Murder in Merseyside: The Summer of Death

It was July of 1995, Barack Obama had just published “Dreams from my Father” and the Space Shuttle Discovery 20 had just launched.

In the North West of England it was a warm and sunny afternoon, the last Saturday in July and the start of the much anticipated six weeks summer holidays. This conjures images of Enid Blighton and the Famous Five; adventures and explorations, riding bikes and climbing trees; the innocence, joy and freedom of childhood.

The peace of this ordinary warm summery Saturday in July was about to be broken and along with it all the innocence of childhood

On Friday 29th July, seven year old Sophie Hook from Winsford Cheshire was visiting relatives in the near by sea side resort of Llandudno.

That night Sophie and a number of cousins begged permission to have a sleepover in a tent in her Uncles garden. Overjoyed at being granted permission, the children settled down for the night in the tent. Sophie’s Uncle last checked on the children at 12:40am, all was well.

At some point between five to three and seven am (2:55am and 07:00am) Sophie was taken from the tent without disturbing any of…