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1980 Whiston Child Murder Case Will Not Go back to Court

By on Monday, May 20, 2019

The murder of two Whiston schoolboys in 1980 remains unsolved, and there is not enough evidence for anyone to be prosecuted, Merseyside Police have announced.

John Greenwood and Gary Miller were assaulted and left for dead on the disused colliery site off Pottery Lane, Whiston – now Stadt Moers Park – on Saturday 16 August. Johnny died the following day, Gary on Wednesday 20 August.

A local man was charged with the murders but found not guilty at Liverpool Crown Court in 1981.

Fresh leads saw the case reopened in 2016, but “after careful consideration,” the Director of Public Prosecutions “made the decision not to authorise the next steps,” according to Chief Constable Andrew Cooke.

Police will continue investigating, and the DPP is willing to reconsider court proceedings if they produce “sufficient, compelling new evidence.”

On behalf of Merseyside Police Mr Cooke apologised to the families of John and Gary, acknowledging they were “frustrated and disappointed by what they see as inadequacies and failings of the original investigation.”

He added that it was “fair to say that the investigation was not as thorough as it could have been, or in line with the investigation standards expected of policing today.”

If you have any new information that could help police investigating the 1980 murders of Johnny Greenwood and Gary Miller, call investigators on 0151 777 3100, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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