Suzy Lamplugh: Suspect John Cannan denies killing missing estate agent as police search mother’s former home
Prison inmate wants digging work to ‘conclude swiftly’
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Suspect John Cannan hopes a Metropolitan Police search of his mother’s former home will “end speculation” he murdered Suzy Lamplugh, his solicitor has said.
In his first comments since digging began in the garden of the semi-detached house in Sutton Coldfield, the West Midlands, earlier this week, Mr Cannan denied he killed the estate agent who went missing 32 years ago.
Specialist forensics teams have been engaged in excavation work for the past five days, and the search is expected to continue into the weekend.
Solicitor Matthew Claughton received a letter on Friday from his client in Full Sutton prison, where he is serving a life sentence for murdering Bristol newlywed Shirley Banks.
Mr Claughton said: “John Cannan continues to deny involvement in the 1986 disappearance of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh.
“Mr Cannan hopes that the search of his mother’s former home will conclude swiftly so as to bring to an end speculation as to his involvement in this matter.”
Mr Cannan has no idea why the search has begun, the solicitor added.
Ms Lamplugh was declared dead, presumed murdered, after going missing at the age of 25. She was last seen leaving her west London offices to meet a mystery client known only as Mr Kipper.
Mr Cannan was named by police as their prime suspect in 2002 and Miss Lamplugh’s death has remained one of the UK’s most notorious cold cases.
Three days before her disappearance, Mr Cannan had been released from a hostel at Wormwood Scrubs Prison, where he had served a six-year sentence for rape.
He was also connected to the case due to his strong resemblance to a computer composite image based on witness reports.
The Met is leading the search at the Shipton Road property that was formerly owned by Sheila Cannan.
Officers have dismantled a car garage at the rear of the garden and used angle grinders to dig through its concrete base. Patio slabs have also been removed.
The home was purchased in 1992 from Mrs Cannan by the Carey family, who the Met stressed are in no way directly connected to the investigation.
Phillip Carey, an insurance marketer, has said the search has been “surreal”.
“Either (the property) is eliminated from it entirely or, if there is something found, it’s closure for the family, and this tragic story can come to an end,” said the 52-year-old homeowner.
Police carried out investigations at the address in 2003, following a case review in 2000, but did not dig up the garden.
Additional reporting by agencies