Detectives investigating the linked murders of a Playboy bunny girl and a 16-year-old school pupil have issued a fresh appeal for information on the 40th anniversary of the killings.

The 1975 murders of Eve Stratford, in Leyton, and Lynne Weedon, in Hounslow, remain unsolved despite extensive enquiries, but officers hope enough time has passed for someone to now come forward with information.

The murders were linked in July 2006, after a review and advances in technology determined that the same DNA had been found on both victims.

Investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh, from the Metropolitan Police's Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: "DNA work is complex and lengthy and we are still following this line of enquiry.

"However, I firmly believe there is someone out there who has information about who carried out these murders.

"It's inconceivable the killer of Eve and Lynne has kept the perfect secret for 40 years. It's a heavy burden to carry and he must have let details slip over the years – maybe to a partner, a friend, even a cell-mate – and I would appeal to anyone with information to contact us.

"The families of Eve and Lynne had spent decades not knowing who brutally killed their loved ones and they surely deserve some answers."

Eve Stratford – the bunny girl

Ms Stratford died of neck injuries on Tuesday, March 18, 1975, aged 22. She was last seen by witnesses walking near her home in Lyndhurst Drive, Leyton, east London at 3.58pm. It was a snowy day and she appeared to be walking alone.

At 4.30pm an occupant in another flat at the converted house in Lyndhurst Drive heard a man and a woman talking. From the occupant's recollection, the conversation did not sound at all heated or confrontational. The witness recalled hearing a loud thud coming from Ms Stratford's first-floor flat a short time later. Her body was discovered by her boyfriend at 5.25pm in the bedroom.



Ms Stratford, who worked as a bunny girl, had a nylon stocking tied around one ankle and a scarf wrapped around her hands. Her neck had been cut between eight and 12 times.

A post-mortem examination, held at Walthamstow mortuary, gave the cause of death as knife wounds to the throat.

There was no sign of forced entry to her flat and no weapon was ever recovered.

A more recent forensic examination of clothing recovered from Ms Stratford's body provided a DNA profile.

Lynne Weedon – the school pupil

On September 3, 1975, shortly after 11pm, 16-year-old schoolgirl Lynne was raped and murdered near her home in Hounslow.

Lynne had been on her way home after an evening out with friends. Detectives believe she was followed on foot from Great Western Road – the A4 – into The Short Hedges alleyway, where she was hit with a blunt instrument and thrown over a fence into the grounds of an electricity sub-station. She was then raped before the suspect left the scene.

Lynne was discovered by a local school caretaker whose house overlooked the sub-station. Despite her injuries, she was still alive when police and ambulance crews arrived at the scene.

However, she never regained consciousness and she died at West Middlesex Hospital a week later, on September 10, 1975.

The cause of death was a single blow to the head. Her skull had been smashed with a heavy blunt instrument, which was never recovered.

In 2004, officers from the Met's then Murder Review Group re-examined Lynne's case. It was following this review that further scientific work was undertaken and a DNA profile discovered. Checks then found a match to Ms Stratford's murder.

'Remorse?'

DCI McHugh said it was likely the suspect for both murders was now aged in his 60s or 70s.

He added: "The man who carried out these murders is now of a different, older generation. I would imagine he must have reflected upon his actions every day over the past 40 years.

"Does he feel guilt, remorse, a need to explain what happened? Sadly Eve's parents have passed away but this man has a chance to bring peace to Lynne's mother and father, now in their 80s.

"I am directly appealing to that person to come forward and speak to us and make things right for the sake of the families affected."

Detectives are keeping an open mind but have previously said it is possible the killer knew his victims, particularly Ms Stratford, who had a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

It is also thought that the murderer had a knowledge of the Hounslow area, as the alleyway and sub-station are away from busy areas and would have meant Lynne's screams or struggles would most likely have gone unheard.

It is not thought that Ms Stratford and Lynne knew each other.

'A true life sentence'

Lynne's mother, Margaret Weedon, said: "It has been 40 years since our beautiful young daughter Lynne was violently taken from us.

"1975 seems so long ago and it is. Forty years without her. We have missed out on so much; she missed out on life, no relationship or marriage, no career or children or even just travelling the world, all taken from her.

"We are left 40 years on always wondering what it would have been like.

"A true life sentence.

"We are well aware that whoever murdered Lynne also murdered Eve Stratford. That young lady also had her life snubbed out. Her family have died now. Another true life sentence.

"The hurt eases but the pain still sits deep somewhere inside. There are so many questions. So many thoughts. So much heartache.

"I will make a mother's plea for anyone who can tell us some information about the person who took my daughter and Eve Stratford's lives to come forward. Please, please give us some sort of closure.

"1975 was a long time ago but events as traumatic as this stick in the mind, so if you know or suspect anyone involved please help us."

Anyone with information should call the incident room on 020 8785 8099, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.