Murderer may have had an accomplice

AT least one other man may have been with murderer Steven Shepherd when he sexually attacked a church organist at her home more than 20 years ago, police revealed last night.

After the computer technician was jailed for life and told he must serve at least 14 years, detectives disclosed an accomplice could have been involved in the break-in before he launched his frenzied assault on 82-year-old Vera Waring.

The officer who used new DNA tests to link him to the killing confirmed others could have also been involved. Acting Inspector Alan Cole said: “It’s possible that he was acting with other people.”

Shepherd, aged 47, of Castleton Park, Portstewart, Derry, subjected Ms Waring to an horrific ordeal after forcing his way into her home at Bushmills, Co Antrim in December 1981.

It was only after a tiny speck of blood and a pubic hair found at the scene were forensically re-examined that he was caught.

Sentencing him at Ballymena Crown Court, Mr Justice Gillen said: “This was a depraved and heartless attack on a vulnerable and elderly lady alone and defenceless within the sanctity of her own home.”

Outside court, Shepherd’s wife, Shirley, vowed to prove his innocence.

She said: “My husband is not a murderer, he’s a very gentle man and I am proud to be his wife. I will do everything in my power to clear his name.”

Ms Waring had been due to attend a midnight service at the parish church where she had been organist for 25 years on New Year’s Eve, 1981, but never arrived.

Shepherd had broken into the pensioner’s home, throttled her and broke eight of her ribs.

She was then forced to endure a violent sex assault thought to have involved an unidentified solid object.

Ms Waring’s body was found the following day when the church rector called to check on her.

But her murder remained unsolved for two decades.

Shepherd married in 1985 but a scientific breakthrough helped detectives uncover his deadly 20-year-old secret. Fresh DNA checks on blood found near a broken upstairs window at the victim’s home and a pubic hair found on her vest left them in no doubt they had found the murderer.

A jury agreed when they unanimously found him guilty of murder at his trial last November.

Rejecting defence submissions that the murder was close to the borderline with manslaughter, the judge yesterday said Shepherd had shown no remorse.

He added: “You, whether alone or with others, subjected her to a violent assault and unspeakable humiliation, the full extent of which may not even now have emerged.

“You clearly knew this woman and you were aware that she lived alone, having delivered milk to her house.”

Mr Cole described Shepherd’s conviction as a major breakthrough for new scientific techniques.

He said: “This was a first for DNA tests in Northern Ireland.

“There have been other cases in Britain dating back this far, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s a first here.”