DNA link found in 1975 killings

A DNA link has been found in the unsolved murders of two young women more than 30 years ago.

Eve Stratford, 22, was stabbed to death in Leyton, east London, in 1975. Lynne Weedon, 16, was raped and killed in Hounslow, west London, later that year.

No-one was charged with either murder, but detectives re-examining the cases found the same DNA on both victims.

Det Ch Insp Andy Mortimer said: "We believe the killer could have confided in someone over the years."

Forensic advances

Miss Stratford, who worked as a club waitress or "bunny girl", was last seen walking home in March 1975.

Later that day a neighbour heard a conversation between a man and woman coming from her flat, followed by a loud thud. Miss Stratford was found tied up with her throat cut.

In September that year schoolgirl Lynne Weedon was hit over the head with a blunt instrument as she walked home.

She was then thrown over a fence into the grounds of an electricity sub-station, where she was raped. Miss Weedon later died of her head injuries.