In July 1992, 23 year-old Rachel Nickell was attacked and murdered while walking with her two-year-old son on Wimbledon Common in London. The case quickly became one of Britain’s most high-profile murder investigations. Police initially focused heavily on Colin Stagg, who lived locally, and used an undercover operation in an attempt to obtain evidence against him. The case against Stagg later collapsed, and he was formally cleared. Years later, advances in DNA evidence helped investigators identify Robert Napper, who was already detained for other violent offences. In 2008, Napper admitted killing Rachel on the grounds of diminished responsibility and was ordered to remain indefinitely in a secure hospital. The case became a major example of how tunnel vision in an investigation can delay justice.
Do you think the original focus on Colin Stagg prevented police from finding the real killer sooner?
Do you think the original focus on Colin Stagg prevented police from finding the real killer sooner?