DETECTIVES investigating the unsolved murders of two schoolboys have renewed their appeal for information, insisting there is still hope of bringing their killer to justice 46 years after the attack.
John Greenwood and Gary Miller, both 11, were found by a dog walker hidden under a mattress on the site of a disused colliery in Pottery Lane, Whiston, on August 16, 1980.
The school friends were taken from the area – now known as Stadt Moers Park – to Whiston Hospital, where John died the next day and Gary three days later. Both died as a result of head injuries.
Following their deaths, a man was arrested and charged with the murder of both boys but was acquitted after a trial.
After a campaign by John and Gary's families, and changes to double jeopardy laws that prevented a suspect from being tried twice for the same crime, Merseyside Police re-opened the case in 2016.
Merseyside Police said that following a review, they sought to reinterview a suspect, but under double jeopardy laws could not, without authority from the director of public prosecutions which can only be issued in the case of "new and compelling evidence".
John's family have petitioned for further changes to double-jeopardy laws.
In an appeal in 2020, Merseyside Police urged an unidentified "lone white" man, who was seen near the site at the time by the dog-walker who found the children, to come forward.
He was described as aged about 35 and white, with dark hair that was swept back.
He was said to be wearing a brown jacket.
On the 46th anniversary of John and Gary's deaths this month, detectives issued an appeal - stressing "it is never too late" to come forward with information.
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Detective Chief Inspector Graeme Osborne said: “Forty-six years have now passed since the murders of John Greenwood and Gary Miller.
“We know that during that time people living in the area will have moved on, moved away and even started their own families but John and Gary’s family still have to live with their loss.
“No family should have to go through what they have been through and not get the justice they deserve.
“Our plea remains the same - if you have information and haven’t yet come forward, then please do so.
“It is never too late to do the right thing and any piece of information we receive, either directly or anonymously, will be looked into.”
- Anyone with any piece of information which could help the investigation, no matter how small, is asked to contact us via social media at @MerPolCC, call 101, or alternatively call the independent Crimestoppers hotline, anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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