Crimewatch Live appeal to help catch killer of Julie Finley in 1994

The detective leading the investigation into the murder of a Liverpool woman 32 years ago is today, Wednesday 21 October, appearing on Crimewatch Live to appeal for help in catching her killer.

Julie Finley was 23 when she disappeared from Liverpool city centre on Friday 5 August 1994. The following day her naked body was discovered in a field close to the Wheatsheaf Hotel near the A570 Rainford Bypass. She had been strangled.

Since her death Merseyside Police has carried out extensive lines of enquiries, spoken to dozens of potential witnesses and trawled hundreds of hours of CCTV footage to catch her killer.

Today Detective Inspector Samantha Davies, will appear on TV to continue our appeal for anyone with information to come forward.

The Crimewatch Live appeal contains a reconstruction that was filmed by the BBC back in the 1990s, which reflects the Liverpool skyline as it was then, in a bid to jog people’s memories.

An enhanced Crimestoppers reward of £20,000 is also being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for Julie’s murder.

Detective Inspector Davies said: “It is unfathomable that 32 years after her death Julie’s killer remains at large.

“It is heartbreaking that Julie’s sister and dad have both died during that time and never got the answers they so keenly sought.

“We know that there are people who know what happened to Julie and whether through fear or a misplaced sense of loyalty have never come forward.

“Our hope is that this appeal will finally be the catalyst for those people to speak up. It really is never too late.”

DI Davies added: “What we do know is that on Friday 5 August 1994 Julie went to her parent’s house in Dovecot where she spent time with her mum and sister. She then returned to her flat, which was off Falkner Square in Liverpool, where she spent time with her boyfriend and another friend.

“She left the flat at around 10pm and headed into Liverpool city centre. At around 10.30pm she saw a friend on Grove Street and mentioned she was meeting someone at 11pm. There was later a suspected sighting of Julie on Crown Street after a woman matching her description was seen to run across the road towards a male. That male has never been identified.

“The last confirmed sighting of Julie was at 11.45pm outside the former Stag’s Head pub on Pembroke Place. Her body was found the following morning some distance away in Rainford so we know she must have been taken there in a vehicle.

“Witnesses at the time reported seeing a white Transit van parked in the layby off the Rainford bypass. We have not been able to identity the van or who was driving.

“My appeal is to anyone who thinks they saw Julie on that evening, has information about the male she was seen with on Crown Street or knows who was driving the white van to come forward.

“It may be three decades since Julie’s death but our investigation remains active and we will follow up any new lines of enquiry and consider any advances in forensic work such as DNA.

“Julie’s family deserve to know that her killer has been caught and is behind bars.”

Pamela Tompsett, North West Regional Manager at the charity Crimestoppers, said: "More than three decades on, Julie’s family are still waiting for answers. Julie was a daughter, a sister and only 23 years old, and the people who loved her have lived with this loss every day since.

“We know that time can change things. Relationships end, loyalties shift and people who once felt unable to speak up may now feel differently. If you know something, however small or long ago it seems, please don’t assume it isn’t important. It could be the piece that helps police finally put the picture together.

“A reward of up to £20,000 is available for information given exclusively to Crimestoppers that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible."

“You never have to give your name. You will never be asked to make a statement or go to court, and no one will ever know the information came from you.”

Anyone with information should contact Merseyside Police social media desk using X or Facebook @MerPolCC. You can also report information via our website: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ or by calling 101.

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website here: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously

**Crimewatch Live will be broadcast on BBC One at 10.45am today, Wednesday 21 October. The full appeal will also be available on BBC iPlayer.**

FAMILY TRIBUTE

Julie was only 23 when she was murdered. She was my second oldest child and growing up she was the perfect daughter. She went to college and studied hairdressing.

32 years have passed and there has been no justice for Julie. Her father, my husband Albie, died without ever seeing justice. He died with a broken heart.

Julie and I had a great relationship, and I miss her every day. I always think about the life she could have had, she might have been married with her own children.

As a family we have waited far too long to find out who killed Julie.