Downing remains only suspect of 1973 murder

A MAN who spent 27 years in prison before his conviction for murder was quashed remains the only suspect for the killing, detectives confirmed yesterday.

Derbyshire Police said it is unable to rule out Stephen Downing, 46, of Bakewell, Derbyshire, as the man who carried out the murder of typist Wendy Sewell in 1973.

Deputy Chief Constable Bob Wood said during a six-month new investigation into the killing, Mr Downing had refused to be interviewed under caution. And he said recent forensic evidence had implied Mr Downing could have carried out the attack.

Police also criticised campaigning journalist Don Hale, who fought tirelessly to prove Mr Downing's innocence and won an OBE as a result.

A report published yesterday about the new murder inquiry codenamed Operation Noble claimed some of the people Mr Hale quoted in his book on the campaign do not recall speaking to him.

Mr Downing's case was hailed as one of the country's most significant miscarriages of justice following his release from prison on appeal in 2001 and a Court of Appeal ruling which overturned his conviction last January.

At the time of the murder on September 12, 1973, Mr Downing then 17 was working as a groundsman at the cemetery. He claimed to have found Mrs Sewell's partly-naked body covered in blood. He was arrested and interviewed for eight hours before admitting to attacking and sexually assaulting the woman.