DETECTIVES are reminding the public that a £20,000 reward is still in place for information that helps convict the murderer of a woman, 25 years on from her brutal death.

Julie Finley was only 23 when her naked body was found in a carrot field off the Rainford bypass on Saturday, August 6, 1994. She had been strangled.

This summer marked the 25th anniversary since her horrific death and police insist they have not given up hope of catching her killer.

They have underlined that the £20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction her killer still stands.

There has been fresh interest in the case following the recent airing of the ITV series The Confession, which tells the true story over the of taxi driver Christopher Halliwell, from Swindon, who murdered Sian O'Callaghan and Becky Godden.

National newspaper reports have highlighted that Julie's case has similarities with the deaths of Sian and Becky.

Halliwell is reported to have lived just a few miles away in Ormskirk at the time of her murder.

St Helens Star:

Christopher Halliwell

A new senior investigating officer has been appointed to the case and detectives say they will continue to work to bring her family some closure.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Warlow, said: “It is now over 25 years since the tragic murder of Julie in August 1994, and we continue to appeal for any information which can help her family find some closure after all these years.

“We are as determined as ever to find the person, or persons, responsible and are still offering a £20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.

"If you have information which could help Julie's family find justice I would urge you to come forward.

“We are still keen to speak to a friend of Julie, called Tina, who contacted the investigation team shortly after the murder.

"Tina told officers that on the night of the murder Julie had said she was going to meet a taxi driver from Prescot.

"Tina promised to recall the officers she had spoken to, but never phoned back.

"I would appeal to Tina to search her conscience and contact us, as she could have vital information which could help Julie's family in their fight for justice to be done.”

Halliwell has also been linked to other unsolved murders across the country.

The mum of victim Becky Godden-Edwards, who eventually received justice in 2016 when Halliwell was convicted of her murder, believes there could be other victims out there.

Speaking to our sister paper the Swindon Advertiser, Karen Edwards, 58: “I stick by what I always say: Halliwell is a serial killer, without any doubt in my mind.

“I truly believe Becky was not his first victim. His killing started in his early 20s.

“He is one evil predator.

“There are families out there up and down the county that are either waiting for their loved ones to return home or are waiting for justice – both of which will torment you beyond belief.”

Julie was last seen alive at about 10.30pm on Friday, August 5, 1994 near to the rear of the Royal Liverpool Hospital.

Detectives have said previously they suspect the killer may have confided in somebody, possibly while they were serving a sentence for another crime.

They suspect that given the murderer's knowledge of the Rainford lay-by, the killer could be local, though there is no concrete evidence to back this theory.

Anyone with information which could help the investigation team should contact Merseyside Police via our social media desk @MerPolCC, call 101, or @CrimestoppersUK, anonymously, on 0800 555111.