The brutal murder of a Preston woman over 35 years ago has finally been solved, thanks to advances in forensic technique.
Joan Mary Harrison was 26-years-old when she was bludgeoned to death in an abandoned garage on Berwick Road, Avenham on the 20th November 1975.
But until now, police have been unable to identify Christopher Smith, from Leeds, as her killer.
He died in 2008, aged 60, without facing any punishment for his crime - although he did have a string of criminal convictions, including theft and sexual assault.
Police found a note in Smith’s home following his death, dated the 29th January 2008, in which he pleaded with God for forgiveness.
He also stated that he loved his daughter and grandchildren, and had remained out of trouble for 20 years.
Detective Chief Superintendant for Lancashire Constabulary, Graham Gardner, said: “It is with some regret that Smith is not still alive to stand trial for his crime.
“One can only try to imagine the sadness endured by Joan’s family over the years, and I truly hope this development will finally bring some closure surrounding their tragic loss.”
The case gained a lot of attention after being linked with the infamous Yorkshire Ripper murders, but that has since been disproven.
DNA found at the scene of the crime has matched with Smith’s - who was swabbed when arrested for drunk driving in 2008.
However, he died from terminal illness only six days later.
The Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed that they gathered enough evidence to take Smith to trial, had he still been alive.
John Dilworth, head of Lancashire & Cumbria Complex Casework Unit, said: “I have reviewed the evidence carefully, and I have advised Lancashire Police that this evidence would have been sufficient to prosecute Christopher Smith.
“We cannot prejudge the outcome of a trial - however, had Mr Smith lived, my decision would have authorised the police to begin the legal process by charging him.”
“The Crown Prosecution Service agreed to look at the evidence on a deceased suspect because of the very exceptional circumstances of this case.”
The case gained notoriety when it had been linked with the infamous Yorkshire Ripper murders, for which Peter Sutcliffe was tried and found guilty of in 1981.
A letter sent to police in 1978 from John Humble – who was known as ‘Wearside Jack’ because of his North-East accent – claimed responsibility for Harrison’s murder.
He misled investigations by claiming to be the man police were searching for.
Humble had bitten the document in a bid to match the bite mark that was found on the victim’s breast.
Saliva from the letter matched that of Harrison’s murderer, and police treated her as another one of the Ripper’s seven victims at the time, a figure that eventually rose to 13.
Mrs. Harrison’s family has been informed of the recent developments, and have been offered support by specially trained officers.
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