Historical murder to feature in TV special
A Cambridgeshire murder, which happened almost 30 years ago, will be the focus of a two-part special of Channel 4’s 24 Hours in Police Custody which starts today (July 4).
The episodes follow the re-investigation of the murder of six-year-old Rikki Neave, who was killed in Peterborough in 1994.
Former Assistant Chief Constable Paul Fullwood, senior lead for the investigation, said: “This investigation was extremely complex and quite unlike anything else the team has encountered before.
“We meticulously trawled through hundreds of statements, exhibits and other evidence to build a timeline of Rikki’s last movements and find his killer.
“The programme will take people on the whole journey, over the past three decades, from Rikki’s tragic death to the conviction of his killer after an almost eight-year battle by the investigation team.
“Our aim was always to find the answers Rikki’s family longed for and ensure the person responsible for his untimely death was brought to justice.”
Last month James Watson, 41, was sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of murdering Rikki on 28 November 1994.
Watson, who was 13 at the time, strangled Rikki in woodland on the Welland Estate before stripping him and leaving his naked body with legs and arms outstretched.
Rikki’s mother Ruth Neave was originally charged with his murder and offences of child cruelty.
She pleaded guilty to the latter and was unanimously found not guilty of his murder following a trial in October 1996.
The episodes will air at 9pm on today (4 July) and tomorrow (5 July).
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