AN Evening Star-led consortium today launched a massive £50,000 appeal to find Karen Hales' killer. It is hoped the cash bounty, unveiled on the 12th anniversary of the 21-year-old's murder, could secure a major breakthrough in one of Ipswich's most notorious murders.

Mark Bulstrode

AN Evening Star-led consortium today launched a massive £50,000 appeal to find Karen Hales' killer.

It is hoped the cash bounty, unveiled on the 12th anniversary of the 21-year-old's murder, could secure a major breakthrough in one of Ipswich's most notorious murder probes.

Evening Star editor Nigel Pickover, who is leading the drive, is confident the money will help solve a crime that rocked Ipswich to its core at the time it was committed.

He said: “It might not be overnight, next week or even next month, but somebody knows who killed Karen Hales and this money could help bring that information out into the open.

“Somebody can now come forward with the right information and be rewarded for it.”

Mr Pickover recalled the snowy weekend of the murder, on November 21, 1993.

He said: “It touched a chord with me then.

”I couldn't believe how a crime of such horror could have happened and then go on to remain unsolved.

”Since I've been editor of The Star I've always said I'll keep the inquiry in the public eye in a bid to try and help catch the killer. And we've kept true to that.”

It was in recent months that Mr Pickover came up with the idea to boost the reward on offer for information leading to the conviction of Karen's killer.

This saw him consult businesses in and around Ipswich, who volunteered to get back the appeal.

These include Ipswich Partnership, Ipswich Borough Council, Call Connection, SnOasis, Elizabeth Hotels, Axa and the Galley restaurants.

Joining them are leading Ipswich businessman Ray Sallows, Suffolk police and Ipswich Town Football Club.

Mr Pickover said: “The Evening Star is at the centre of the community in Ipswich and we've gathered together some of the great names in the town.

”These include friends, associates and colleagues who have come together to generate this significant reward.

“I felt the community should follow this on for a number of reasons, primarily to get closure for the Hales family, who have suffered enormously throughout this process.

“I've always felt great empathy with the Hales family.”

The 50-year-old stressed the importance of catching the person responsible for the crime.

He said: “There is a cunning, brutal and conniving killer out there and if this person has murdered once there's no reason to suggest he won't do it again. It's vital this person is caught.”