Renewed 1993 farm murders appeal

Appeal posters have been put up in and around the Llanharry area

Police are making a fresh appeal for information about the murders of a south Wales couple who were shot dead at their farmhouse 12 years ago.

Harry and Megan Tooze were found dead at the remote farm at Llanharry, near Bridgend, on 27 July 1993.

Their future son-in-law Jonathan Jones was jailed for the killings in 1995, but released in 1996 on appeal.

The Toozes were shot at close range in an execution-style killing. Their bodies were found in a cow shed.

Twelve years on, the killer or killers have never been traced despite police taking more than 1,500 statements.

Now a poster campaign is being launched in Llanharry, in an attempt to jog people's memories and a mobile police van will also be set up in the village.

Jonathan Jones was cleared at the court of appeal in 1996

The investigating team are appealing directly for "good factual information".

Detective Chief Inspector Brent Parry, who is leading the re-inquiry, said: "We want to know who the individual or persons who were in the area of the farm that day for example."

The South Wales Police re-investigation of the Tooze case began two years ago on the 10th anniversary of the murders.

During that time, a reconstruction has taken place at the farm where the bodies of the Tooze couple were found.

'Horrific case'

An independent forensic science team from Oxford have been drafted in to use advanced techniques in a bid to track down new evidence.

Forensic examinations are being made of every piece of evidence submitted during the original inquiry which police hope will uncover something new.

Det Ch Insp Parry said: "After 12 years this horrific case remains unresolved.

"It is an opportunity for someone who knows something to get it off their chest.

It is a painstaking process but we are confident that we will find the person or persons responsible Brent Parry, South Wales Police

"The farmhouse where Harry and Megan lived appears isolated, but there are a number of dwellings in the vicinity which is supplied by a busy lane.

"We believe someone somewhere must have seen or heard something suspicious on the Monday (July 26th) when it is believed the murders took place...

"Whatever it is, however insignificant it may seem, we want to know.

"It could hold the key to the investigation, and allow those Harry and Megan left behind to finally put closure to this tragic story and move on."

He said that several theories over the motivation of the murders were being examined.

"We are going through all the evidence that we have available and are building up DNA profiles," he added.

"It is a painstaking process but we are confident that we will find the person or persons responsible," he added.

After being released by the appeal court, Jonathan Jones went on to marry the murdered couple's only daughter Cheryl Tooze, who had campaigned for his release.