If the Diane Sindall case doesn't qualify for familial and advanced DNA testing (via the 'exceptional circumstances' clause) then I can't see how any future UK case ever will.
UK UK- Diane Sindall, 21, florist/barmaid, enroute home, SA, bitten, & beaten to death, Birkenhead, 2 Aug; '86, *Reopened, new DNA*
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Can you give the context of "the 'exceptional circumstances' clause", please?
I'm no expert in the criteria involved, but from my understanding familial DNA searches can be permitted under exceptional circumstances, if approved by the strategy board of the Forensic Information Database Serices (FINDS).
Such familial searches are not routinely permitted in the UK, but are occasionally approved by FINDS. The Bedsit Killer, David Fuller, was caught a couple of years ago after a search was approved.
Familial searches have been used in the UK since 2003. The chief police officer can approach the board for advice on serious unsolved crimes, where other investigative methods have failed to identify the offender.
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Doesn't a familial search mean that one of his family members must have committed a crime to have their DNA on record. They may not have....most people don't commit any crime...
True but more profiles are added to the database year by year. They used to only take profiles from serious offenders, like murderers and rapists, but now also take profiles from shoplifters, drink drivers etc etc.
I think the science is also evolving so they can part-match profiles to more distant relatives than was previously possible.
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fwiw..
''The familial searching service offered to the police by several UK forensic science providers exploits the size and geographic coverage of the NDNAD and the fact that close relatives of an offender may share a significant proportion of that offender's DNA profile and will often reside in close geographic proximity to him or her. Between 2002 and 2011 Forensic Science Service Ltd. (FSS) provided familial search services to support 188 police investigations, 70 of which are still active cases. This technique, which may be used in serious crime cases or in ‘cold case’ reviews when there are few or no investigative leads, has led to the identification of 41 perpetrators or suspects.''
''The familial searching service offered to the police by several UK forensic science providers exploits the size and geographic coverage of the NDNAD and the fact that close relatives of an offender may share a significant proportion of that offender's DNA profile and will often reside in close geographic proximity to him or her. Between 2002 and 2011 Forensic Science Service Ltd. (FSS) provided familial search services to support 188 police investigations, 70 of which are still active cases. This technique, which may be used in serious crime cases or in ‘cold case’ reviews when there are few or no investigative leads, has led to the identification of 41 perpetrators or suspects.''
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rbbm.
www.wirralglobe.co.uk
“We had been told countless times they had got the wrong person, but without any evidence what could we do?
“It was general gossip. There was one particular event when we were in a pub for a leaving do, it must have been eight years ago, and a young woman approached me.
“She said, ‘the one that got locked up, we all know it was the wrong fella. Everyone knows who it is’.”
"The police have absolutely nothing to go on, they've had to reopen the case and start again. There's DNA filed away now, so anyone who is named and comes forward can be eliminated very quickly and, potentially, clear their name if they've been under suspicion for years.
"There is someone out there whose DNA is going to match and that's the person the police will be looking for now, so they can give everybody closure on the situation.
She added: “It’s been nearly 40 years. People’s consciences must prick them.
“The person who has done this, if they’re still living, must be having real sleepless nights.”
Charity's appeal for justice as Diane Sindall's murder inquiry relaunched
RASA Merseyside was launched to help victims of sexual violence after Diane Sindall's murder in 1986
“It was general gossip. There was one particular event when we were in a pub for a leaving do, it must have been eight years ago, and a young woman approached me.
“She said, ‘the one that got locked up, we all know it was the wrong fella. Everyone knows who it is’.”
"The police have absolutely nothing to go on, they've had to reopen the case and start again. There's DNA filed away now, so anyone who is named and comes forward can be eliminated very quickly and, potentially, clear their name if they've been under suspicion for years.
"There is someone out there whose DNA is going to match and that's the person the police will be looking for now, so they can give everybody closure on the situation.
She added: “It’s been nearly 40 years. People’s consciences must prick them.
“The person who has done this, if they’re still living, must be having real sleepless nights.”
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rbbm.
“We had been told countless times they had got the wrong person, but without any evidence what could we do?Charity's appeal for justice as Diane Sindall's murder inquiry relaunched
RASA Merseyside was launched to help victims of sexual violence after Diane Sindall's murder in 1986
“It was general gossip. There was one particular event when we were in a pub for a leaving do, it must have been eight years ago, and a young woman approached me.
“She said, ‘the one that got locked up, we all know it was the wrong fella. Everyone knows who it is’.”
"The police have absolutely nothing to go on, they've had to reopen the case and start again. There's DNA filed away now, so anyone who is named and comes forward can be eliminated very quickly and, potentially, clear their name if they've been under suspicion for years.
"There is someone out there whose DNA is going to match and that's the person the police will be looking for now, so they can give everybody closure on the situation.
She added: “It’s been nearly 40 years. People’s consciences must prick them.
“The person who has done this, if they’re still living, must be having real sleepless nights.”
For Goodness' sake
An anonymous tip will be enough.
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Abigail Buchanan July 2, 2025
www.yahoo.com
Andrew Malkinson (left), Victor Nealon (top right) and Peter Sullivan were all wrongfully imprisoned for crimes they did not commit - CHP
''In Peter Sullivan’s police mugshot, from the time of his arrest for the murder of Diane Sindall in 1986, he is 30 years old, wide-eyed and somewhat boyish, with an unruly mess of dark hair. Appearing via video link from Wakefield Prison in May this year for the Court of Appeal hearing that would decide his fate, now 68, he was looking older than his years with a greying beard and deep lines etched on his brow. As his conviction was overturned, he held his hand to his mouth and wept.
In total, Sullivan served 38 years in prison for the murder of the 21-year-old – a shocking crime that he did not commit. Like Victor Nealon and Andrew Malkinson, both wrongly imprisoned for rape, Sullivan was released after new DNA evidence exonerated him.''
The string of failures that brought down ‘incompetent’ justice watchdog chief
In Peter Sullivan’s police mugshot, from the time of his arrest for the murder of Diane Sindall in 1986, he is 30 years old, wide-eyed and somewhat boyish, with an unruly mess of dark hair. Appearing via video link from Wakefield Prison in May this year for the Court of Appeal hearing that would...
Andrew Malkinson (left), Victor Nealon (top right) and Peter Sullivan were all wrongfully imprisoned for crimes they did not commit - CHP
''In Peter Sullivan’s police mugshot, from the time of his arrest for the murder of Diane Sindall in 1986, he is 30 years old, wide-eyed and somewhat boyish, with an unruly mess of dark hair. Appearing via video link from Wakefield Prison in May this year for the Court of Appeal hearing that would decide his fate, now 68, he was looking older than his years with a greying beard and deep lines etched on his brow. As his conviction was overturned, he held his hand to his mouth and wept.
In total, Sullivan served 38 years in prison for the murder of the 21-year-old – a shocking crime that he did not commit. Like Victor Nealon and Andrew Malkinson, both wrongly imprisoned for rape, Sullivan was released after new DNA evidence exonerated him.''
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November 19 2025
www.wirralglobe.co.uk
''No match has so far been found for the DNA profile from the scene which led to Mr Sullivan’s successful appeal.
"We have enlisted specialist skills and expertise from the National Crime Agency, and with their support we are proactively trying to identify the person the DNA profile belongs to, and extensive and painstaking inquiries are underway.''
"We can confirm that the DNA does not belong to any member of Diane’s family, nor Diane’s fiancé at the time, and we believe it could be a vital piece of evidence linking the potential killer to the scene.
"To date 456 men have been screened and eliminated from the investigation which was reopened in 2023. The investigation team has obtained most of the samples locally, however, screening has also taken place in Swansea, Perth, London, Hull and Newcastle with the provision of voluntary DNA elimination samples."
''Diane’s murder sent shockwaves through Birkenhead when it happened, and anyone who lived in the area at the time and has any information which could help police with their inquiries, is asked to come forward.
If you were in the area at the time and saw someone acting suspiciously, let us know. The person can be traced, and a DNA sample requested from them, or a relative of theirs if they have perhaps passed away, or they have emigrated to another country.''
''Anyone with information should contact Merseyside Police social media desk via X @MerPolCC or on Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’. You can also report information via our website: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ or call 101 quoting incident reference 23000584997.
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 In an emergency always call 999.''
Merseyside Police give update on Diane Sindall murder investigation
MERSEYSIDE Police has given an update into the investigation into the unsolved murder of Wirral florist Diane Sindall.
''No match has so far been found for the DNA profile from the scene which led to Mr Sullivan’s successful appeal.
"We have enlisted specialist skills and expertise from the National Crime Agency, and with their support we are proactively trying to identify the person the DNA profile belongs to, and extensive and painstaking inquiries are underway.''
"We can confirm that the DNA does not belong to any member of Diane’s family, nor Diane’s fiancé at the time, and we believe it could be a vital piece of evidence linking the potential killer to the scene.
"To date 456 men have been screened and eliminated from the investigation which was reopened in 2023. The investigation team has obtained most of the samples locally, however, screening has also taken place in Swansea, Perth, London, Hull and Newcastle with the provision of voluntary DNA elimination samples."
''Diane’s murder sent shockwaves through Birkenhead when it happened, and anyone who lived in the area at the time and has any information which could help police with their inquiries, is asked to come forward.
If you were in the area at the time and saw someone acting suspiciously, let us know. The person can be traced, and a DNA sample requested from them, or a relative of theirs if they have perhaps passed away, or they have emigrated to another country.''
''Anyone with information should contact Merseyside Police social media desk via X @MerPolCC or on Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’. You can also report information via our website: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ or call 101 quoting incident reference 23000584997.
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 In an emergency always call 999.''
Police bullied me into admitting murder, says man wrongly jailed for 38 years
Merseyside Police said due to the "substantial changes" in the law and investigative practices since 1986, there would be "little benefit" in any formal review of how the case was investigated.
Sure thing Merseyside Police, lets just all move on, eh?
After all, you only cost someone 38 years of their life and likely left a violent murderer walking free.
Merseyside Police said due to the "substantial changes" in the law and investigative practices since 1986, there would be "little benefit" in any formal review of how the case was investigated.
Sure thing Merseyside Police, lets just all move on, eh?
After all, you only cost someone 38 years of their life and likely left a violent murderer walking free.
There should definitely be a formal revue, because of not only the extreme length of the miscarriage of justice, but also because the police seem to have broken the laws regarding interviewing suspects (which were introduced a couple of years earlier to stop such situations ever occurring).
How close are police to finding Diane Sindall's real killer?
How close are police to finding Diane Sindall's real killer?
Peter Sullivan served 38 years in jail after he was wrongly convicted of Diane Sindall's 1986 murder.
www.bbc.co.uk
Why police will not say sorry to Peter Sullivan
Why Merseyside Police will not say sorry to Peter Sullivan
Peter Sullivan accused police of "bullying" him into confessing to the murder of Diane Sindall, 21.
www.bbc.co.uk
Without the DNA evidence this poor man would still be rotting in jail thanks to pseudoscience and a dodgy confession. The great British justice system, folks! How many other Peter Sullivans are there that we’ll never hear about because a crucial piece of the puzzle that might exonerate them is missing?
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22 January 2026 rbbm
www.dailymail.co.uk
'A £20,000 reward has been offered to find the real 'Beast of Birkenhead' who brutally raped and murdered a 21-year-old woman almost 40 years ago.
Peter Sullivan, 68, was wrongly jailed for 38 years for the killing of bride-to-be Diane Sindall in Merseyside on the night of August 1, 1986.
He was released from prison in May last year after new tests showed his DNA was not present in semen samples collected at the scene.'
'Due to his wrongful conviction, Mr Sullivan is now entitled to a possible £1.3million in compensation.
However, legal experts have said that no amount of money will ever be able to reflect the reputational damage he has suffered. ''
''The new suspect identified by new DNA techniques does not appear on the national database, nor is he linked to any other unsolved offences.
Police have confirmed the DNA does not belong to any of Miss Sindall's family or her then fiancé David Beattie, who has since moved to Australia.'
£20,000 reward to find the real Beast of Birkenhead
Peter Sullivan, 68, was wrongly jailed for 38 years for the killing of bride-to-be Diane Sindall in Merseyside on the night of August 1, 1986.
Peter Sullivan, 68, was wrongly jailed for 38 years for the killing of bride-to-be Diane Sindall in Merseyside on the night of August 1, 1986.
He was released from prison in May last year after new tests showed his DNA was not present in semen samples collected at the scene.'
'Due to his wrongful conviction, Mr Sullivan is now entitled to a possible £1.3million in compensation.
However, legal experts have said that no amount of money will ever be able to reflect the reputational damage he has suffered. ''
''The new suspect identified by new DNA techniques does not appear on the national database, nor is he linked to any other unsolved offences.
Police have confirmed the DNA does not belong to any of Miss Sindall's family or her then fiancé David Beattie, who has since moved to Australia.'
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Remember this well. It was quite local. Appalling that she had to go through that. Hopefully someone will come forward now.
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