Cold case detectives are hoping to invoke memories of Paul Gascoigne's iconic goal against Scotland 30 years ago as they continue to investigate the murder of law student Janet Murgatroyd. A £20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for her death.
Janet's Final Night
Janet Murgatroyd, 20, was killed in the early hours of June 16, 1996, just hours after England played Scotland in the Euro '96 championship. Her body was discovered floating in the River Ribble in Preston, Lancashire. She had been out with a friend on the evening of Saturday, June 15, a day marked by the Manchester Arndale bombing and the football match.
Janet and her friend were at the Adelphi pub in Preston before they became separated. Janet left the pub with a known man and walked down Fishergate, parting company in the Church Street area. CCTV footage later captured her walking alone along Fishergate towards her home in Penwortham.
Previous Conviction Quashed
Andrew Greenwood, then 28, was convicted of manslaughter in 2003 and sentenced to eight years in prison. However, the conviction was quashed on appeal the following year, and he was released. The case has remained unsolved since.
Family's Plea
In a statement released through Lancashire Constabulary, Janet's mother, Mary, said: "Janet Murgatroyd, my only child, was brutally murdered 30 years ago. The perpetrator is still at large; someone knows who this man is. Janet was on her way home after a day celebrating with her pal, having bought tickets for a holiday abroad. She couldn't get a taxi, so she started to walk home to Penwortham. I need closure; this continues to affect me and my siblings. The killer needs putting away."
Police Appeal
Lancashire Police previously stated that Janet was a part-time police staff member and believe the attack was sexually motivated. Two witnesses reported hearing a female moaning and seeing a man crouched on the bank of the River Ribble. A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death as drowning and head injuries.
In a direct appeal, a spokesperson for Lancashire Constabulary said: "You might remember that hot summer's day because of two significant events. The IRA detonated a bomb at the Arndale shopping centre in Manchester that morning, causing devastating damage. In the afternoon, England played Scotland at Wembley in Euro 96, Paul 'Gazza' Gascoigne scoring a memorable goal on the way to a 2-0 victory."
Detective Chief Inspector Bryony Midgley, of the Major Crime Review Team, said: "Janet was a young woman who loved life and was loved by so many people. She had so much going for her, and that was taken away when she was attacked and killed as she walked home. Janet should have been able to get home safely that night; she was entitled to feel safe as she made her way home from Preston to Penwortham. Someone saw her on that journey home and for whatever reason attacked and murdered her. It is horrifying to think of what she experienced."
She added: "It is 30 years since Janet was killed, but we remain determined to get justice for Janet and her family. DNA technology and scientific approaches have significantly improved over the last 30 years, so I hope we will be able to take advantage of this as part of our investigation. We continue to appeal for information. It might be that you saw something that night or have information which you didn't contact police about in 1996 or in the years since. It might be that relationships and loyalties have changed since then, and you are now able to speak to us. Something you saw at the time might not have seemed relevant and you didn't report it, but it could help our investigation."
If you were in the area around Fishergate Hill and Penwortham Bridge late on June 15 and into the early hours of June 16, and you haven't spoken to our officers, please get in contact. A dedicated team of detectives is working on the investigation.
