Boy's killer 'escaping justice'

Sam Walker was on his way to a family picnic when he died

A killer, who hit a five-year-old boy before driving off, is escaping justice because no-one will openly tell police who he is, detectives have claimed.

Sam Walker - who died in February 2003 in Manchester after the crash - would have been seven-years-old on Wednesday.

Police said a number of people had told them anonymously the name of the driver of the car.

But Inspector Ian Hales said he needed someone to speak openly in order to bring a prosecution.

He said: "Over the last 13 months we have received a number of anonymous calls about the people responsible for Sam's death.

All it would take is one person to be brave enough to speak openly to the police and help us prove who killed him Inspector Ian Hales, Greater Manchester Police

"It is clear that several people in the local community know who was behind the wheel of that car and could help us with a prosecution.

"Whatever their motive for not coming forward, their silence has meant that Sam's killers go unpunished and will continue to do so for as long as they remain quiet.

"Those who can help know who they are and the fact that we still receive anonymous calls proves that this community has not forgotten Sam.

"All it would take is one person to be brave enough to speak openly to the police and help us prove who killed him."

Sam was killed at the junction of Barlow Moor Road and Hardy Lane in the Chorlton district of Manchester.

He had been on his way to a family picnic when he was hit by a silver Mitsubishi Gallant which failed to stop or slow down.

The car was found abandoned less than half an hour later in Riverside Avenue.