North Yorkshire Police have tonight (Friday) issued new a statement regarding the links being drawn between a convicted serial killer and the disappearance of Claudia Lawrence.
They revealed they have interviewed fresh witnesses to try to establish whether she could have been the victim of Christopher Halliwell.
Halliwell is serving life for the murder of Becky Godden-Edwards, 20, in 2003, and Sian O’Callaghan, 22, in 2011.
In 2016, former Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher, who brought Halliwell to justice, said Claudia could have been among his victims.
The University of York chef vanished in March 2009. North Yorkshire Police in the past ruled out Halliwell, saying it was unlikely he left his home town of Swindon at that time.
But in recent weeks, new links with Yorkshire and taxi driver Halliwell have come to light.
Claudia’s mother Joan said she was contacted by a woman who saw a picture of Halliwell in the paper. The witness believes she saw him in a red Rover near the Nestle factory at 5am in March 2009.
Speaking to the Mirror Ms Lawrence said the witness spoke to the police about it but she felt they ‘weren’t taking her seriously.’
And Karen Edwards, the mother of Halliwell’s victim Becky, told the Mirror a witness close to the killer told her he wanted to relocate to Yorkshire.
She said: “One witness said he always wanted to move to York or Yorkshire. I feel he’s connected with Claudia’s case. He was a taxi driver, for God’s sake!
“He once admitted ‘They want me for eight more!’”
Karen said a number of witnesses have approached her, including women who claim Halliwell stalked them in Yorkshire.
Tonight, Detective Superintendent Wayne Fox, Head of the Major Investigation Team at North Yorkshire Police, said his team have engaged with the Wiltshire force over possible connections between Halliwell and Claudia since 2016.
“We have pursued lines of enquiry which are focused on any link he may have to the North Yorkshire area and, in particular, the movements of Christopher Halliwell during the material times in which we believe Claudia came to harm.
“The results of those enquiries, which included examinations of digital devices and the interviewing of several witnesses, indicated that Halliwell continued to operate as a taxi driver in the Swindon area within the relevant time parameters.
“Both investigation teams reached a position in which we concluded it to be unlikely that Halliwell left the Wiltshire area, or was present in North Yorkshire, at the time of Claudia’s disappearance.”
But the new information had led to his team reconsidering Halliwell.
“I am mindful of recent information from witnesses which suggests that Halliwell had links to Yorkshire and may have stalked females in the local area.
“Steps have been taken to conduct interviews with these witnesses and that information has been thoroughly assessed against known facts.
“However, I continue to keep an open mind and repeat that North Yorkshire Police is committed to finding the answers that Claudia’s family deserve and need.
“Should any information indicate that Christopher Halliwell may have been elsewhere other than Swindon between Wednesday 18 March and Friday 20 March 2009, then this information will be thoroughly investigated and tested against the volumes of material gathered throughout the course of the enquiry.
“I urge anybody with information which they feel may be relevant to the disappearance and suspected murder of Claudia to make contact with North Yorkshire Police.”
How to contact police
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should make a report via the North Yorkshire Police website or by calling 101, select option 1, and pass details to the Force Control Room.
Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through their Anonymous Online Form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information cannot be traced or recorded, and you will not go to court.
Please quote “Claudia Lawrence” when providing details.