{"id":5826,"date":"2026-06-17T13:21:27","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T13:21:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/police-chief-wanted-to-shut-down-probe-that-snared-wimbledon-common-killer-at-centre-of-netflix-doc\/"},"modified":"2026-06-17T13:21:27","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T13:21:27","slug":"police-chief-wanted-to-shut-down-probe-that-snared-wimbledon-common-killer-at-centre-of-netflix-doc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/police-chief-wanted-to-shut-down-probe-that-snared-wimbledon-common-killer-at-centre-of-netflix-doc\/","title":{"rendered":"Police chief &#8216;wanted to shut down&#8217; probe that snared Wimbledon Common killer at centre of Netflix doc"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"article-body\">\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A police chief threatened to shut down the investigation that finally snared the killer at the centre of a new <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/rachel-nickell\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Netflix drama<\/a>, a former detective has claimed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Robert Napper stabbed <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/tv\/tv-news\/rachel-nickell-netflix-son-robert-37196698\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Rachel Nickell<\/a> to death in July 1992 as she walked on Wimbledon Common, South West London, with her two-year-old son, Alex. At the time, another police squad was investigating a series of rapes carried out by Napper but they failed to link him to the crimes after a string of missed chances.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He went on to kill Samantha Bissett, 27, and her four-year-old daughter, Jazmine, at their home in Plumstead, South East London, in November 1993. They were among up to 86 women he attacked, stalked or flashed at along London&#8217;s Green Chain, a linked system of open spaces running from the Thames to Crystal Palace.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37284978\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37284978\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Samantha Bissett and Jazmine\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37284978.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Schizophrenic.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37284978.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Schizophrenic.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37284978.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Schizophrenic.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37284978.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Schizophrenic.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Samantha Bissett and Jazmine\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Samantha Bissett and Jazmine<cite aria-label=\"Image: PA\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: PA)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Napper, then 28, was finally stopped by officers probing the double murder in May 1994. Speaking after the release of the hit series The Witness, ex-Detective Sergeant Alan Jackaman said the breakthrough came a short time after the probe was almost closed. The superintendent in charge wanted to pull the plug after they had failed to find a suspect, he claimed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mr Jackaman said: &#8220;He took me aside and said: &#8216;We are going to have to start closing this down because we aren&#8217;t getting anywhere&#8217;. At the same time there wasn&#8217;t any press interest and that does drive the job.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;I said: &#8216;There&#8217;s no way we can ever close this down because this bloke is going to do it again and we must get him, we have to.&#8217; He said: &#8216;Well I&#8217;ll leave you to get on with it then but you&#8217;ll need to get a result fast.'&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37285013\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37285013\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.78\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Robert Napper is suspected of dozens of attacks\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285013.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Netflixs-Murder-of-Rachel-Nickell-Robert-Napper-could-be-released-due-to-this-one-rule.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285013.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Netflixs-Murder-of-Rachel-Nickell-Robert-Napper-could-be-released-due-to-this-one-rule.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285013.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Netflixs-Murder-of-Rachel-Nickell-Robert-Napper-could-be-released-due-to-this-one-rule.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285013.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Netflixs-Murder-of-Rachel-Nickell-Robert-Napper-could-be-released-due-to-this-one-rule.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Robert Napper is suspected of dozens of attacks\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Robert Napper is suspected of dozens of attacks<cite aria-label=\"Image: Netflix\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Netflix)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In November 1989, Napper&#8217;s mother told police he had raped a woman close to where he would to on to murder Samantha and Jazmine. He had broken into the home of a 30-year-old mum three months earlier and attacked her at knifepoint in bed as her children ate breakfast downstairs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">She reported the rape, close to Winn&#8217;s Common on the Green Chain route, to police but they failed to find a record of it when Napper&#8217;s mum came forward.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mr Jackaman, author of Napper: Through a Glass Darkly, said: &#8220;She said it happened on Plumstead Common which many people call Winn&#8217;s Common because they are joined so the officer didn&#8217;t find a record of it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37285008\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37285008\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"How we reported the murders of Samantha and Jazmine at the time\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285008.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_DMir_1993_11_06_001-1.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285008.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/1_DMir_1993_11_06_001-1.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285008.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_DMir_1993_11_06_001-1.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285008.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_DMir_1993_11_06_001-1.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"How we reported the murders of Samantha and Jazmine at the time\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">How we reported the murders of Samantha and Jazmine at the time<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Napper, a paranoid schizophrenic with Asperger&#8217;s syndrome, continued to attack women at knifepoint, including a young mum pushing her two-year-old daughter, in March 1992. Police linked four terrifying crimes, dubbed the Green Chain rapes, by matching DNA taken from the victims.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Then in August 1992 one of Napper&#8217;s workmates contacted officers saying he looked like an e-fit released of the rape suspect. Around the same time a neighbour separately told detectives she thought the image could be Napper. He was asked to attend two blood tests but he failed to show and fled his flat.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37285398\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37285398\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Samantha and Jazmine outside the flat where they were killed\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285398.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_WhatsApp-Image-2026-06-11-at-170120-1jpeg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285398.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_WhatsApp-Image-2026-06-11-at-170120-1jpeg.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285398.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_WhatsApp-Image-2026-06-11-at-170120-1jpeg.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285398.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_WhatsApp-Image-2026-06-11-at-170120-1jpeg.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Samantha and Jazmine outside the flat where they were killed\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Samantha and Jazmine outside the flat where they were killed<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Instead of urgently hunting him down, the Operation Eccleston officers dropped 6ft 2in Napper as a suspect because witnesses said the rapist was shorter. The psychopath slipped through the net yet again when he was arrested after asking a printer to copy police notepaper.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A search of his flat uncovered a .22 pistol, 244 rounds of ammunition, knives and a crossbow. He was jailed for eight weeks after a psychiatric report concluded Napper was &#8220;without doubt an immediate threat to himself and the public&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A London A-to-Z map found at his home had spots marked along the Green Chain where he had attacked women and a circle in Richmond Park near the scene of Rachel&#8217;s killing. Officers did not spot the significance.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37285136\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37285136\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The scene of one of the Green Chain rapes\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285136.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_WhatsApp-Image-2026-06-11-at-170019-4jpeg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285136.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_WhatsApp-Image-2026-06-11-at-170019-4jpeg.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285136.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_WhatsApp-Image-2026-06-11-at-170019-4jpeg.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285136.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_WhatsApp-Image-2026-06-11-at-170019-4jpeg.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"The scene of one of the Green Chain rapes\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">The scene of one of the Green Chain rapes<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In February 1993 two boys found a tin containing a World War II gun on Winn&#8217;s Common. Fingerprints were identified as Napper&#8217;s but again he was not pursued.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Stalker Napper was then spotted climbing a wall to look into a woman&#8217;s home in July 1993, four months before he murdered Samantha and Jazmine.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He was found hiding in an alley on the Green Chain route, and an officer who spoke to him noted: &#8220;Subject strange, should be considered as a possible rapist.&#8221; Despite this, Napper was not referred to the Green Chain detectives.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In November 1993 he carried out the Bissett killings. Napper mutilated Samantha&#8217;s body and sexually assaulted Jazmine before suffocating her.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37285002\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37285002\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The mark on Napper's A-to-Z in Richmond Park\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285002.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_WhatsApp-Image-2026-06-11-at-170120-2jpeg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285002.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_WhatsApp-Image-2026-06-11-at-170120-2jpeg.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285002.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_WhatsApp-Image-2026-06-11-at-170120-2jpeg.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285002.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_WhatsApp-Image-2026-06-11-at-170120-2jpeg.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"The mark on Napper's A-to-Z in Richmond Park\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">The mark on Napper&#8217;s A-to-Z in Richmond Park<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">So shocking was aftermath that the police photographer who took the scene-of-crime pictures was unable to work again.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Napper was finally arrested in May 1994 after lead detective Micky Banks forced forensic scientists to re-test fingerprints. This led to them discovering they had missed Napper&#8217;s marks on a window.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mr Jackaman said: &#8220;That was the first crime scene that any of us had ever been to where every fingerprint had been eliminated. They had even had a children&#8217;s party the week before and every kid had been eliminated.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;When they did the first examination Napper&#8217;s fingerprints were confused with Samantha&#8217;s because they were very similar. A second expert should have checked the work but they didn&#8217;t. The forensic scientist was adamant he wasn&#8217;t going to re-test them but Micky insisted.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A bloody footprint found in Samantha&#8217;s flat, also near Winn&#8217;s Common, matched unusual Adidas trainers whose box was discovered in Napper&#8217;s bedsit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He later appeared at the Old Bailey where he admitted two offences of manslaughter through diminished responsibility and three rapes. He was sent to Broadmoor indefinitely.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But Samantha&#8217;s mum Margaret Morrison, 53, did not live to see justice after dying of a stroke the previous weekend. Mr Jackaman said: &#8220;It was the stress of losing her only child and granddaughter. Napper effectively killed all three of them.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Officers soon spotted Napper&#8217;s likeness to artist&#8217;s impressions of the Green Chain rapist and the Nickell suspect.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37285006\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37285006\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Alan Jackaman has written a book about the case\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285006.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Rachel-Nickell-Samantha-Bissett-murders.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285006.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Rachel-Nickell-Samantha-Bissett-murders.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285006.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Rachel-Nickell-Samantha-Bissett-murders.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285006.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Rachel-Nickell-Samantha-Bissett-murders.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Alan Jackaman has written a book about the case\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Alan Jackaman has written a book about the case<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">And they found the psychopath had marked the Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park on his A-to-Z, close to where Rachel was murdered.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mr Banks was then snubbed by the team investigating Rachel&#8217;s murder when he told them of his suspicions that Napper was the killer. By that time they were convinced local man Colin Stagg had committed the crime.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In 1994 the then Met commissioner Sir Paul Condon said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with Rachel&#8217;s murder, although Mr Banks and Mr Jackaman disagreed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The case against Mr Stagg collapsed and a police review of evidence finally named Napper as a possible suspect in 2001.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-grouped\">\n<div class=\"ImageGroupEmbed_container__i0sRj\" data-testid=\"portrait-image-group\">\n<div class=\"ImageGroupEmbed_image-group-item__XHC82\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37284999\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37284999\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:2\/3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Artist's impressions of the Green Chain rapist\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37284999.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_WhatsApp-Image-2026-06-11-at-170020-2jpeg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37284999.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/1_WhatsApp-Image-2026-06-11-at-170020-2jpeg.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37284999.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_WhatsApp-Image-2026-06-11-at-170020-2jpeg.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37284999.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_WhatsApp-Image-2026-06-11-at-170020-2jpeg.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Artist's impressions of the Green Chain rapist\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Artist&#8217;s impressions of the Green Chain rapist<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<div class=\"ImageGroupEmbed_image-group-item__XHC82\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37284994\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37284994\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:2\/3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Artist's impression of the Rachel Nickell suspect\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37284994.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Rachel-Nickell-killing.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37284994.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Rachel-Nickell-killing.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37284994.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Rachel-Nickell-killing.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37284994.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Rachel-Nickell-killing.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Artist's impression of the Rachel Nickell suspect\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Artist&#8217;s impression of the Rachel Nickell suspect<cite aria-label=\"Image: PA Archive\/PA Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: PA Archive\/PA Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37284993\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37284993\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Robert Napper after he was arrested in 1994\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37284993.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Colin-Stagg-who-was-wrongly-jailed-over-one-of-Britains-most-infamous-murders-says-he-is-desperate.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37284993.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Colin-Stagg-who-was-wrongly-jailed-over-one-of-Britains-most-infamous-murders-says-he-is-desperate.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37284993.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Colin-Stagg-who-was-wrongly-jailed-over-one-of-Britains-most-infamous-murders-says-he-is-desperate.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37284993.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Colin-Stagg-who-was-wrongly-jailed-over-one-of-Britains-most-infamous-murders-says-he-is-desperate.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Robert Napper after he was arrested in 1994\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Robert Napper after he was arrested in 1994<cite aria-label=\"Image: SWNS\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: SWNS)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Advances in <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/tech\/\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">technology<\/a> could have proven he was the killer that year but the Forensic Science Service missed his DNA when testing samples taken from Rachel&#8217;s body.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">New tests in 2002 by an independent lab uncovered a male DNA profile. Intensive forensic work finally revealed there was a one in 1.2million chance that it was not Napper.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Particles of red paint in Alex&#8217;s hair were also found to be identical to the paint on Napper&#8217;s toolbox.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37285515\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37285515\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:2.39\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Andre Hanscombe in the new Netflix documentary\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285515.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_The_Murder_of_Rachel_Nickell_n_00_02_38_13jpeg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285515.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_The_Murder_of_Rachel_Nickell_n_00_02_38_13jpeg.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285515.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_The_Murder_of_Rachel_Nickell_n_00_02_38_13jpeg.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37285515.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_The_Murder_of_Rachel_Nickell_n_00_02_38_13jpeg.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Andre Hanscombe in the new Netflix documentary\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Andre Hanscombe in the new Netflix documentary<cite aria-label=\"Image: Courtesy of Netflix\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Courtesy of Netflix)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">And a footprint from the murder scene matched the shoes he was wearing when he was arrested for the Bissett murders. Napper was finally convicted in 2008 of murdering Rachel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Her partner and father to Alex, Andre Hanscombe told a documentary released with the <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/netflix\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Netflix<\/a> drama of his devastation at learning Napper could have been stopped.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He said: &#8220;The attack that Alex witnessed was preventable, Rachel&#8217;s death was Andre preventable, Samantha and Jazmine&#8217;s deaths were preventable.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/uk-news\/rachel-nickell-robert-napper-murder-37284650\" target=\"_blank\">Source link<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A police chief threatened to shut down the investigation that finally snared the killer at<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5827,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5826","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/0_Rachel-Nickell-killing.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5826","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5826"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5826\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5827"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5826"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5826"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5826"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}