Georgina Edmonds Murder Investigation

4 March 2010, 12:13 | Updated: 9 March 2010, 13:18

Detectives investigating the murder of Georgina Edmonds are to begin voluntary DNA swabbing of a number of people in the hunt for the killer.

Detectives have identified 1876 people through the investigation whose DNA will now be compared to the DNA evidence located at the crime scene.

Police have sent letters to 120 of these identified people who police do not yet have DNA samples from, to invite them to attend a social club in Eastleigh to give their voluntary DNA sample on Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday, March 13. The process should take approximately 15 minutes and officers will be able to explain the process and answer any questions. Police are also able to visit people at home, work or any other location if they cannot attend the specific dates and location. Only those receiving letters from the police should attend to give their voluntary sample.

The DNA will be obtained through a mouth swab and will be used solely for the purpose of this investigation and then destroyed. It will not be placed on the National DNA Database and will not be used for any other comparison work against other crimes.

Detective Chief Inspector, Paul Barton, said: “We are about to start a process of taking voluntary DNA samples from a large number of people to assist in identifying Mrs Edmonds’ killer. These people are not suspected of committing this crime but as the offender remains at large, we must take these samples and compare them to the DNA of the killer. This will help to eliminate large numbers of people from the inquiry. Only those who receive a letter from the police should attend to give their voluntary DNA sample. As always we continue to appeal to anyone with any information to get in touch with us and help us find the person responsible for this horrific crime. A £30,000 reward is still available and the smallest bit of information could lead us to the killer.”

Anyone with any information about this incident should contact the Operation Columbian investigation team at Hulse Road on 101 or call Crimestoppers, the charity, anonymously on 0800 555 111.