A reward of up to £20,000 is being offered for anonymous information on the murder of Kieran Williams who was found in a shallow grave.
The reward is being offered by the charity Crimestoppers in a bid to identify a person who left fingerprints left around the grave on the banks of the River Wear in Sunderland.
Kieran was 18 years old when he went missing from his Esplanade West home in Sunderland on April 18 2022.
On May 31, his body was found in a makeshift grave on a disused industrial estate in Sunderland, south of the River Wear between the Northern Spire Bridge and Claxheugh Rocks.
Kieran had been stabbed multiple times and his body set on fire.
Subsequently, two men were later charged in connection with Kieran’s death and stood trial at Newcastle Crown Court where they were both acquitted of murder. One of the men, 20-year-old Louis Hackett, was found guilty of manslaughter and jailed for five years.
While Louis Hackett’s fingerprints were found, there were other unidentified fingerprints left around the grave. The public’s help identifying whoever left those fingerprints will assist in bringing Kieran’s killers to justice.
A judge concluded at the hearing that Kieran’s killer remains at large and stated, "the real perpetrator or perpetrators have got away with it. Justice has not been done".
Kieran's mother, Tracey Williams, has issued a heartfelt plea for information: “As a mother, I cannot express the horror and ongoing trauma that I feel. I wake up heartbroken and fall asleep crying. It’s an ongoing torture to know that I will never spend one more moment with my son.
“I am desperate for justice for Kieran just as any other parent would be. I continue to walk the streets where Kieran was last seen in the hope that someone, anyone will tell me what happened to my son and why.
“I know that there are people out there who know what happened to Kieran.
“I am a proud woman and a proud mother, but I am begging anyone with information to come forward. Please try to imagine just for a moment the pain and desperation I continue to feel every minute of every hour of every day.”
Fleur Brown, North East Regional Manager at the charity Crimestoppers, said: “Kieran was only 18 years old and his murder was horrific. As the judge stated, the perpetrator or perpetrators are still out there.
“We believe there are people who know what happened but may have been too scared to come forward or because of misplaced loyalty. This is their chance to make things right whilst staying completely anonymous when you contact our charity.
“Crimestoppers, which is independent of the police, is reaching out to anyone who has stayed silent but now wants to do the right thing. Even if they think that what they know is insignificant, I urge them to tell us.
Recommended reading:
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Kieran Williams murder trial: Louis Hackett guilty of manslaughter
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Kieran Williams killing: Sunderland murder accused evidence concludes
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“Our charity hopes that by appealing for anonymous information and offering a reward, Kieran’s family, finally, will have the answers they desperately need.”
Crimestoppers is supporting the investigation by offering up to £20,000 for information the charity exclusively receives - via its website by clicking here or by calling 0800 555 111 – that leads to the arrest & conviction of those linked to Kieran William's murder.
The reward is available for three months and is due to expire on July 18 2024.
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