It is a matter of great sadness that it took three decades, and the development of new forensic techniques, to finally identify Castree as the killer who violently ended Lesley's life in 1975.

Yet, in the intervening years, Castree's crime claimed more victims. Lesley's stepfather was convicted for sex offences against her brother, behaviour in part blamed on the impact of her murder. Her brother took his own life and her mother had to cope with learning that the man held responsible for Lesley's death had been wrongly convicted.

Stefan Kisko had to endure being branded a child killer, and 16 miserable years in prison, before the gaping holes
in the evidence against
him were finally exposed. He died just two years
after his eventual release from prison.

It is hugely unsatisfactory that the passage of time, and the deaths of many of those involved, means the failings, including a forced confession which led to Mr Kisko's conviction and, as a consequence, Castree's continued freedom, will never be subjected to proper scrutiny. It can only be hoped that the risk of such a blatant miscarriage of justice occurring again has been substantially reduced.

Techniques that allow DNA samples found on victims to be matched with potential suspects are certainly a major step forward in this regard. While evidence properly considered in 1975 may have directed detectives to Castree, it was a DNA match in 2005 that ensured the right man is now serving a life sentence for murder. Castree avoided justice for a generation,
but he is now likely to die
in prison.

Few other crimes can be said to have had such a devastating impact on so many people over such a long period of time. It will be a relief to all concerned that this most distressing of criminal cases has finally reached a conclusion.