Suspect hopes search ‘will end claims’ he killed estate agent

SUSPECT JOHN Cannan hopes the search of his mother’s former home will conclude swiftly to “end speculation” that he murdered Suzy Lamplugh, his solicitor has said.

In his first comments since excavations in Sutton Coldfield began earlier this week, Cannan reiterated his denial that he killed the estate agent who went missing 32 years ago.

Specialist forensics teams have been digging in the garden of the semi-detached home in the West Midlands for five days, with the search expected to continue into the weekend.

Solicitor Matthew Claughton received a letter on Friday from his client in Full Sutton prison, where he is serving a life sentence for murdering Bristol newlywed Shirley Banks.

Mr Claughton said: “John Cannan continues to deny involvement in the 1986 disappearance of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh.

“Mr Cannan hopes that the search of his mother’s former home will conclude swiftly so as to bring to an end speculation as to his involvement in this matter.”

Cannan has no idea why the search has come now, with the development coming “out of the blue”, the solicitor added.

Miss Lamplugh was declared dead, presumed murdered, after going missing at the age of 25, having left her west London offices to meet a mystery client known only as Mr Kipper.

Cannan was named by police as their prime suspect in 2002 and Miss Lamplugh’s death has remained one of the UK’s most notorious cold cases.

Three days before her disappearance, Cannan had been released from a hostel at Wormwood Scrubs Prison, where he served a six-year sentence for rape.

He was also connected to the case due to his strong resemblance to an e-fit of her abductor and, according to reports, he was nicknamed Kipper while serving his earlier sentence.