Shipman officer suspended

DI Smith was also investigated over a drugs trial

A detective, whose investigation into serial killer Harold Shipman failed to unearth his murders, has been suspended.

Detective Inspector David Smith was criticised by the Shipman Inquiry for his failed investigation five months before the former GP was caught.

In June, Mr Smith was accused of deliberately withholding evidence after a £10m drug and murder trial collapsed.

On Monday, a spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police confirmed Mr Smith had been suspended in relation to inquiries into both incidents.

Shipman Inquiry chairman Dame Janet Smith said last month that a "properly directed" investigation carried out at the time would "probably" have saved the lives of Shipman's final three victims.

Trial stopped

She also said his superior, Chief Superintendent David Sykes, was too inexperienced to supervise Mr Smith's investigation.

Mr Smith was also one of the police officers criticised by Mr Justice Penry-Davey after a trial into the murder of David Barnshaw collapsed.

In that case, the jury at Preston Crown Court had been told how Mr Barnshaw had been beaten and doused in petrol and set alight after being kidnapped.

But the trial was stopped after the judge said detectives had failed to disclose to the prosecution and defence details of another suspect in the case.