AFTER enduring 12 years of not knowing, Karen Hales' family today spoke of their hope of finding some answers to their many questions.Karen's parents, Geraldine and Graham, along with one of her sisters, Angela, said they are optimistic the £50,000 reward could help bring Karen's killer to justice.

Mark Bulstrode

AFTER enduring 12 years of not knowing, Karen Hales' family today spoke of their hope of finding some answers to their many questions.

Karen's parents, Geraldine and Graham, along with one of her sisters, Angela, said they are optimistic the £50,000 reward could help bring Karen's killer to justice.

They said they have been “overwhelmed” by the amount of money put forward in an attempt to solve a crime that devastated their family, and also resulted in the separation of Mr and Mrs Hales.

Speaking from her mother's Claydon home, Angela, said: “We still want answers. We've had 12 years and there hasn't been any and that's hard.”

Her mother, Geraldine, added: “Half the time you think nobody gives a damn. Everyone seems to be just getting on with their lives but it's nice to think they are some big companies out there who want to help.

“We feel overwhelmed by it all really.”

Graham, Karen's father, said he hopes the sum of money on offer may chip away at the right person's conscience.

He said: “It could help somebody come forward. Whoever did this must have told someone by now. There's enough money there to persuade some to get it off their chest.”

The family hope the timing of the renewed appeal, coming on the 12th anniversary of Karen's brutal murder, may jog people's memories.

Geraldine, whose eyesight continues to deteriorate, said: “The fact the appeal is on the anniversary could prompt someone. Snow had fallen on the day Karen was killed and people might remember it's this time of the year.

“You can but hope it will make a difference.”