Four Sunderland murder victims whose killers have still to be caught

Northumbria Police say they continue to review and investigate all unsolved killings and will re-examine cases if they receive new information.

Here is how you can contact detectives about the following four murders.

1986: Julie Perigo

The body of Julie Perigo, 51, was found at her blood-spattered home in Kidderminster Road, Downhill, Sunderland, on May 23, 1986, after she had suffered multiple knife wounds.

Three men were detained in connection with the prostitute’s murder although they were all later freed without charge.

Around 6,000 men, including an extensive list of clients found in her diaries, have been interviewed without any further arrests.

1992: Nikki Allan

Seven-year-old Nikki Allan's body was found in the abandoned Quayside Exchange warehouse in High Street East, Sunderland, 24 hours after she was repeatedly stabbed on October 7, 1992.

Neighbour George Heron, 24, of Wear Garth, in the city’s East End, was soon charged with murder before he was cleared the following year at Leeds Crown Court after the judge accused the police of heavy-handed tactics in obtaining an inadmissible taped confession.

A new team of officers began reinvestigating the case in 2017 and announced in 2018 that they had arrested a man on suspicion of Nikki’s murder following DNA advances.

Northumbria Police have confirmed in May 2020 that he is still released under investigation while inquiries continue.

1994: Amina Khatun

The 24-year-old housewife was stabbed to death at her house in Manor View East, Concord, Washington, on December 30, 1994, in front of her three young children.

The alarm was raised around 11pm when a relative rang and heard one of the children crying.

Nine arrests were made shortly after the mother’s death and a 30-year-old man was initially charged with murder before the case against him was soon discontinued.

2014: Robert Hutchinson

The most recent case concerns the disappearance of Robert Hutchinson, 56, who was last seen leaving his home in Corporation Road, in Hendon, Sunderland, at about 6.20pm on June 23, 2014.

The car he was driving, a blue Nissan Micra, was later found abandoned at the end of Stewart Street, near Chester Road, about three miles away.

Detectives believe he came to harm that night and launched a murder inquiry.

But his body has still to be found and no-one has been charged.

Anyone with information about any of the cases can contact Northumbria Police via the Tell us something page on their www.northumbria.police.uk website.

The Crimestoppers charity can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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