Mum continues appeal over unsolved murder of daughter Julie Finley

Last seen around the Royal Liverpool University Hospital on August 5, 1994, the body of 23-year-old Julie Finley was discovered the next day in a field next to the Rainford Bypass.

Although police were "determined to get answers" for Julie's family, last month marked the 30th anniversary of the unsolved murder and 79-year-old mum Pat is desperate to get justice and keep her daughter's story alive.

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Julie's family have remained committed to getting justice (Image: Family Handout)
"It's been awful over the years and her dad died broken-hearted because he never got to see justice", Pat said.

"It's like Julie has been forgotten about and people aren't interested about her anymore, but I'm interested because she is my daughter."

Although there has been a £20,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest over the years, Pat is not aware of any significant leads or investigations in her daughter's case. 

Five years ago, the Star reported how there had been renewed focus on Julie's case following the airing of the ITV series The Confession, which told the true story of the taxi driver Christopher Halliwell, from Swindon, who murdered Sian O'Callaghan and Becky Godden.

National newspaper reports highlighted that Julie's case has similarities with the deaths of Sian and Becky.

Halliwell is reported to have lived just a few miles away in Ormskirk at the time of her murder.

There were calls for him to be questioned over Julie's death but Merseyside Police has remained tight-lipped over what lines of investigation may or may not have been followed up.

The force recently told a national newspaper that it cannot confirm the identities of any persons of interest in this case, or what action may have been taken to follow up specific lines of enquiry. However, they continued to appeal for anyone with information to come forward.

With a lack of information and updates, Pat and the family have grown increasingly frustrated over the years as they have never been able to have closure on what happened to their daughter. 

And while Pat has grown frustrated about a reported lack of visits from the police in recent years, the Force confirmed that unsolved murder cases are "never closed".

"You see these TV shows from America and killers are caught from years and years ago, but to us, it feels like Julie has been left behind", Pat added.

"My husband never got justice for Julie but I want it now. I want justice for all of our family so we can finally put Julie to rest."

Julie's death and lack of justice has devastated the family over the past 30 years (Image: Family Handout)
Speaking about the case, Kevin Clague, head of Merseyside Police's Serious Crime Review Unit, said: "[Following the] 30th anniversary of Julie’s tragic death, we remain committed to finding her killer and we are determined to bring those responsible to justice so we can help her mum, Pat, and the rest of her family find some closure after all these years.

“A murder investigation is never closed. I would urge people in the community for their help with the investigation and remind them that it’s never 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 Julie's family.

"It’s possible that with the passing of time, allegiances may have changed, people may have moved on from the area and may now feel they are able to speak about what happened on that day.

"We continue to appeal for any information which can help her family get justice. If you have any information, please DM @MerPolCC, call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.”

Do you have a news story? I cover the whole of the St Helens borough and surrounding areas. Email conal.cunningham@newsquest.co.uk