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Agencies & People

‘Strongest evidence yet’ emerges to explain fate of Suzy Lamplugh

The body of the young estate agent, who disappeared in 1986 following a viewing, may have been thrown in a canal in Essex, a former policeman has claimed.

Nigel Lewis

suzy lamplugh

The infamous Suzy Lamplugh murder case has taken another twist after a former detective told a national newspaper yesterday that prime suspect John Cannan, who is currently serving three life sentences in prison, was seen throwing a suitcase into an Essex canal three days after the estate agent vanished on 28th July 1986.

Former detective superintendent Jim Dickie, who led a re-investigation in to the case in 2002, now says a lorry driver told him that he spotted Cannan hurling the suitcase into the Grand Union canal in Brentford at 5am in the morning on 31st July.

“I believe the canal sighting is the best piece of information to have emerged about Suzy’s potential whereabouts since she went missing more than 34 years ago,” Dickie told The Sun.

Jailed for life

Cannan was jailed for life with a minimum of 35 years in April 1989 for the rape and murder of Shirley Banks, 29, in Bristol.

He was subsequently named as the chief suspect in the Suzy Lamplugh case, although the Crown Prosecution Service says there is insufficient evidence to prosecute.

Suzy disappeared after leaving her estate agency branch in London to meet a ‘Mr Kipper’ at an address in Fulham for a viewing and has never been seen again.

Despite several fresh investigations and leads over the years, her murder has still not been solved.

Dickie told The Sun that there are similarities between the Lamplugh and Banks cases, including how the rural spot where Banks’ body was found is in a similarly bucolic spot where Cannan was spotted next to the canal.

A charity was set up in the name of Suzy Lamplugh to ensure better protection for victims of stalking and lone workers.

November 4, 2020

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