UK UK - Melanie Hall, 25, Bath, Somerset, 9 June 1996

[Eastend Eagle]

Was there no operational CCTV in this area of Bath in 1996?

 

[dotr]

Was there no operational CCTV in this area of Bath in 1996?

rbbm

Councillors and how the Council works | Bath and North East Somerset Council

democracy.bathnes.gov.uk

Location	No. of Cameras	Appendix
Grand Parade, Bath North Parade, Bath York Street, Bath James Street West, Bath Temple Street Car Park, Keynsham	1 1 1 1 4	B1 B2 B3 B4 B5

Band B

Moorland Road, Bath Twerton High Street, Bath Weston High Street, Bath Bear Flat, Bath Newbridge Park & Ride, Bath Chelsea Road, Bath

4 2 3 2 5 3

B6 B7 B8 B9 B10 B11

Band C

Larkhall Saltford

1 2

B12 B13

''The installation of the existing Bath City Centre CCTV system was first started in 1992 with the Charlotte Street Car Park scheme. The main street mounted cameras and Guildhall Control Room became operational in November 1995. Since that time the 29 cameras, PTZ’s (Pan & Tilt units), and Control Room monitors have been working 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

7.2 As a result of this continued use, some equipment is now nearing the end of its operational life and is beginning to provide poor video display performance at the control room and in the case of the PTZ’s, continual failure of operation which can result in the cameras being unavailable for use at critical times.

7.3 In 1996 a request for additional funding of £20,000 for essential CCTV maintenance, to be incorporated into the overall E&M budget, was refused by the Interim Property Sub-Committee. In 1996/97 the E&M budget provision for CCTV maintenance was reduced by £13,000.

7.4 This has meant that only a small amount of planned equipment replacement has been possible which is inadequate to address the current and growing backlog.''

 

[Eastend Eagle]

rbbm

Councillors and how the Council works | Bath and North East Somerset Council

democracy.bathnes.gov.uk

Location	No. of Cameras	Appendix
Grand Parade, Bath North Parade, Bath York Street, Bath James Street West, Bath Temple Street Car Park, Keynsham	1 1 1 1 4	B1 B2 B3 B4 B5

Band B

Moorland Road, Bath Twerton High Street, Bath Weston High Street, Bath Bear Flat, Bath Newbridge Park & Ride, Bath Chelsea Road, Bath

4 2 3 2 5 3

B6 B7 B8 B9 B10 B11

Band C

Larkhall Saltford

1 2

B12 B13

''The installation of the existing Bath City Centre CCTV system was first started in 1992 with the Charlotte Street Car Park scheme. The main street mounted cameras and Guildhall Control Room became operational in November 1995. Since that time the 29 cameras, PTZ’s (Pan & Tilt units), and Control Room monitors have been working 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

7.2 As a result of this continued use, some equipment is now nearing the end of its operational life and is beginning to provide poor video display performance at the control room and in the case of the PTZ’s, continual failure of operation which can result in the cameras being unavailable for use at critical times.

7.3 In 1996 a request for additional funding of £20,000 for essential CCTV maintenance, to be incorporated into the overall E&M budget, was refused by the Interim Property Sub-Committee. In 1996/97 the E&M budget provision for CCTV maintenance was reduced by £13,000.

7.4 This has meant that only a small amount of planned equipment replacement has been possible which is inadequate to address the current and growing backlog.''

Thankyou dotr.
I don't suppose you'd have any idea if the area around the nightclub had CCTV coverage at the time? I'm assuming it didn't as otherwise Melanie Hall would have likely been picked up by the cameras but I'm struggling to make head nor tail from the document.

 

[dotr]

DNA, do they have a profile?
2019 rbbm

'No one has ever been charged with her murder, but now, finally, a breakthrough - new DNA evidence could bring fresh hope of finding her killer.'

'Oct 4, 2019
"Melanie Hall, a 25 year-old clerical worker from Bath went in 1996 missing after a night out with friends. 13 years later, in October of 2009, her remains were found in thin black bin liners, within the undergrowth just off the M5 motorway. Now, police have issued a statement saying that a partial DNA profile has been recovered from the rope used to tie the bag that contained the young woman's remains." -

 

[Skigh]

Father of murdered Melanie Hall says he 'wished he didn't wake up'

The 25-year-old, who was a clerical worker at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, was last seen on Sunday 9 June, 1996, at Cadillacs nightclub in Bath city centre at about 1.45am.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Whoever left the body of murdered clubber Melanie Hall next to a motorway slip road would have known about any nearby CCTV cameras, an expert has said.

The 25-year-old, who was a clerical worker at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, was last seen on Sunday 9 June, 1996, at Cadillacs nightclub in Bath city centre at about 1.45am.

Her remains were not found until October 5, 2009, when a workman discovered them next to the northbound slip road of junction 14 on the M5.

An upcoming Channel 5 documentary about the case is set to air this Thursday.

Professor Jane Monckton-Smith, a forensic criminologist, tells in the programme how whoever dumped Melanie's body there would 'have to know [if] are there any cameras around, what's the likelihood of a police car, a patrol car, a speed camera, all of these different things.'

And Retired Detective Superintendent Steve Livings, who led the initial investigation, tells how the case made him think of double murderer Christopher Halliwell, who dumped the remains of one of his victims in a field.

The Body in the Bag: The Murder of Melanie Hall also hears from the young woman's father Stephen, from Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, who tells of his family's anguish.

 

[dotr]

Sept 25 2023

https://www.bristolworld.com/news/the-murder-of-melanie-hall-what-happened-how-to-watch-new-channel-5-documentary-when-is-it-on-tv-4347660

''A new Channel 5 true crime documentary follows the shocking unsolved disappearance and murder of Melanie Hall, whose remains were found in a plastic bin bag on a motorway slip road near Bristol.
Her death was one of Britain’s most high-profile unsolved mysteries and it shocked people in Bristol and Bath, where Melanie came from.''

''Melanie was declared legally dead in 2004 but in 2019, police revealed they had new evidence when they obtained a partial DNA profile from the blue rope wrapped around the bag containing her remains.
By October 2019, 11 arrests had been made during the police investigation but no one has ever been charged and her killer still remains at large.''

'The Body in the Bag: The Murder of Melanie Hall, airs on Thursday September 28 at 9pm on Channel 5. It runs for 90 minutes.'

 

[RobinCAL]

Melanie Hall: Police relaunch appeal into murder of university graduate almost 30 years ago

Ms Hall's remains were found on the M5 motorway in 2009, 13 years after she vanished while on a night out in Bath.

news.sky.com

 

[dotr]

Police probing Melanie Hall murder believe clubber 'knew her killer'

The 25-year-old, who was a clerical worker at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, was last seen on Sunday 9 June, 1996, at Cadillacs nightclub in Bath city centre at about 1.45am.

www.dailymail.co.uk

rbbm

Avon and Somerset Police have released these images of earrings similar to ones belonging to Melanie Hall (left) and her ring (right) which was found near her body in October 2009
''Superintendent James Riccio also pleaded for the public to help identify who the man in the e-fit is, saying it is 'still very much the focus' of their appeal. ''

In the initial public appeal, police released an e-fit of a man with dark brown hair who possibly had a gold hooped earring and was in his mid to late 20s

''An E-fit was released as part of a public appeal back in 1996 of a man seen inside Cadillacs nightclub with a woman matching Melanie's description.

'This is still very much a focus of our appeal to the public today and we want to know who this man is.'

The man is also described as being 5ft 10ins, of medium build, with dark brown hair, dark brown eyes, bushy eyebrows and clean shaven.

He was wearing black trousers, black shoes and a brown silk shirt.

Police add that it is possible that he had a gold hooped earring in his right ear and wore a 'flashy' gold watch.''

''She was in a relationship with Dr Phil Kurlbaum, who also worked at Bath Royal United Hospital.
The documentary tells how they had split up shortly before Melanie was last seen.''

''The Body in the Bag: The Murder of Melanie Hall airs on Thursday, September 28 at 9pm on Channel 5.''

Replica of a length of rope that was wrapped around bin liners containing Melanie Hall's body,

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Steve, Melanie's father, says in the documentary: “When Melanie was murdered, it wasn’t just one person’s life that was taken, it changed and ruined many lives after. Mine, my wife’s, my daughter’s, my mother’s – there’s obviously someone out there, and probably some people out there, who know what happened to Melanie.

“We’re different people now. That night when she disappeared, we changed – we are not the people we were before. We carry a deep sorrow, a deep grief. We’ve lost something very beautiful and very precious to us that we can’t replace… it’s a family with a piece missing.”

https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2023-09-26/the-unsolved-murder-of-melanie-hall-who-disappeared-from-bath-nightclub

 

[ChocolateChip]

MOO

After re-visiting this case again, I am of the opinion that the perpetrator may have been a motorway/road worker. He’s been described as tanned. People working outdoors would be tanned in the summer. It was a hot summer in 1996.

 

[Eastend Eagle]

Police apparently believe there is significance to the fact that there were 7 knots in the blue rope used to tie Melanie Hall's remains.
Could it be that Melanie Hall was killed by a group of 7 people?

 

[dotr]

Police apparently believe there is significance to the fact that there were 7 knots in the blue rope used to tie Melanie Hall's remains.
Could it be that Melanie Hall was killed by a group of 7 people?

DNA discovery raises hopes of finally finding killer of Melanie Hall

Police say they are confident of solving case, 23 years after NHS worker went missing in Bath

www.theguardian.com

rbbm
''Riccio said the rope was not a single length but four separate pieces knotted together. He said the rope was dirty and included seven knots – three joining the lengths together and four extra ones. The detective said the number of knots was “intriguing” but he could not explain why there were seven.''

One interpretation...fwiw

7 Knots Bracelet: What is the 7 Knots Bracelet Used For? - Wristbands Europe

The 7 Knots Bracelet has become a trendy accessory in recent years, often seen adorning the wrists of fashion-conscious individuals. However, this bracelet holds much more significance than just a stylish accessory. In this 7 Knots Bracelet article, we will explore the history, meaning, and uses...

www.wristbandseurope.com

"The origin of the 7 Knots Bracelet is not precisely known, but it is believed to have originated from the ancient Chinese practice of tying seven knots in a string to ward off evil spirits and protect against bad luck. Eventually spread to other cultures, including the maritime community, where sailors would tie seven knots into a piece of rope to bring good fortune during long journeys at sea.

Reason to Use 7 Knot Bracelet​

Meaning of the 7 Knots Bracelet The seven knots on the bracelet represent seven wishes or desires that the wearer wishes to be granted. These desires can vary from person to person, including good health, wealth, success, love, happiness, and protection. Each knot is believed to hold a unique energy, and tying the knots is thought to imbue the bracelet with the wearer’s intention and energy.''

 

[tes1984]

Police apparently believe there is significance to the fact that there were 7 knots in the blue rope used to tie Melanie Hall's remains.
Could it be that Melanie Hall was killed by a group of 7 people?

It is strange about the rope. Did the killer tie the four lengths of rope together after the murder? Or was the rope already like that in his shed or garage?
I wonder which professions would ever use pre knotted rope.
Scaffolders? Builders? Tow truck drivers? Certain types of engineer?

Melanie's murder seems a weird mix of organised and disorganised behaviour. The killer knows to strip the victim of clothes to remove evidence, yet he also leaves her wrapped in bin bags and the rope. He also doesn't remove Melanie's ring. The secondary location, and indeed the choice of 'dump site' is also interesting for various reasons, as is the killer possibly leaving a set of keys behind.

 

[tes1984]

One important factor is that the police think Melanie spent at least 40 minutes with her murderer in the club. Possibly much more if she was dancing with him hours earlier.
It seems very unlikely that she was abducted outside.
There are a lot of good reasons why the police think Melanie knew her killer. I'd be very surprised if she would have been at all interested in Bellfield, Halliwell or Christopher Clark, or any of the speculated known offenders - or if any of them would ever have been mistaken for the twenty-something composite sketch.

 

[Eastend Eagle]

In early msm, the name of Melanie Hall's boyfriend of the time is given as Dr. Karlbaum. In more recent msm, his name is given as Dr. Kurlbaum. Is there any known reason for this discrepancy?

 

[Eastend Eagle]

In the recent Channel 5 documentary, Melanie Hall was portrayed by her sister to be a shy, timid person.
Melanie Hall's parents have also said that when Melanie Hall was effectively left alone in the nightclub that night, she would have been completely out of her comfort zone.
Her boyfriend Dr. Karlbaum / Kurlbaum said that after he went to the toilet that evening, he emerged to see Melanie Hall dancing with another man. This is surely not the behaviour of a shy, timid woman but a brazen one.

MOO

 

[tes1984]

In early msm, the name of Melanie Hall's boyfriend of the time is given as Dr. Karlbaum. In more recent msm, his name is given as Dr. Kurlbaum. Is there any known reason for this discrepancy?

Good question, and if you watch the recent documentary, and read the press then there are other potential discrepancies relating to the boyfriend.

 

[tes1984]

In the recent Channel 5 documentary, Melanie Hall was portrayed by her sister to be a shy, timid person.
Melanie Hall's parents have also said that when Melanie Hall was effectively left alone in the nightclub that night, she would have been completely out of her comfort zone.
Her boyfriend Dr. Karlbaum / Kurlbaum said that after he went to the toilet that evening, he emerged to see Melanie Hall dancing with another man. This is surely not the behaviour of a shy, timid woman but a brazen one.

MOO

Melanie and her boyfriend had been to a barbecue, before they went clubbing.
I've never heard anything about this barbecue or who was there.
Maybe the boyfriend was teetotal and the designated driver. Otherwise he was a drink driving doctor. The CCTV spots a car similar to his speeding away.

Why was he taking his car to a nightclub? Was he planning to drink tonic water and then drive back at 2am?

 

[tes1984]

Actually the red car was seen driving away, not speeding away.

 

[tes1984]

Thankyou dotr.
I don't suppose you'd have any idea if the area around the nightclub had CCTV coverage at the time? I'm assuming it didn't as otherwise Melanie Hall would have likely been picked up by the cameras but I'm struggling to make head nor tail from the document.

There were only a few locations in Bath covered by CCTV in 1996. The police definitely had access to the available footage that night.