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Tell us where you dumped lover's body plea

Alistair Keely,Press Association
Tuesday 24 November 2009 09:31 EST

Police joined a coroner today in appealing for a convicted murderer to reveal where he has dumped the remains of his teenage lover.

Jenny Nicholl, 19, a Co-op shop worker, disappeared from her home in Richmond, North Yorkshire, on June 30 2005.

She has never been seen alive since and her body has never been found.

David Hodgson, 49, was jailed last year for life at Teesside Crown Court and told he must serve at least 18 years in jail after being found guilty of her murder.

At her inquest today, Coroner Geoff Fell recorded a verdict of unlawful killing and urged Hodgson out of "humanity" to reveal where he has dumped his lover's remains.

He said: "Those who love and miss Jenny should be able to lay her to rest. This inquest is not closure for the family. That can only come when they know where her final resting place is."

Outside Richmond Town Hall, Detective Inspector Pete Martin, the deputy senior investigating officer in the murder inquiry, also urged Hodgson to tell officers where the remains were.

"The outcome of today's inquest will not provide closure for Jenny's family and friends," he said. "They and the police will not be satisfied until Jenny's body is located and laid to rest in the way that she deserves.

"To that end, North Yorkshire Police will continue to make approaches to David Hodgson in prison to reveal where he left Jenny.

"I again urge him to do the right thing for Jenny and her family and put an end to this situation."

Mr Fell said he had to get permission for Justice Secretary Jack Straw to hold today's inquest, which was attended by Jenny's parents Ann and Brian and her brother Chris.

The coroner said he still believed the remains of the teenager were in the Richmond area, possibly in a wooded area where Hodgson used to camp.

Unemployed Hodgson, of Olav Road, Richmond, North Yorkshire, was angry over Jenny's blossoming relationship with his elder brother.

During the five-week trial, the prosecution alleged that Hodgson's motivation for killing the teenager was "possessive jealousy".

In the weeks before her disappearance, Jenny became friends with Robert Hodgson - although he was unaware of his brother's long-standing relationship with the teenager.

Jenny worked in the local Co-Op store in Richmond, stacking shelves, and was well known on the pub scene in the town because she played guitar in a band.

Friends described her as "secretive", rarely confiding in them or her family.

Some of Jenny's possessions, including a portable stereo, teddy bear and beauty products, were recovered from a wooded area, which was known to Hodgson, after she disappeared.

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