Police make TV appeal to find hired killer

Detectives are looking for people who visited certain pubs near Dunstable, Linslade and Leighton Buzzard in the 1980s

Detectives have made an appeal on television in an attempt to find the hired killer behind the murder of Carol Morgan.

On 13 August 1981 the 36-year-old was killed by a hitman inside the shop she ran with her husband Allen Morgan in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire.

In June he was convicted of conspiring to murder his wife following a trial at Luton Crown Court and jailed for life with a minimum of 22 years. But the identity of the hitman remains unknown.

Det Insp Richard Stott said: "This killer, if still alive, could be living anywhere, and may have talked about details in their life which potentially are suspicious."

Allen Morgan was jailed for conspiring to murder his wife Carol

During an appearance on Crimewatch Live, he added: "The level of violence used was really unusual."

Morgan, now 73, found his wife's body in the storeroom when he returned from taking her two children, then aged 14 and 12, to a cinema in Luton.

The killer used an axe or machete to attack Carol before escaping with £435 in cash and 1,400 cigarettes.

A year prior to his wife's death, Morgan had been having an affair with Margaret Spooner, whom he later married.

To detectives it had initially looked like a burglary gone wrong, but a new witness in 2018 revealed she had heard Morgan discussing murdering his wife.

Det Insp Richard Stott admitted an e-fit from 1981 "could've been someone else"

Bedfordshire Police wants to hear from people who frequented pubs in the Linslade, Leighton Buzzard and Dunstable area in the 1980s.

These locations include The Dolphin, The Ship, The Waggon and Horses and The Clay Pipe.

At the time an e-fit was issued of a man seen leaving the shop on the night of the attack.

Mr Stott said police are still interested in locating this man but admitted they are "a little cautious about it" as it could be unrelated.

He added although forensic technology was new in 1981, they still have an unidentified finger print from the scene.

They want to hear from anybody who knew Carol at the time or had any involvement with Morgan, especially those who have never spoken to the cold case investigation team.