Wiltshire Police apologise to family of Swindon murder victim
Christopher Halliwell was convicted of the murder of Becky Godden-Edwards in 2016
Last updated 2nd Sep 2022
Wiltshire Police have apologised to the family of Becky Godden-Edwards, who was murdered by Christopher Halliwell in Swindon in 2003.
The apology comes following the conclusion of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) inquiry into a complaint about the investigation.
The police watchdog has criticised Wiltshire Police for missing "significant opportunities" to bring taxi driver Christopher Halliwell to justice sooner for the murder of Becky Godden.
Halliwell, of Swindon, Wiltshire, murdered Miss Godden, 20, in January 2003 and Sian O'Callaghan, 22, in March 2011.
Halliwell confessed to the killing of Miss O'Callaghan six days after abducting her, and took police to her body before offering "another one" and confessing to Miss Godden's murder.
He then led police to where he had buried missing Miss Godden in January 2003.
But flaws in the way the investigation was handled between 2011 and 2014 meant that he was not prosecuted for the murder of Miss Godden until 2016, having been previously jailed for the the murder of Miss O'Callaghan in 2012.
A judge ruled that the way in which his confession was obtained breached Police and Criminal Evidence Act rules, meaning the charge of murdering Miss Godden was dropped at his first trial.
In a report published on Friday, the IOPC said between 2011 and 2014 the inquiry into Ms Godden's death was "poorly progressed and supervised, reasonable lines of inquiry were not pursued, and key evidence was not forensically examined".
Among the examples of poor practice identified by the IOPC were the fact that a soil sample taken from a spade belonging to Halliwell in 2011 was not forensically examined until three years later.
It was then found to match rare soil in the field where Becky was found.
In a statement, Wiltshire Police say: "We are sincerely and deeply sorry for the impact these avoidable delays in the investigation had on Becky’s family and recognise these have further compounded the terrible pain and loss endured as result of the murder of their much-loved daughter."
"We fully accept the findings and recommendations of the IOPC managed investigation, which was undertaken by an external police force."
Wiltshire Police's Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills continues ; "Although we have implemented improved investigative processes and leadership training for all officers who have the responsibility for the oversight of homicide investigations, we are fully committed to ensuring the lessons identified in this case are learnt and acted upon.
"This is to ensure that victims and families can be confident that they will receive the policing service they rightly should expect in all future homicide investigations."