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In this episode, I tell the story of Louise Sellars, a 15-year-old girl killed in Appley Bridge, Greater Manchester, on August 13, 1995.
That Sunday evening, Louise left her home to meet her friend Kelly Morrisey and spent a few hours with her before the two parted ways. The last time Louise was seen was at around 9:30 pm.
Her parents called the police after Louise failed to return home without letting them know where she was. A massive search was conducted in the hopes of finding her alive, but sadly, her body was found the following morning by a dog walker.
It would take five years before Louise's killer was brought to justice, thanks to advances in DNA technology. Ultimately, it was a discarded cigarette butt that led to the arrest and subsequent conviction of Darren Ashurst, who was 21 years old when he killed Louise.
A jury at Manchester Crown Court found Ashurst guilty of murder on November 1, 2000, with Mrs Justice Rafferty handing him a life sentence. He served 20 years in total and was released from prison in 2020.
Intro music:
David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'
linktr.ee/davidjohnbradymusic
References:
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Bunyan, N. (2000, November 2). DNA tests bring killer to justice after five years. The Telegraph. Retrieved November 12, 2023, from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1372791/DNA-tests-bring-killer-to-justice-after-five-years.html
Cigarette butt helps jail killer. (2000, November 1). BBC News. Retrieved November 12, 2023, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1002593.stm
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Girl battered to death near lovers’ lane. (1995, August 14). The Independent. Retrieved November 12, 2023, from https://www.independent.co.uk/news/girl-battered-to-death-near-lovers-lane-1596270.html
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McDonnell, S. (2021, October 11). How the gruesome murder of a teenage girl lay unsolved for years - until DNA evidence revealed the truth. Manchester Evening News. Retrieved November 12, 2023, from https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/louise-sellars-murder-darren-ashurst-21824000
Moore, P. (1997, August 24). IT’S AWFUL TO THINK I MAY KNOW HER KILLER. The Free Library. Retrieved November 12, 2023, from https://www.thefreelibrary.com/%60IT%27S+AWFUL+TO+THINK+I+MAY+KNOW+HER+KILLER%27+As+dusk+fell+over+a. . .-a061135140
Mott, A. (1999, July 5). Fragment of tooth may lead police to a killer. Manchester Evening News, 15.
Murder jury told of DNA test. (2000, October 13). The Bolton News. Retrieved November 12, 2023, from https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/6062431.murder-jury-told-of-dna-test/
Murder trial hears DNA evidence. (2000, October 12). BBC News. Retrieved November 12, 2023, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/969370.stm
Murdered girl’s friend speaks of his heartache. (1996, August 22). The Bolton News. Retrieved November 12, 2023, from https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/6198983.murdered-girls-friend-speaks-of-his-heartache/
Panter, S. (1999, June 28). New clue in hunt to find Louise’s killer four years on. Manchester Evening News, 2.
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Rohrer, F. (1999, August 30). Murder riddle of a single red rose. Liverpool Daily Post, 13.
Unstinting efforts to track Louise’s killer. (1999, August 13). Liverpool Daily Post, 14.
VILLAGERS’ FEAR: We must know the murderer.. it’s so horrifying. (1995, August 15). Daily Mirror, 4–5.
