Renewed Appeal After 2005 Eastbourne Murder Investigation Featured On BBC Crimewatch

BBC’s Crimewatch has issued a fresh appeal for information into the unsolved murder of Jennifer Kiely in Eastbourne in 2005.

The programme, authorised by the Sussex and Surrey Major Crime Team (MCT), was aired on Friday, March 24 and recaps the last known movements of the 35-year-old before her tragic death in a seafront shelter.

Detectives are now urging the public to watch the show – which is available on the iPlayer for the next two days – and come forward with any information which could assist in the investigation.

Detective Inspector Simon Dunn, of MCT, said:

“While this case remains unsolved, we continue to explore all lines of enquiry in our efforts to seek justice for Jennifer and her family.

“We are confident someone, somewhere, knows what happened to her that day and we are pleading with anyone with any information to please come forward.”

In the early hours of 22 January 2005, a fire was reported in a shelter on the lower promenade at Holywell on Eastbourne seafront. Jennifer's body was found in the shelter. She had sustained multiple stab wounds, her body had been set on fire, and the pushchair she habitually had with her was on top of her body.

Image courtesy of BBC Crimewatch Live

In 2009, the case was assessed and deferred for further assessment as there had been no new intelligence or development.

Since 2011 it has been a live case while a forensic line of enquiry is pursued; Sussex Police will always review cold cases where new lines of enquiry such as this come to light.

Jennifer's family continue to have the support of Family Liaison Officers from Sussex Police, and her mother, Margaret, who lives in Ireland, has echoed Det Insp Dunn’s appeal.

She said:

"I think of her every day. But on her anniversary I can’t stop, I can’t switch off. Somebody, somewhere, knows who is responsible. Just please come forward and let us know.”

Det Insp Dunn added:

“Jennifer was well known in Eastbourne among charities and had many friends, and she spent the last day of her life with friends at an address in Upperton Gardens. That night she had a bath and left at about midnight, and was last seen at about 1am walking west along the seafront in the direction of Holywell. Her body was found by council workers at 5am.

"One person we have yet to trace and eliminate from the investigation is a man seen that night walking along the middle of the road at the rear of the Grand Hotel.

"He was described as Eastern European by his accent and appearance. He was about 5’10-11", of slim to medium build. His hair was a light blond colour, short but in no particular style. His face was roundish and he had dominant cheek and jaw lines and his nose was very straight. 

"He was wearing a dark blue short jacket which had a collar and it was zipped right up to beneath his chin. He had also wore a pair of grey jeans and white trainers.

"We are unable to disclose further information about the current line of forensic enquiry at this time, but if anyone has any information that was not shared with us during the original investigation or since, no matter how minor you may think it may be, please report it online or call 101 at any time, quoting Operation Kittiwake.

"Jennifer’s family deserve to know what happened to her and who is responsible.”

You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or report it online.