Rikki Neave

2022 - 7 - 4

Post cover — Image courtesy of "ITV News"

Rikki Neave: 24 Hours in Police Custody to unravel how killer James ... (ITV News)

James Watson strangled six-year-old Peterborough schoolboy Rikki Neave in woodland when he was 13 - then managed to evade detection for nearly 30 years.

Rikki’s mother Ruth Neave was originally charged with his murder and offences of child cruelty. “Our aim was always to find the answers Rikki’s family longed for and ensure the person responsible for his untimely death was brought to justice.” The case's twists and turns included Rikki's mum being wrongly accused of his murder in Peterborough in 1994.This year, Rikki's true killer James Watson was finally be put behind bars after he managed to evade detection for decades.

Murder of Rikki Neave investigation explored in 24 Hours In Police ... (Telly Mix)

24 Hours In Police Custody is back on Channel 4 tonight (4 July) as cameras follow the investigation into the murder of Rikki Neave. The two-part special.

The two boys are seen walking towards the woodland where Rikki’s body would later be recovered. It’s decided that no one from the original team should be involved. When he failed to return home, his mother sounded the alarm.

24 Hours in Police Custody: The Murder of Rikki Neave (Daily Mail)

In Channel 4's Police Custody: The Murder of Rikki Neave, which airs tonight, police discuss the original investigation in Peterborough after he was killing ...

Booked it on the ferry, drove on and that was that. 'Me and a mate left the UK in a mobile home. Later, he broke down and tearfully told the court: 'I'm a complete a***hole'. The police were filmed visiting the spot where his body was found, with DCI White saying: 'They did do a thorough investigation of the clothing. I think that was a strategic effort o get her to admit to the offence. That opportunity was denied to him by his murder.' 'The fact of the matter is, he knew his killer. It was the best they could do at that time. Is there something going on in the house? Shelley said: 'it was a close community - everyone knew everyone. Is it a case of someone taking him?' He’s a wrong-un and he might be involved.”'

Ruth Neave: who is mother of murdered schoolboy Rikki Neave ... (NationalWorld)

The murder of six-year-old Rikki Neave and the subsequent investigation is set to feature in the Channel 4 documentary series 24 Hours in Police Custody.

Both episode will also be available to watch on catch up on All4 after they have broadcast live. A witness statement from Rikki’s mother was read out instead, with Ruth saying: “Like stones dropping in a pond, it (the murder) has rippled out far and wide. In 2014, the mother spearheaded a campaign to find Rikki’s killer and urged police to reopen the case. After an investigation was launched into the murder of the young boy, police arrested Ruth in January 1995 on suspicion of murder and child cruelty. Rikki’s body had been found by detectives laying in a star position, similar to the famous image, leading them to believe that Ruth was involved with the murder. The convicted killer was not the investigators first suspect though, with Ruth Neave being pinpointed as a target early in the case.

The horrific true story of schoolboy Rikki Neave's murder and the 30 ... (WalesOnline)

Channel 4's 24 Hours in Police Custody returns on Monday, July 4 and explores the horrific murder of six-year-old Rikki Neave, whose body was discovered in ...

The 6-year-old’s corpse was discovered in a woodland on the Welland Estate in Peterborough, where he had been strangled with a ligature or anorak collar. Channel 4's 24 Hours in Police Custody returns on Monday, July 4 and explores the horrific murder of six-year-old Rikki Neave, whose body was discovered in 1994. A two-part special of the Channel 4 hit TV series focuses on how the case was solved.

24 Hours in Police Custody: What happened to Rikki Neave ... (Cambridgeshire Live)

The Channel 4 programme will reveal the re-investigation into the murder of Rikki Neave in 1994.

Watson was spoken to at the time in the initial investigation as a witness. On June 24, at the same court he was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 15 years, minus the 843 days already served. In 2015 an investigation into the cold case was relaunched, with a completely new team of officers looking at the case. Ruth Neave, 53, was acquitted of the killing in 1996, but was jailed for seven years after admitting child cruelty in relation to Rikki and two of his sisters. Officers attended his home and extensive searches were carried out in the area with the support of local people. The Channel 4 documentary being aired tonight and tomorrow, July 5, will reveal the re-investigation of Rikki Neave following his murder in Peterborough almost 30 years later.

Chilling moment Rikki Neave's 'calm' killer SMIRKS and tells mum 'I ... (The Irish Sun)

THIS is the chilling moment Rikki Neave's killer smirked and told his mum "I'll be OK" as he was arrested for murdering the six-year-old.James Watson.

“From 2014 we mounted what become a complex and protracted investigation. “I am sorry that we did not bring James Watson to justice sooner. The court heard he was seen with Rikki on the day he disappeared and was spoken to by police as a witness. One officer tells the show: "Could you say it's shock maybe? "Vulnerable" Rikki was known to social services and had been placed on the "at risk register" at the time of his death. Jurors heard how he had been seen with the youngster on the day he vanished and was spoken to by police at the time.