Family asks for axe murder review

Nobody has yet stood trial for Mr Morgan's murder 18 years ago

The family of a murdered private investigator is to seek a judicial review of a Home Office decision not to hold a public inquiry into his death.

Daniel Morgan, 37, was found with an axe in his head in a pub car park in Sydenham, south London, in 1987. The crime has never been solved.

His mother, from Powys, visited the crime scene for the first time on Thursday, the anniversary of his death.

A second request for a public inquiry was turned down in December 2004.

Isobel Hulsmann, 77, from Hay-on-Wye, and her other son, Alastair Morgan, 56, from north London, are to lodge an application for a judicial review of the Home Office's refusal to hold a public inquiry on Thursday.

Daniel Morgan had been the co-owner of a firm called Southern Investigations, which employed off-duty police officers.

His family believes he was killed by a professional hitman and claimed to have found evidence of alleged police corruption.

But the allegations were not supported by an investigation by the former Police Complaints Authority, and no prosecutions were made following a series of other investigations.

Daniel Morgan's mother brought flowers on her visit to the spot where he died

Mrs Hulsmann and Mr Morgan had their first request for a public inquiry turned down by another Home Office minister, Caroline Flint, in July 2004.

Home Office Minister Hazel Blears met the family in October 2004, and agreed to investigate their allegations.

Although she declined to launch a public inquiry two months later, in a letter to the Morgans' solicitor, Mrs Blears said the first investigation by the Metropolitan Police into the murder has been "less than satisfactory in a number of respects".

Alastair Morgan's MP, Chris Smith, said: "I strongly support the family in all their efforts to ensure that those responsible for Daniel Morgan's death are brought to justice.

Difficult journey

"This matter has dragged on for far too long and there are still far too many unanswered questions.

Mrs Hulsmann visited the crime scene for the first on the 18th anniversary of his death on Thursday.

While she said it would be a very difficult journey, she said: "But it is something I must do. I must face up to this. I know I need to do it.

"It is vitally important that this matter is resolved. This case should be looked at with honesty and integrity, and that is what our aim is."

Her MP, Brecon and Radnor's Roger Williams, added: "I do believe that the matter is in the public interest, that there's a full public inquiry because I think there are lessons to be learnt for future police actions".