Suspect's brother wants justice

Stephen Brodie said he felt for the family of Marian Bates

The brother of the prime suspect in the murder of a Nottingham jeweller has said he wants justice to be done.

James Brodie was named by police after the shooting dead of Marian Bates at the Time Centre in Arnold in September 2003 but has been missing since.

Stephen Brodie, 18, said that if his brother was alive he should answer for any crimes but if dead, those responsible should also be punished.

Police said a case review had opened up new lines of inquiry.

It is widely believed James Brodie was executed because the bungled robbery brought a crime gang to police attention.

But detectives believe many rumours about what happened are not credible, and some might be designed to throw them off the scent.

James Brodie has not been seen since Mrs Bates died

Stephen Brodie said he felt "disgust" at what his brother was accused of but found speculation over his fate hard to take.

"It's not nice reading some of the things about what has happened to him and how he was dealt with."

"But at the end of the day they are just rumours. When they are proved that is when I will let them affect me.

"I want to know whether he is dead or alive. Someone in Nottingham knows. It's been a long time now and this needs to be put to bed."

He added: "If he is alive, then there is a family out there grieving for a loss and they deserve justice and he needs to do the maximum sentence that he deserves."

Det Ch Supt Neil James, of Nottinghamshire Police, said they would be conducting searches in the Nottingham area over coming days to try to trace James Brodie.

"James Brodie is wanted for the murder of Marian Bates, he is wanted for three armed robberies and he is wanted for a racially aggravated assault." He added that a £10,000 missing persons reward was being extended to cover information which traces Brodie - dead or alive.