40th anniversary of Suzy Lamplugh disappearance; police seek witnesses
Police are seeking 30 witnesses as the 40th anniversary of Suzy Lamplugh's disappearance approaches, and the case may be closed.
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40th anniversary of Suzy Lamplugh disappearance: police seek witnesses as case may be closed
It is 40 years since estate agent Suzy Lamplugh vanished from west London, and the Metropolitan Police have announced they are trying to track down 30 witnesses they still want to speak to. The 25-year-old disappeared after leaving her office in Fulham to show a flat to a prospective client, whom she noted in her work diary as "Mr Kipper". Her car was found abandoned a mile away that night. The case remains one of Britain's most enduring missing-person investigations, but unless a significant new lead emerges, it will be put into an inactive file in a year's time.
Police have long believed the prime suspect is John Cannan, a convicted killer who was living nearby after being released from prison. He was named by police as the man they believe murdered Suzy, but there was never enough evidence to charge him. Cannan denied involvement and has since died. Detective Chief Inspector Foster, who leads the cold case review, said: "John Cannan is a very good suspect. He remains our suspect in it, but I'm always keeping an open mind. We haven't got any forensics that links John Cannan to Susie Lamplugh at all, so that's why I'm keeping an open mind, that it may be that other people were also involved."
A new line of inquiry has emerged from a witness who came forward in 2019. The witness said that two or three days after Suzy vanished, at five o'clock in the morning, he was walking along a canal towpath near Brentford when he saw a man pushing or pulling a very large wrapped-up bag on a suitcase trolley. He then heard a big splash. The witness said he was certain the man was John Cannan. He reported the incident to Brentford Police Station on three occasions, but that information never reached the murder investigation. The Metropolitan Police say part of the canal was searched five years earlier in a separate investigation and nothing related to Suzy was found. However, the witness, Jim Dickey, insists the search was not at the right spot and that the canal should be searched again.
For Suzy's family, the 40th anniversary is a time to remember her positively. They want to find her, but also to share memories of her vibrant life. The police have appealed for anyone with information to come forward, as the investigation enters what could be its final year of active inquiry.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Sky News |
|---|---|
| Police are seeking 30 witnesses to come forward. | |
| Police reported that part of the canal was searched five years earlier in a separate investigation with no results. | |
| Prime suspect John Cannan died without being charged. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Sky News focused heavily on the canal witness story and the prime suspect John Cannan, giving detailed airtime to the witness's account and the police's failure to act on it. The report also highlighted the police's plan to close the case in a year, and included a reflective tone from the family. The channel's editorial slant emphasised the unresolved mystery and the potential missed opportunity to search the canal.
- “The witness also said he was certain it was the prime suspect John Cannan he saw wheeling the case beside the canal.”
- “The Metropolitan Police say part of the canal was searched five years earlier in a separate investigation, and nothing was found relating to Susie.”
- “For her family, the 40th anniversary of Susie Lamplugh's death is a time to be positive, to share memories of her, even to joke, they say, about the things she did that made them laugh.”
Broadcast Timeline
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