Herefordshire | Archive | 2003 | October | 2
From the archive, first published Thursday 2nd Oct 2003.
AN elderly Hay-on-Wye mum has turned private investigator in the wake of her son's brutal murder 16 years ago.
The murky trail for 75-year-old sleuth Isobel Hulsmann winds back to March 10, 1987, when a killer crept up behind her son in a shadowy pub car park and embedded an axe into his skull.
Following in the footsteps of her dead son, Daniel Morgan, a real private investigator, life has been a living nightmare since.
Mrs Hulsmann, with surviving son Alastair and daughter, Jane, are now recovering from devastating news that the Crown Prosecution Service can't yet make a prosecution - by planning their next line of attack.
"Justice will be and is the way forward we choose to take," says Mrs Hulsmann, who remains adamant her son's killer will be put behind bars, even after four police investigations.
She has her own suspicions about Daniel's death. It has been suggested that the successful investigator, who ran his own firm, Southern Investigations,could have stumbled across something `explosive'.
His killer struck on a day he had arranged a meeting with his business partner at the Red Lion Pub, Sydenham. Daniel was discovered dead outside.
Lack of evidence
Met. Police submitted a file of its latest evidence to the CPS in March but told Mrs Hulsmann earlier this month there was insufficient evidence for a prosecution this time.
A statement from the Met. Police Press Bureau explains: "As a result of the reinvestigation into the murder of Daniel Morgan, murdered in 1987 in Sydenham, we submitted a file of evidence to the CPS in March. They advised us on September 2 that there was insufficient evidence for a prosecution this time.
"We have advised the family of Daniel Morgan, who are naturally very upset.
"It is a matter of great regret to us that we have not been able to finally bring those involved in the murder of Daniel Morgan to justice.
"During this investigation, we believe we have come much closer to identifying those involved in the murder, and as long as the case remains unsolved, we will explore and investigate all opportunities to progress a prosecution."
Mrs Hulsmann and her family will challenge the decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions by lobbying Home Secretary, David Blunkett.
They are supported by MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, Roger Williams, who said: "It's a real disappointment for Mrs Hulsmann and her family. They did think as a result of this latest investigation a prosecution would take place.
"She's obviously upset, but very determined to continue this case. It has cost her, her daughter and surviving son a huge amount of stress and effort, but they will not let it go."
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