A look at three of Merseyside Police's unsolved cold cases

There are hundreds of ‘cold case’ files laying on police desks across the nation and the world.

However just because justice has not yet been given to these victims, doesn’t mean it can’t happen years later.

With that here is a list of three historic unsolved murders and manslaughters in St Helens.

The cases are all unrelated but they remain among the most high-profile unsolved cases St Helens has seen in recent decades.

Anyone with information can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

The first case is that of Julie Finley

Who was Julie Finley and what do we know?

Julie disappeared from Liverpool city centre on August 5, 1994.

She was last seen alive at the back of the Royal Liverpool University Hospital whilst talking to a man who was white and believed to be aged in his 20s or 30s.

Julie Finley was only 23 when her naked body was found in a carrot field off the Rainford bypass on Saturday, August 6, 1994.

She had been strangled.

Despite numerous appeals and enquiries into various leads, her murderer has never been found.

There was renewed interest in her case back in 2019 after the ITV series The Confession, which tells the true story over the of taxi driver Christopher Halliwell, from Swindon, who murdered Sian O'Callaghan and Becky Godden highlighted similarities between Julie’s case with the deaths of Sian and Becky.

Despite this and a police and Crimewatch appeals on the 25th anniversary of her death, Julie still awaits justice.

Next is the case of Margaret Briers

Who is Margaret Briers and what do we know?

Grandmother Margaret, known to friends and family as Peggy, answered the door at 9pm on Sunday, March 30 2008 when a bogus police officer conned his way into the 82-year-old’s Caldbeck Grove, Carr Mill home after saying there was an intruder in the back yard.

He then pushed the vulnerable victim to the floor, causing her to suffer a broken hip, before he fled with just £16 from a money box.

The grandmother was left stricken until she was found by her daughter Pauline Windsor, from Moss Bank, the next morning.

She died in Whiston Hospital six days later at the weekend, six days after a robber posing as a policeman forced his way into her bungalow on Caldbeck Grove, Carr Mill.

A post-mortem ruled Margaret had died from a chest infection and police say the illness was "directly attributable to the injuries sustained during the robbery", leading them to treat her death as manslaughter.

A St Helens man was arrested by police in connection with the incident and later released on bail.

One of her grandchildren says the cowardly attacker "has ripped out everyone one of Margaret's family's hearts" and urged townsfolk to come forward with information.

Days before her death Margaret described her attacker to police.

This e-fit matches her description of her assailant at the time.

 The offender is described as white, in his mid-30s and 5ft 8ins to 5ft 10ins tall with a slim build. He has short brown hair and was clean shaven, with sharp features.

He was wearing a navy blue peaked cap and a coat which was buttoned up with dirty-looking brown shoes and gloves.

Finally, this is the case of Alfred Sandford 

Who was Alfred and what happened?

72-year-old Alfred Sandford collapsed and died as violent thugs armed with a gun targeted his farmhouse during a terrifying robbery.

Just before 11.30am on July 24 1998, a stolen red transit van drew up outside the couple’s home at Grove House Farm on Eltonhead Road, Sutton Heath.

Alfred’s wife Inez, 73, was used to people calling to buy eggs and opened the door. But on this occasion, four white, masked men forced their way past her.

They held the terrified couple at gunpoint and as the men went through the house, 72-year-old Alfred, who was treasurer of Thatto Heath Labour Club, suffered a cardiac arrest.

Despite his wife’s efforts, nothing could be done to save the father-of-five’s life.

He had only returned home from Whiston Hospital two days earlier after suffering two heart attacks.

The gang left with a small amount of cash. Later the red van was found abandoned and set on fire in Edge Street, Nutgrove, a quarter of a mile from the scene. A stolen white Ford Sierra, which was used as a getaway car by offenders to make their escape, was also found on fire, just half a mile from the farmhouse on Lacey Street.

Six months later his wife, Inez, also passed away, from what her family believes was as the result of a broken heart.

Despite several arrests being made over the past decade, no-one has been brought to justice for the crime that devastated a family.

So what do police have to say and what is being done about these cases?

Detective Superintendent Major Crime, Sue Coombs said: “We continue to appeal for information on the deaths of Margaret Briers, Alfred Sandford and Julie Finlay so their families can finally find closure and bring those responsible to justice.

“A murder investigation is never closed. Unsolved murders are subject of biennial reviews, and these reviews take into account present day developments in forensic technology.  “I would urge people in the community for their help with the investigation and that it is not too late to come forward with any information you may have, no matter how small.  "Every vital bit of information and evidence can help us make significant progress and find justice for the families of Margaret, Alfred and Julie.

“We know that people can be reluctant or fearful in coming forward, but please be rest assured there are special measures that we can put in place to protect witnesses.

“Someone out there knows who is responsible for this callous act. It’s never too late for someone to come forward – if you have any information please DM @MerPolCC, call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.”