GUILTY UK - Arrest in 1987 'Bedsit Murders' of Wendy Knell, 25, and Caroline Pierce, 20, in Kent

[uburoi1]

Man, 66, arrested over 1987 Bedsit Murders of two women in
breakthrough for one of UK’s biggest unsolved double killings

Detectives have today made a dramatic arrest in one of Britain's longest unsolved double murder investigations.

A man, 66, was arrested today in relation to the 1987 Bedsit Murders - when Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce, who were both in their 20s, were sexually assaulted and strangled to death just months apart.

Police announced today that the man was arrested on suspicion of murdering the two women 33 years ago.

Wendy, 25, was found dead in June 1987 in her flat in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, five months before Caroline Pierce, 20, was found dead in a remote field on Romney Marsh in Kent.

Both women were found naked and their keys were missing.
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[Legally Bland]

Police said David Fuller, from Heathfield, East Sussex, has been charged with two counts of murder in connection with the deaths of Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce in 1987.

He has been remanded in custody to appear before Medway magistrates court on Saturday.

Man charged over murders of Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce in 1987

 

[RobinCAL]

Man appears in court charged with 1987 murders

"He appeared at Medway Magistrates this morning, where he was remanded in custody"

"He will next appear at Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday. He stood in the dock wearing glasses, a grey jumper and a mask, and only spoke to confirm his name. No plea was made."

 

[dotr]

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/13390775/man-charged-unsolved-double-killings-bedsit-murders/#

 

[darkside7323]

Police announced in 2012 they had a full DNA profile. Be fascinating to see if they got the breakthrough from familial DNA on family tree websites...wouldn’t be at all surprised, with that passage of time...unless the suspect has a quite recent criminal record which is unlikely...

 

[Legally Bland]

Crimewatch appeal from 2007, starts approx. 40m30s.

 

[Legally Bland]

Police announced in 2012 they had a full DNA profile. Be fascinating to see if they got the breakthrough from familial DNA on family tree websites...wouldn’t be at all surprised, with that passage of time...unless the suspect has a quite recent criminal record which is unlikely...

Hi,

I hope so, I think they're missing out not doing it.

But the last I read was they weren't going to use it in the UK:

Police won’t use genealogy sites for cold cases | News | The Times

 

[uburoi1]

I'm glad for the arrest and pray they've got their man. I remember when this happened, and have never forgotten -- there's not much more chilling than reading
of a young woman, her life ahead of her, "found dead in a remote field on Romney Marsh."

 

[MarziPanda]

If not forensic genealogy, then maybe he finally slipped up and committed a crime for which his DNA was taken and put into the database, which then matched him to the crime scene DNA.

I love it when arrests are made in cold cases. Some are very solvable, you just need the right breakthrough.

 

[Legally Bland]

6 Dec 2020

Today, appearing at Crown Court, a provisional trial date was set for July 5, 2021.

David Fuller, appearing via video link, spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth.

He was remanded in custody and will next appear in court for a plea hearing on January 8, 2021.

Trial date set for man accused of Tunbridge Wells bedsit murders in 1987

 

[SocksKitty]

This is interesting Bedsit Murders In Tunbridge Wells 1987 OPERATION GREENFINCH - a Freedom of Information request to Kent Police

 

[SocksKitty]

Another interesting thing I found out from another web sleuth is that the Bedgebury Forest murdered lady had previous work connections in the same road as one of the murdered Tunbridge Wells victims.

 

[SaintGertrude]

6 Dec 2020

Today, appearing at Crown Court, a provisional trial date was set for July 5, 2021.

David Fuller, appearing via video link, spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth.

He was remanded in custody and will next appear in court for a plea hearing on January 8, 2021.

Trial date set for man accused of Tunbridge Wells bedsit murders in 1987

What happened to the trial, has it been delayed due to covid.

 

[Legally Bland]

What happened to the trial, has it been delayed due to covid.

Thanks for bumping this. Trial now October.
_____

His trial, which was due to start on July 5 and likely to be heard by a High Court judge, has had to be put back almost four months to October 25.

Judge David Griffith-Jones QC was told the original date was 'unrealistic' in respect of the expected scientific workload and limitations imposed by the COVID-19 restrictions on the laboratories.

Man denies 'bedsit murders' of Tunbridge Wells women

 

[SaintGertrude]

I am surprised not much coverage on this in the local Kent papers as a trial coming up on October 25th.

 

[SaintGertrude]

This letter makes an interesting read. Does anyone know about the rape case around the same time as the two murders which is mentioned in one of the freedom of information letters. Unsolved Murders in Kent 1980 to 2019 - a Freedom of Information request to Kent Police.

 

[Ched]

David Fuller, 67, has admitted responsibility for the killings of Wendy Knell, 25, and Caroline Pierce, 20, in 1987 but denies murder, Maidstone Crown Court has heard
https://twitter.com/pa/status/1446485379130007563?s=21

 

[Ched]

His barrister Oliver Saxby QC told Mrs Justice Cheema Grubb that he is expected to admit the killings on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

A trial is expected to take place at Maidstone Crown Court in November and he was remanded into custody.

(photo of him)
1987 bedsit murders: Accused expected to admit killings

 

[Ched]

Electrician David Fuller admits responsibility for 1987 killings of Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce | Daily Mail Online

 

[elliefant]

Same judge as the one dealing with the Julia James case