2 weeks Ago
The unspeakable crime 'etched on every woman's memory' Wirral florist Diane Sindall was 21 when she was murdered by unemployed labourer Peter Sullivan There are some crimes that linger in the memory long after the dust has settled. They stand as an affront to our sense of what is right, and make us feel more vulnerable as we go about our daily lives. The rape and murder of 21-year-old Diane Sindall in August 1986 is one such crime.
Diane was just trying to get home after working a late shift at a nearby pub when her life was taken from her. After her van ran out of petrol, she stopped at a garage on Borough Road in Birkenhead, where she had the misfortune to encounter Peter Sullivan, an unemployed labourer. Sullivan later said he stopped her to ask her the time, and was then seized with a "sudden desire to kill".
Merseyside Police detectives told journalists it was one of the worst murder cases they had worked on due to the extent of Diane's injuries. Sullivan - who became known as the 'Beast of Birkenhead' - was handed a life term after being found guilty of her murder in November 1987. He remains in prison, but recently lodged an appeal against his conviction.
On November 13 the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) confirmed the case had been referred to the Court of Appeal after a DNA profile was obtained which does not match Sullivan. In this report, we take a look at not the crime itself, but at its enduring legacy. From the psychological impact on local women, to the creation of RASA, the rape crisis centre, the shocking violence meted out against Diane left ripples that are still felt to this day.
A young bride-to-be Diane Sindall was engaged to be married at the time of her death. Her fiancé, David, lived in Seacombe, and she divided her time between his home and that of her parents, Wendy and Brian, in Tranmere. Diane had lots of friends.
She loved her food, and enjoyed cooking for people. Her mum said in an interview shortly after her..
. Katie Westwood.
