Did this man murder six-year-old Rikki when he was just 13?
Suspect, 38, is charged over killing in 1994
A FATHER has been charged with the murder of a young boy a quarter of a century ago.
James Watson, 38, is accused of killing six-year- old Rikki Neave in November 1994. He would have been 13 at the time.
The child was seen leaving for school from his home on an estate in Welland, Peterborough, but never returned.
Rikki’s naked body was found the following day in a wooded area nearby. He had been strangled.
Mother Ruth, now 50, was charged with his murder but was acquitted by a jury at Northampton Crown Court.
She served seven years in prison after admitting child cruelty charges against her son and his two sisters. She was released in 2000.
Two years ago she said: ‘As each day, each week and each month slips by it is getting harder to believe his killer will be found and brought to justice.’
Father of one Watson, of no fixed abode, is due to appear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Thursday. He was previously arrested in connection with the case in April 2016 but was later released on bail.
The Crown Prosecution Service subsequently decided to take no action due to insufficient evidence.
Watson, whose mother lived on the same estate as Rikki’s family, has always strongly maintained his innocence and has accused police of trying to frame him for the murder. Recent posts on his Facebook page include a photo of a tent he had been staying in in a forest and an appeal to friends to donate money to a cat charity.
Rikki was wearing his school uniform when he disappeared on November 28, 1994. The grey trousers, white shirt and blue coat were found in a bin near where his body was found.
The original murder inquiry found a number of children had reported assaults in the area nine months before Rikki died.
In 2018, police confirmed that a team of 25 detectives from three forces had taken more than 1,200 statements and created 1,300 actions in relation to the case.
Cambridgeshire assistant chief constable Paul Fullwood, who is leading the high-profile investigation, said yesterday: ‘The cold case review into Rikki’s murder was undertaken by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit in 2014. ‘We began re-investigating the case in 2015 and, following extensive investigative work, we have now been authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service to charge James Watson in connection with his death.’
Chief Crown prosecutor Chris Long added: ‘The CPS has authorised Cambridgeshire Constabulary to charge James Watson, 38, with murder.
‘Rikki Neave’s family have been informed.
‘The decision was made after a careful consideration of all the evidence presented to us by Cambridgeshire Constabulary as a result of their cold case review and lengthy investigation.’
‘Naked body found in woods’