Well I went out for a walk the other day and ended up at the coppice (wasn’t my plan to end up there but obviously reminded me of the case). After which I started reading the threads on here and watched the documentary but one thing didn’t make sense to me. RP was seen pulling a bin on to the coppice. And then taking it to the cemetery.
On the CCTV the bin looks new and is clean. If that had been dragged on to the coppice it would have been muddy or have grass on it. So I went for another walk after figuring out the route he had been with the bin. And working out the way LB was said to have headed.
ZB had mentioned seeing someone on the coppice following her before she left the coppice. That would place RP towards the entrance of the coppice at the top of Peel Park Ave (the route LB was taking). So I walked that way and thought what about if LB had seen RP at that entrance and felt wary so turned left to walk down the lane to the side of the coppice (highlighted with the larger blue and red circles), changing her route but not making it obvious to RP that she was bothered by him. The lane ends up in a dark ally section and there is what looks like an allotment/back yard next to some garages. I have marked out on the attached map my thoughts although ZB could have left out of a different entrance but did come down cardiac lane from what I have read. I would imagine she did not pass LB as she would have mentioned the man in the hoodie to her (most probably). As the bin has no dirt on it that makes me believe that whatever happened was in the circle on the map. As just after that section there is a very muddy area that would have affected the bin wheels. And would have made obvious tracks to show the direction he had been with the bin. The fence is also bent over so the bin could have been leant on it to move the body. The other point is that if you look at the direction that LB took she avoided the ally even though that is the shortest route. I must say I felt uneasy walking down it! There was some plastic sheeting in the garden area just past the fence which also made me feel uneasy and the area is very overgrown. That also feels to me like there could still be evidence there if the police were concentrating on her going on to the coppice. I may well be wrong though, and it’s all circumstantial!
Your assumption of ZB's route and where she saw RP is incorrect. Review the statement of her evidence from the trial together with a map and you will be able to follow the route she took and the adjacent paths that she saw RP whilst on her walk. I know there was comment on WebSleuths about this, I believe with supporting annotated maps, during the trial as ZB gave her evidence.
Remember that this offence took place in early August, when the ground was much drier. The ground conditions in October 2021 are not representative of those in early August 2019. Therefore your assertion about dirt on the bin does not hold water.
The alleyway you mention, the adjacent Whittakers Arms pub and the area of the sheds behind the Whittakers Arms were searched comprehensively by police. No crime scene was ever established, nor where the body was kept post mortem prior to being moved to the cemetery.
There was somewhat disturbing CCTV footage of someone (RP) carrying a bag, coming from the area of the 'chicken sheds' late at night, adjacent to the rear service road that ran along the back of LB's home address, and heading in the direction of Burnley Road and the Cemetery. I believe it was the evening of the day that LB was last seen.
I recall that my thoughts were that LB may have been attacked in the dark alleyway you mention, possibly whilst returning from the Coppice. RP may have been following LB on the Coppice, like he did ZB. LB may have realised that that she was running late to get back for her daughter, who was due to come for tea at Lindsay's with her boyfriend, and she took the alleyway as a more direct route rather that Peel Park Avenue. RP may have followed and attacked LB in the alleyway.
The field with the various sheds, behind the Whittakers Arms, is adjacent to the alleyway and RP may have been able to move LB into that area to return later with the plastic sheeting, saw, knife and bin. As I said before, someone was seen on CCTV leaving from the field much later that night. I believe this is where LB was kept before being moved.
Like so many of these terrifying offences, we and more importantly the family, are unlikely to ever know the full facts of what took place. This is either because the killer has compartmentalised the event in their memory or as is often the case with narcissistic/psychopathic killers, they use it as a form of control over those left behind, which tells you all you need to know about their lack of empathy and any remorse.