Family of mother murdered 38 years ago welcome new investigation

Feb 20 2008 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

THE family of murder victim Lorraine Jacob said they welcomed the re-opening of the police inquiry, 38 years after her death.

Murder squad detectives re-opened the unsolved case of Miss Jacob after finding clues at the Wigan home of Harvey Richardson, 78, who died this month after suffering from cancer.

Miss Jacob, an unmarried mother-of-two, was 19 when she was sexually assaulted, battered and strangled.

Her body was found at around 8am on September 2, 1970, by council binmen in a small entry at the back of the Young Women's Christian Association, in Rodney Street.

Miss Jacob’s family said they were “pleased to hear of recent developments which may lead to the resolution of the horrific crime and tragedy that they have endured for nearly four decades.”

They also appealed for anyone with information about Mr Richardson to contact police.

When his house was being cleared, police turned up new clues to the Jacob murder alongside a gun and an air pistol.

They found a box containing press cuttings about the killing, a hand-written note about the murder and an item of clothing.

It was revealed yesterday that, in 1970, Mr Richardson was living in Huskisson Street, Toxteth – close to where the victim’s body was found – and worked in a restaurant, possibly called the Mariners, at that time.

Det Supt Ian Kemble of Merseyside police said: “We are interested in speaking to anyone who knew Harvey Richardson at the time of the murder.”

Police incident room: 0151 777 8660.