Huge response to murder appeal

Lesley was stabbed and sexually assaulted

Detectives investigating the murder of a schoolgirl 27 years ago have had a "huge and encouraging" response to an appeal on BBC One's Crimewatch programme.

More than 130 calls have been received by West Yorkshire Police since they announced a DNA breakthrough in the Lesley Molseed case on Wednesday night.

Lesley, 11, was stabbed and sexually assaulted after leaving her home in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, on an errand in 1975.

Her body was found on moorland above the Oldham to Halifax road in Ripponden, West Yorkshire three days after she went missing.

The worst thing that anyone could do is not report their suspicions to us when the elimination process is so simple and so final

Detective Chief Superintendent Max McLean

Stefan Kiszko, a tax clerk from Rochdale, was convicted of her murder, but was freed on appeal in 1992 after serving 16 years in prison. He died shortly after.

Officers say they now have a DNA profile which was left by Lesley's killer.

New techniques helped to make the discovery from only a few fragments of evidence left from the crime in storage.

Detective Chief Superintendent Max McLean was pleased by the public reaction, but is still urging more people to come forward.

He said: "We have had a huge and encouraging response from the vast majority of callers who have given useful, focused information on men capable of committing such an attack.

Mr Kizsko was released from prison on appeal

"People should call in with any suspicions they may have harboured over the years to help us finally catch this brutal child murderer."

"The worst thing that anyone could do is not report their suspicions to us when the elimination process is so simple and so final."

Lesley's mother, April, said: "When we heard the police had found DNA we were absolutely elated, it's like all our Christmases rolled into one - it gives us great hope."

On Lesley's disappearance she added: "After two hours, I knew she was gone - I could feel it in the whole of my body.

"And I never lost that feeling, it just grew stronger and stronger and I thought 'I'm never going to see her again'."