Lamplugh suspect pleads innocence

Police and relatives say they know who killed Suzy

The man accused by police and relatives of killing estate agent Suzy Lamplugh has pleaded his innocence from his prison cell.

On Tuesday 48-year-old John Cannan was publicly named by detectives as the "only suspect" in the 16-year-old case.

But the convicted murderer and rapist has claimed he is now being subjected to trial by media.

His solicitor Matthew Claughton said the media had already "convicted" Cannan who comes from Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands.

Our concern is that, in many respects, he has already been tried

Matthew Claughton

Cannan's denial followed a news conference at which Scotland Yard Deputy Assistant Commissioner Bill Griffiths said he had been interviewed twice.

But the Crown Prosecution Service said there was insufficient evidence to bring charges against him.

Miss Lamplugh's father, Paul, has spoken of his "anger and frustration" that Cannan was not being prosecuted.

Mr Claughton, said: "Our grave concern is that, in many respects, he has already been tried and convicted in the media.

"He is extremely upset about the way he has been treated and what amounts to little more than an appeal by the police for evidence specifically against him.

Suzy Lamplugh's body has never been found

"To the best of my knowledge no one else has been spoken to in the last 10 years, certainly not since the investigation was re-opened."

In a statement Cannan's legal team said: "Our client John Cannan welcomes the decision not to charge him in connection with the disappearance of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh.

"He has always denied any involvement and continues to do so.

"As his solicitors we have not seen any evidence which could justify charges being brought."

The 25-year-old estate agent vanished in July 1986 after going to show a house in Fulham, west London, to a man calling himself Mr Kipper.

She was declared dead in 1994, although her body has never been found.

Cannan was jailed for life in 1989 for the rape and murder of newly-wed Shirley Banks in Bristol.

He is serving his sentence at Full Sutton jail near York.