Dad is still hopeful of leads

Kate Gooding

A £50,000 reward remains unclaimed today after a fresh probe into the murder of an Ipswich mother failed to reveal any new lines of inquiry.

An Evening Star consortium launched the five-figure reward in November in the hope it would lead to the killer of 21-year-old Karen Hales.

Businesses across the town joined Ipswich Borough Council, the Star and the police to launch the bid on the 12th anniversary of Karen's death.

Today, Karen's father Graham said he was disappointed that nothing had yet come of the appeal.

He said: “I was hoping something would come of this and I would still urge people to come forward with information.

“It is really hard not knowing who did this.” Karen was stabbed to death at her home in Lavenham Road on November 21, 1993 and it was her parents who discovered her burning body.

Nigel Pickover, Evening Star editor, said it could only take one call to bring Karen's killer to justice.

He said: “Someone out there holds the key to this murder and a £50,000 reward is available to anyone who gives police the information which leads to conviction.

“I can't believe how a crime of such horror could have happened and not have been solved.” Police were confident the appeal may lead to vital information about Karen's killer and today said they have not given up their quest for justice.

Detective superintendent Roy Lambert, the officer leading the inquiry, said: “Since the appeal in the Star was launched we have had approximately 30 calls from members of the public.

“This information has now been processed and evaluated, but unfortunately at this stage we have no new lines of inquiry.

“This case will remain open and we will obviously follow up any new information received in an attempt to trace Karen Hales' killer.”