Suzy Lamplugh’s ‘killer’ John Cannan is ‘waiting for his mum, 96, to die before he spills secrets’, relative claims
THE prime suspect in the disappearance of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh will not give up his secrets until his mum dies, according to a relative.
John Cannan would not want to upset his dementia-suffering mum Sheila, 96, after her former garden was searched in the hunt for clues over Suzy's disappearance.
Sheila is said to have visited the former car salesman in prison and been "very close" to him.
Cannan, now 64, is serving a minimum 35 years in Full Sutton prison for the murder of Shirley Banks in 1987 and may one day agree to reveal what he knows, if anything, according to the family member.
The relative, who did not want to be named, told : "I don’t think he will say anything until his mother passes away.
"I don’t think he would want to bring all the attention back on to her. He will wait until she is dead to reveal what happened."
Cops searching for the body of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh began the property in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands earlier this week.
Suzy, 25, was abducted in 1986 and declared dead, presumed murdered, in 1994.
It follows information that Cannan may have buried 25-year-old Suzy there after abducting and murdering her.
He is said to have told a girlfriend that the estate agent had been “buried in concrete”, according to .
Cannan reportedly told professional ice-skater Gillie Paige that Suzy had been strangled and buried.
The home was first searched in 2003 but cops have now returned to dig up a section of the garden.
Excavation work was focusing on an old corrugated iron garage in the back garden of the semi-detached home.
A forensic tent was also placed over an area of concrete patio.
Suzy disappeared after going to meet a client named “Mr Kipper” to show him two houses in Fulham, South West London in July 1986.
Her body has never been found, though she was declared dead — presumed murdered — in 1994.
It remains one of Britain’s most infamous unsolved murders.
But cold case review detectives now suspect that after murdering Suzy, Cannan may have driven to what was then his mother’s home.
They fear he put Suzy’s body in an inspection pit in the garage he used for working on cars, before filling it with concrete.
The corrugated iron structure was dismantled by Met Police specialist search cops to enable excavation work to start.
The importance of the search is enhanced by Cannan’s habit of returning to his mother’s home after committing serious crimes.
10 reasons why he is prime suspect
- Mr Kipper. Cannan was nicknamed “Kipper” by others at a bail hostel where he lived at the time — due to his fondness for the fish and a habit of having a kip.
- Photofit. He bore a strong resemblance to the image of Suzy’s abductor compiled from witnesses.
- False alibi. Cannan claimed he was staying with his mum in Sutton Coldfield and had chatted up a local sales assistant the day that Suzy vanished. The woman confirmed Cannan approached her, but doubts later emerged over whether it was on the same day.
- Brief romance. In 2001, cops uncovered evidence suggesting that Cannan was the “mystery man” Suzy had a brief relationship with.
- Bristol businessman. Suzy said her boyfriend was a Bristol businessman — something Cannan pretended to be with other women.
- Stalking. A witness said they saw Cannan staring into Sturgis estate agents, where Suzy worked, shortly before her disappearance.
- Gifts. Cannan was known for showering women with flowers and champagne. An eyewitness saw a couple matching Suzy and Cannan’s descriptions lying in a local park with a bottle of bubbly beside them on the day she vanished.
- Taxi driver. A cabbie identified Cannan as a man who asked for a lift that lunchtime, while clutching champagne and estate agent house papers.
- The BMW. Detectives suspect Suzy’s killer parked a BMW near the second home in Fulham where she was taking “Mr Kipper” for a viewing in her office Ford Fiesta.
- Joking confession. Cannan joked to a former girlfriend, Gilly Paige, that he was Mr Kipper.
There is no suggestion that Sheila was involved in or had any knowledge of this or any of his crimes.
She spoke about the case in 2000, saying: "He has never discussed this with me, and I have never asked him.
"I suppose I have had it on my mind for so long. I am getting old, and you feel guilty yourself. He's mine, I can't deny that. He 's my son who I brought up.
"But I still can't understand anything about why. That's what disturbs you. It's very upsetting really."
The search at her former home is being carried out with the full consent of a family who have lived there since Cannan’s mother moved out in 1992.
Timeline
- 28 JULY 1986. Estate agent Suzy is abducted and killed after going to meet client “Mr Kipper”.
- 7 OCTOBER 1986. Cannan rapes a woman after abducting her at knifepoint in Reading.
- 7 OCTOBER 1987. He tries to abduct a woman at gunpoint in Bristol.
- 8 OCTOBER 1987. He kidnaps and murders Shirley Banks in Bristol.
- 29 OCTOBER 1987. Arrested trying to rob a shop in Leamington Spa.
- 30 OCTOBER 1987. Media speculation that Suzy’s murder could be linked to Shirley’s.
- FEBRUARY 1988: Cannan quizzed for first time over Suzy’s murder.
- APRIL 1989: Cannan convicted of rape, attempted abduction, murder and attempted robbery. Given whole life tariff, later reduced to 35-year minimum tariff.
- 1999: Police begin Suzy cold case review.
- 2000: New probe by homicide team.
- JUNE 2002: File sent to CPS recommending Cannan be prosecuted for Suzy’s murder.
- NOVEMBER 2002: CPS say insufficient evidence to prosecute. Police name Cannan as prime suspect.
- JUNE 2008: He loses appeal on 35- year tariff.
- OCTOBER 2018: Cops begin dig at mum’s old home.
Police have since defended the decision not to dig up the garden more than a decade ago after searching the home in 2003.
DCI Jim Dickie, who led the investigation over six years from 2000, told the BBC: "They must have had new information or intelligence. We did not dig or carry out a search of the garden because there was no evidence to suggest the body was secreted there.
"John Cannan was in Fulham on the day of the murder. He murdered Shirley Banks and raped and abducted other women.
"He was Mr Kipper - he remains the prime suspect for Suzy Lamplugh's murder."
Cannan is serving three life sentences for murdering newlywed Shirley in Bristol in October 1987, attempting to kidnap a woman the previous evening and raping another woman at knifepoint in Reading, Berks, a year earlier.
The Met Police said: “The search follows information received in relation to a historical unsolved investigation.
“We will not be commenting on speculation surrounding the search, or providing any further information at this time.”
It's too late for parents
THE search at the former home of John Cannan’s mother comes too late for Suzy’s parents.
Her solicitor father Paul died in June this year aged 87 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Her mother Diana, 75, died in 2011.
Following their daughter’s disappearance, the Lamplughs, of East Sheen, South West London, set up the Suzy Lamplugh Trust to promote safety of women in memory of their daughter.
They campaigned for better taxi safety and laws protecting victims of stalking.
The trust said the development was a reminder over the "continuing tragedy" of Suzy's death.
They said in a statement: "The thoughts of everyone at Suzy Lamplugh Trust are with Suzy's family today
"Today we continue the work of (her parents) Paul and Diana to reduce violence and aggression in society, supporting workplaces to help their lone and frontline workers be safer and feel safer.
"Today's news reminds us once again of the continuing tragedy of Suzy's story and the importance of employers taking responsibility for the personal safety of their staff."
The couple, who have three other children, Richard, Tamsin and Lizzie who were both awarded the OBE in 2004.
They were convinced of Cannan’s guilt.
Mr Lamplugh spoke out after the 2002 decision by the CPS not to prosecute.
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He said: “Suzy was a lovely girl and we and her brother and sisters and her many friends still miss her enormously.
“It’s greatly distressing that Suzy’s body has not been found nor do we know how she was killed.
“The least the offender can do now is tell us where the body is.”
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