Police Reopen 1986 Murder Case with Suffolk Strangler Link
Dorset Police have initiated a new investigation into the unsolved murder of Sandra Court, a 27-year-old woman found strangled in a water-filled ditch in 1986. The case has taken a chilling turn with emerging connections to serial killer Steve Wright, known as the Suffolk Strangler, who was in the vicinity at the time of the crime.
Fresh Lines of Enquiry Uncovered
Following a recent review of the decades-old case, detectives have identified active lines of enquiry that warrant further investigation. Sandra Court was last seen alive in the early hours of May 3, 1986, when a taxi driver dropped her outside her sister's home in Bournemouth. Her body was discovered later that morning, three miles away at the Avon Causeway, between Hurn and Sopley.
A post-mortem examination confirmed she had been strangled. Sandra was clothed except for her shoes, wearing a white blouse, wide black belt, and black ski trousers. Teenagers participating in a Duke of Edinburgh award scheme made the grim discovery.
Steve Wright's Proximity to the Crime
Records indicate that Steve Wright, a crew member on the QE2 luxury liner, had docked in Southampton—approximately 30 miles from Bournemouth—on the day of the murder. The Queen Mother was aboard the ship later that day to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of its maiden voyage. Wright is believed to have been on board when the QE2 departed on May 3.
Wright is currently serving a whole life tariff for the murders of six women in 2006, and he recently pleaded guilty to the strangulation of Victoria Hall, a crime committed over 25 years ago. Similarities between Sandra's case and Wright's known modus operandi include strangulation, abduction in urban areas, and dumping victims in water in rural locations.
Expert Analysis and Witness Accounts
Former police officer and author Chris Clark highlighted the significance of Wright's potential involvement. "If he did it, he was able to murder her and sail away before the police had started their investigations," Clark stated. "The opportunity, method, and means are all there—the three elements to prove a crime. He has a prima-facie case to answer."
Wright's ex-wife, Diane Cole, revealed to the Daily Mirror that they visited Bournemouth around the time of Sandra's murder. "We visited Bournemouth about half a dozen times around 1986," she said, noting they socialized with friends in the area, including trips to the New Forest.
Mysterious Evidence and Anonymous Letter
After Sandra's murder, her handbag and jewellery were missing, but some items were found along the route to Southampton. Her photocard was recovered 13 miles from the port in Stoney Cross, and her cheque book was discovered near the A31 in Picket Post. One of her shoes was left in Ringwood, further linking the crime scene to Southampton.
Two weeks after the murder, the lead detective received an anonymous letter with a Southampton postmark. The sender, whose handwriting was not disguised, has never been traced. The letter read: "Dear sir, I am writing to tell you that the tragic death of Sandra Court was a complete and utter accident... The person concerned is deeply unhappy, hurt and in total shock."
Broader Connections to Unsolved Cases
This development comes as police also probe possible links between Wright and the disappearance of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh, who vanished in July 1986, two months after Sandra's murder. Cold-case detectives are reviewing Operation Phoebus, the original investigation into Suzy's case, and examining Wright's relationship with her, as both worked on the QE2.
Wright's criminal history includes the murders of five women in Ipswich in 2006, and he is suspected in at least five other cases, including those of sex workers from Norwich. Despite these connections, it is thought he has never been questioned by police regarding Sandra's or Suzy's cases.
Police Statement and Family Hopes
A Dorset Police spokesperson stated: "This case remains unsolved and, as with all major crimes that are classified as undetected, has been the subject of regular reviews to establish any new lines of enquiry." They added that detectives are actively investigating identified leads and expressed sympathy for Sandra's family, hoping they eventually receive answers.
Sandra had recently finished her job as a section head in an insurance company and was due to start a nanny position in Spain the following week. On the night of her death, she attended an office party and later visited Steppes nightclub in Bournemouth with her younger sister, Jennifer, before leaving separately.
