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David Fuller: Kent Police to investigate any links to unsolved murders, rapes and missing women cases in Kent

Kent Police have put together a team to investigate whether or not depraved murderer David Fuller is linked to any unsolved cases in the county.

Necrophiliac Fuller, 67, will die in prison after being jailed for life for killing Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce in Tunbridge Wells in 1987.

Watch: Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Fotheringham speaks outside court

After the depraved electrician was sentenced, Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Fotheringham revealed a special team of officers was being set up to investigate any cold cases.

The force will look into cases of missing woman, rapes or murders in the South East area which remain unsolved, and expect it could take "at least a year".

Speaking after a harrowing day in court where the families of Fuller's victims made clear their feelings, Det Ch Supt Fotheringham, also said the force are keen to investigate what happened to Caroline Pierce in the three weeks from when she was last seen.

He said: "I don't know what I can say to the victims families apart from I cannot imagine what they've gone through.

Depraved David Fuller was jailed for life on Wednesday. Picture: Kent Police
Depraved David Fuller was jailed for life on Wednesday. Picture: Kent Police

"My thoughts are always with them, they're the reason why we've continued the investigation and I hope they can get some peace."

He added: "We still don't know what happened to Caroline in those three weeks. We've asked to see David Fuller in prison to ask him to tell us, so that we can tell Caroline's family, but he's refused to do that.

"Because there are three weeks where we don't know what happened to Caroline, and I want to tell the family that, so that they can have some peace, but he's decided not to tell us."

He added how "terrible" it must be for families to now have David Fuller's face and name attached to the memories of their deceased loved ones.

Among a number of unsolved cases are two in Bedgebury between 1979 and 1982, when Fuller was in his mid-20s, and the location just a short drive from his home.

Kent Police footage of necrophiliac David Fuller in custody. Picture: Kent Police
Kent Police footage of necrophiliac David Fuller in custody. Picture: Kent Police

The first, on October 23, 1979, has since been dubbed the ‘Bedgebury Forest Doe’ or ‘Bedgebury Forest Woman’, after an unidentified woman was savagely beaten and killed.

The victim, believed to be in her 30s, was found by a woman riding a horse in an undergrowth of the forest.

A “bloodstained wooden stake” was found near the body and later identified as the murder weapon.

On June 11, 1982, Jean Brook was found murdered in the same area. How she was killed and who killed her remain unknown.

Yesterday, Nevres Kemal, the mum of Azra Kemal, a 24-year-old law student, who died after she fell from a bridge on the A21, said the law needed to be changed, to increase sentences for necrophilia.

Nevres Kemal speaking outside court
Nevres Kemal speaking outside court

She said: "Justice has been served for those families who had their children murdered and that's the most important thing.

"I personally don't feel three months for my daughter being vaginally penetrated, three months for my daughter being anally penetrated and three months for my daughter being orally penetrated on three occasions is fair and just.

"This is not fair and just, it's not acceptable, she was worth more than that. People that sell drugs or have Class A drugs on them have a larger sentence. It's a disgrace and I'm more than disappointed."

Det Ch Supt Fotheringham said the public inquiry into Fuller's mortuary crimes involved the Ministry of Justice and said the issue of sentencing guidelines would be looked at.

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