human being for no other reason than his own sense of selfgratification to justify what he did, leaving behind a family full of broken hearts and sadness.”
Sexual
Julia had two children, Bethan and Patrick, and a grandson, Jaxxon.
She was seen leaving her home with Toby at around 3pm. Her body was found an hour later with the dog by her side. Investigators have said a potential sexual motive was “an important line of inquiry”.
They have also not ruled out a link to Julia’s work with the Kent force, most recently in its domestic violence unit. National Crime Agency officers are also assisting.
Julia’s husband Paul, 57, a hypnotherapist she married four years ago, has been too upset to speak about his loss. Son Patrick, 23, has said he is devastated.