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DNA net closes on lesley’s killer

Ben Turner
30/12/2003

DETECTIVES are closing in on Lesley Molseed's killer thanks to DNA evidence.

Almost 800 suspects have been cleared of responsibility for the brutal murder 28 years ago of the 11-year-old Turf Hill schoolgirl since a full DNA profile became available. But 350 more men, many of them likely to be from the Rochdale area, will be investigated in the next six months.

Chief Superintendent Max Mclean, of West Yorkshire Police, who is leading the investigation, said: "The DNA test does mean we can easily and quickly eliminate people from the inquiry.

"Unfortunately, all we have done is eliminate people so far and we are looking forward to the time when we get the call from the laboratory saying we have got a match."

Lesley was abducted from Stiups Lane while shopping for her mother in October 1975.

Her body was found three days later on desolate moorland above the A672 Oldham-to-Halifax road. She had been sexually assaulted and stabbed 12 times.

Local tax clerk Stefan Kiszko was wrongly convicted of her murder and served 16 years in prison before being freed in 1992. He died shortly afterwards.

The murder received national coverage again early this year when the BBC's Crimewatch launched a fresh appeal.

Mr Mclean admitted: "This case is sensitive for West Yorkshire officers because we know we have got it wrong before with Stefan Kiszko and we would dearly love to catch the real killer."

The remaining suspects have been prioritised into ten categories, ranging from people who live in the Rochdale area with convictions for indecency, to people who had been suggested by the public and those on the national paedophile register.

Lesley's family was being kept updated on the progress of the enquiry on a daily basis, Mr Mclean added.

Six detectives continue to work full-time on the case.

Anyone with any information they believe could help the enquiry should contact the incident room at Halifax Police Station on 01422 337047.