92-year-old British man charged with femicide in 1967

LONDON – A 92-year-old man has been charged with murdering and raping a woman almost six decades ago, British police said Nov. 20.

Miss Louisa Dunne, 75, was found dead by a neighbor at her home in Bristol, south-west England, in June 1967.

The cause of death was recorded as drowning and suffocation.

The case remained cold for 57 years until Ryland Headley, a stranger from Ipswich in the east of England, was arrested and subsequently charged on 19 November.

The arrest comes after Avon and Somerset police began investigating the case last year; This review included further forensic examination of items relevant to the case.

“This development marks an extremely important moment in this investigation,” the agency’s detective inspector Dave Marchant said in a statement.

“We have informed Louisa’s family of this charging decision and a specialist liaison officer will continue to support them in the coming days, weeks and months.”

Headley appeared in court in Bristol via video link on November 20 and was remanded in custody. He was not asked to enter a defense against the two charges. AFP