Melanie Hall murder suspect was questioned 14 years ago

Miss Hall went missing in June 1996

Police investigating the murder of Melanie Hall have revealed a man arrested last week was questioned by officers when she disappeared in 1996.

The 38-year-old man from Bath was held for nearly 30 hours before being released on bail on Friday.

He was questioned in connection with Melanie's murder and the disposal of her body.

Miss Hall, from Wiltshire, was 25 and a clerical officer at the Royal United Hospital, Bath, when she vanished.

Det Supt Mike Courtiour said the man, who would have been 24 when Melanie disappeared, had been questioned but not arrested during that initial investigation.

He described the arrest as "a significant part of a complex and difficult ongoing investigation".

'Positive and determined'

The detective, who is leading the murder inquiry, said that since Melanie's remains were found in October last year officers had revisited all aspects of the original investigation and had spoken again to many people who were questioned at that time.

He said: "This arrest was by no means a fruitless exercise. It was part of our continuing investigation and we have a number of further inquiries that need to be pursued.

"The murder inquiry team remains active, positive and determined to find Melanie's killer or killers and bring them to justice."

The man was arrested last week after going voluntarily to the city's Manvers Street police station on Thursday.

Miss Hall's remains were discovered on a slip road at junction 14 of the M5 in South Gloucestershire in October 2009.

The former graduate was identified by a gold ring given to her by her grandmother.

Miss Hall had been at Cadillacs nightclub in Walcot Street, Bath, before she disappeared.

The psychology graduate from Bradford-on-Avon worked as a clerical officer in the Orthopaedic Department at the Royal United Hospital in Bath.