Diane Sindall was murdered in 1986. In a special report, the ECHO breaks down the information which could hold the key to solving the case
Diane Sindall(Image: Merseyside Police)
There are several clues which could hold the key to solving the brutal murder of a young woman 40 years ago. On this day in 1986, Diane Sindall, 21, was sexually assaulted and murdered in the early hours of the morning.
Florist Diane also had a part-time job at the Wellington pub in Bebington and this is where she was on the night of her death. She left work in her blue Fiat van but ran out of petrol on Borough Road in Birkenhead.
She was seen by several witnesses at the time walking along the road between midnight and 12.20am on Saturday morning. Her body was found several hours later by a member of the public in an alleyway off Borough Road. The cause of death was confirmed to be a cerebral haemorrhage.
The killer was dubbed “The Beast of Birkenhead”. Peter Sullivan, now 68, served 38 years in prison for the murder of the bride-to-be. But last year Mr Sullivan’s conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal after crucial DNA evidence was unearthed due to scientific advances.
The DNA was confirmed not to be a match for the man previously convicted of her murder. Mr Sullivan, who alleged he was beaten in his cell by police officers and interviewed without appropriate legal advice, is now living as a free man after decades of protesting his innocence. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is currently investigating Mr Sullivan’s allegations of police abuse.
Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson, who is leading the new investigation into Ms Sindall’s murder, told the ECHO this week that the key to getting justice for Ms Sindall lies in the DNA profile of the killer.
Detective superintendent Rachel Wilson(Image: Liverpool Echo)
To date, the force has eliminated 575 people, with 32 currently under review. Police can trace and request a DNA sample from any person they suspect or even a relative if they have died or emigrated.
Det Supt Wilson said: ”We have a DNA profile which was found on Diane, which belongs to a man, and I believe that man is responsible for Diane’s murder.
“We’ve currently got 32 profiles in with our forensic partners. We wait for the results of that. This is a continuous process in terms of gathering DNA, submitting it to our forensic services partner, and they will have to do the checks and then come back to us to say whether they were actually eliminated or not.”
The detective added she could not put a timescale on how long this process of eliminating suspects will take. But there are other clues to solving this case and Det Supt Wilson is keen for anyone who may still have information about what happened that night or, who the killer might be, to contact police or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously.
Below is the important information which could bring the murderer to justice.
A woman in yellow
A view on the flyover from the Birkenhead Tunnel for traffic to Heswall and Hoylake, approaching Borough Road. Merseyside. Circa 1971.(Image: Mirrorpix)
When the ECHO asked if police were investigating whether the murder could be linked to other attacks in the area, Det Supt Wilson referred to a woman dressed in yellow clothes who was sexually assaulted on the same night Diane was killed.
She said: “There was a young female who was sexually assaulted just prior to Diane being sexually assaulted and murdered on Borough Road.
“That was part of the original inquiry. She gave us an account at the time. She doesn’t remember much else. We do look, as part of the investigation, about what other offences have taken place that were reported at the time, so that is part of the inquiries.”
A man and woman arguing on Borough Road
Birkenhead Central Station on Borough Road, with the former Central Hotel and the flyover to the Birkenhead Tunnel on the right(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
Another part of the original enquiry was the sighting of a man and woman, believed to be Diane, arguing on Borough Road on the night she was killed.
The road is in the centre of Birkenhead and is a major route connecting the town to Bebington in the south, Wallasey to the north, Prenton to the east and Liverpool to the west via the flyover to the Birkenhead Tunnel.
It is used by several bus routes and is also the location of Birkenhead Central Station, Central Library and the Pyramids Shopping Centre, which was under construction in 1986.
In the 1980s, Birkenhead had a busy nightlife scene. At the time of Diane’s murder, many people would have been leaving the numerous pubs and clubs in the area.
Det Supt Wilson said: “At about quarter to midnight, she left the pub where she worked in Bebington. The blue van that she gets out of and leaves on Borough Road is quite distinctive.
Diane Sindall’s blue Fiat van. She left work in her blue Fiat van but ran out of petrol on Borough Road in Birkenhead. She was seen by several witnesses at the time walking along the road between midnight and 12.20am on Saturday morning. Her body was found several hours later by a member of the public in an alleyway off Borough Road.(Image: Merseyside Police)
“Diane was a florist. People knew that blue van. That’s left parked up. (Borough Road) was a thoroughfare through the Birkenhead town centre. Lots of people may have been getting off the train or leaving the pubs.
“We did have original witnesses at the time, the bus driver and taxi driver, who think they’ve seen a couple arguing. I believe potentially that could be Diane with the offender.”
Blood on the killer’s clothes
Det Supt Wilson said something which may jog people’s memory is the blood that would have likely been on the killer’s clothes when he returned home. She said: “When Diane was left on Borough Road, there was lots of blood. I think the person responsible may have gone home with blood on them.
“Then the clothing was taken away from the scene and found on Bidston Hill a couple of days later on fire, so someone stored that clothing somewhere.
“Any concerns at all about anyone, whether it’s a family member or it’s a friend, or someone you knew in the street you weren’t happy with, or you’ve seen them come back that evening and they’ve got some blood on them which is unaccounted for – I know it’s 40 years ago, it’s a long time, but given the significance of Diane’s sexual assault and murder, I think it’s something that sticks in people’s minds.
“When I’m out and about people still talk about the murder of Diane, how horrific it was. So I’m hoping that will generate people’s minds, even if it’s 40 years on.”
Fire on Bidston Hill
Bidston Hill, where some of Diane’s clothes were found(Image: Liverpool Echo/Colin Lane)
During the original trial, the prosecution argued that, on August 2, 1986, smoke was seen from a fire at Bidston Hill, about two miles from the scene of the murder.
On the afternoon of August 3, 1986, walkers on Bidston Hill passed the site of a fire and saw a handbag, the back pocket from a pair of jeans and a bank paying-in slip in Diane’s name.
Other items of her clothing, such as the green high-heeled shoes on the night she was murdered, were never found.
At the time, police said Mr Sullivan had also matched the witness description of the man near Bidston Hill, although he was not picked out of an identity parade.
Det Supt Wilson said: “Someone stored that clothing somewhere and got it in the early hours of Friday, August 2, so I do think potentially someone knows what’s happened. So I would really urge them to come forward and speak to us.”
On whether there has been any more information on this line of enquiry, the detective added: “We’ve had people call in with names. But we’re still really keen to understand how that clothing was taken to Bidston Hill and who left it – was it more than one person?
“The information we’ve got now from original witnesses is still documented, but what we really need now is to identify that DNA profile.”
When asked if police were still searching for the missing items of clothing, Det Supt Wilson said: “Our active line of inquiry concentrates around that DNA profile, which is found on Diane, and belongs to a man. We need to identify who that man is.”
A repeat offender who could have moved abroad?
Floral tribute at the Diane Sindall Memorial on Borough Road in Birkenhead(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
Given the brutal nature of the murder, Det Supt Wilson is open to the possibility that it may not be the killer’s first offence. She said: “I’m keeping an open mind. We know that the DNA profile of the man is not on the database.
“But given the severity of the horrendous assault and murder, I keep an open mind as to whether he’s done something like this in terms of maybe an assault or domestic abuse.”
The profile has not popped up on the database in relation to other crimes. This suggests the man has not reoffended since, may have moved abroad or could be dead.
Det Supt Wilson said: “I’d like to reassure people that we are committed to keeping people safe. That’s what we’re all about at Merseyside Police. There is no suggestion that there is an increased risk to members of the public.
“There is potential that the offender could be deceased. They could have moved abroad. So with our National Crime Agency support, we are looking at inquiries across the country within the Wirral and internationally as in terms of identifying that profile.”
Anyone with information should contact Merseyside Police’s social media desk via X or Facebook @MerPolCC. You can also report information via the website: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ or by calling 101.
Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website here: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously
Information including video footage can also be passed to police via the Major Incident Police Portal – Public Portal