Family plea for murderer capture

Three bailed on newsagent murder

The family of a newsagent beaten to death in 1987, have issued a statement appealing for new information.

Phillip Saunders, 52, who ran the newspaper kiosk in the city's central bus station, was ambushed as he arrived home late at night.

He was battered over the head with a shovel in a "savage" attack as he walked to his house.

Three people arrested in connection with his death on Wednesday have since been released on bail.

Speaking after the arrests, Mr Saunders' brother Ted and sister-in-law Marge issued a joint statement saying "not a day goes past when we don't think of him".

"Phillip was a loving brother and a caring uncle," they said.

"He was brutally murdered and the way in which he died has affected us all and still affects us now, even after all this time."

It makes us so sad to think that he should be here with us, enjoying his retirement and reaping the rewards of his years of hard work Ted and Marge Saunders

"Each time there is a development in the case or some media coverage on his death, we are immediately transported back to the awful events of the night of 12th October 1987.

"Phillip was 52 when he died and has missed out on so much.

"It makes us so sad to think that he should be here with us, enjoying his retirement and reaping the rewards of his years of hard work.

"If anyone knows anything about Phillip's death, we urge you from the bottom of our hearts to speak to the police or anonymously to Crimestoppers."

A new investigation into the murder was launched in 2003, four years after the release of Michael O'Brien who was jailed for life in 1988 along with Darren Hall and Ellis Sherwood.

Known as the 'Newsagent Three', their case became a well-known miscarriage of justice. Having served over 10 years in jail, their convictions were quashed by the Court of Appeal.

Mr Saunders was attacked with a shovel in the backyard of his home in Anstee Court in Canton, Cardiff, as he travelled home from work at the city's central bus station on 12 October, 1987.

Detectives were convinced the motive was robbery as his day's takings - believed to be around £500 - were missing.

As 75 officers were drafted onto the murder team, the detective leading the inquiry described it as "one of the most brutal and savage attacks I've ever seen".

So brutal that a pathologist later told how Mr Saunders' skull had been smashed into "innumerable fragments".

On the evening of his death. Mr Saunders had padlocked his kiosk in Wood Street at 2230 GMT. From there he went around the corner for a drink in the Albert pub in St Mary's Street, before driving home in his Daihatsu van.

Mr Saunders, who lived alone, died five days later when his life support machine was switched off.

A high-profile investigation got under way with 1,000 posters distributed around the city. A £5,000 reward was offered, thousands were interviewed and a full-scale reconstruction set up.

Detectives at the time said they were optimistic that the case would be wrapped up soon.

But 19 years on, Det Supt Adrian Hogg, who is leading the re-investigation to find Mr Saunders' killers, issued a fresh call for information.

"I urge anyone with any information, no matter how insignificant that information may seem, to come forward," he said.

Anyone with information should either go to their nearest police station, call the incident room on 029 2057 1583 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.