Merseyside detectives are on a mission to identify the real killer of Diane Sindall, who was brutally murdered back in 1986. As part of their investigation, officers have tested the DNA of hundreds of men, including a previously suspected individual who has also been retested.
Peter Sullivan, who unjustly spent 38 years imprisoned due to a wrongful conviction, had been accused of violently attacking Diane Sindall in a disturbed sexual crime in Birkenhead on that tragic night. Fortunately, the investigation took a new turn in 2023 when DNA testing revealed a male match which had previously gone unidentified, aiding Sullivan in his successful appeal in May this year.
Since the case was revived, the police confirmed that they have conducted DNA tests on 456 men, all of whom have been cleared of suspicion. This included both the victim’s family members and her former fiancé.
Interestingly, one of the alternative suspects, arrested back in 1986, was also re-evaluated recently. Witness descriptions indicated this man’s presence near Bidston Hill, closely following the murder, where fragments of Sindall’s clothing were subsequently discovered.
This suspect was eventually released without charges when insufficient evidence was presented for a direct connection to the crime. Although Mr. Sullivan had a witness account matching his appearance with the description of a man seen in the same vicinity, he was never singled out during identity parades.
Recently, detectives announced that their searches in places such as Australia, London, Swansea, Newcastle, and Hull were also part of this thorough DNA testing process. In a notable interview with the BBC, Sullivan detailed the grievous circumstances surrounding his false confession, stating he faced police brutality and manipulation during multiple interrogations.
At the time of her murder, Miss Sindall was 21 years old, working as a florist and part-time at a local pub while planning her wedding. The night of August 1, 1986, after finishing a shift at the Wellington Pub in Bebington, she was tragically attacked and dragged into a side-alley where her lifeless body was discovered the following day.
The forensic examination revealed a brutal attack. Diane suffered severe head injuries, along with other extensive trauma, before her body was recovered. Despite collecting semens from the crime scene, the forensic technology to analyze it accurately was lacking at that time.
As public attention mounted over the years, local knowledge and tips began to surface pointing towards Sullivan, especially after a BBC Crimewatch feature urged witnesses to come forward. Yet circumstantial evidence, from him being in a nearby pub to eyewitness accounts of seeing him running close to Bidston Hill, played more heavily in implicating him.
Peter Sullivan’s Ordeal
Post conviction, Sullivan vividly depicted his harrowing experience, encompassing 22 separate interviews where he lacked adequate legal counsel for an extended period. He expressed frustration, having been fed false information intended to lead to a coerced but inaccurate confession.
“I can’t understand why they went after me like that,” Sullivan said. “Their actions will haunt me forever. I have lost so much during this ordeal, and all I seek is an acknowledgment of what I went through.”
The police recently reported they are looking into Sullivan’s accusations further and contacted the Independent Office for Police Conduct for additional guidance. In a public statement, they assured the continuation of their exhaustive efforts with assistance from the National Crime Agency, aiming to definitively track down the suspect whose DNA remains unidentified.
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