COUNTY NEWS: Victim's mother welcomes police review into Robert Trigg killings

The mother of one of killer Robert Trigg's victims has welcomed a police review into their handling of the case.
Peter and Elizabeth Skelton with a picture of their daughter Susan NicholsonPeter and Elizabeth Skelton with a picture of their daughter Susan Nicholson
Peter and Elizabeth Skelton with a picture of their daughter Susan Nicholson

Robert Trigg, an unemployed man from Worthing, was sentenced to 25 years in prison without parole for the murder of Susan Nicholson in 2011 and the manslaughter of Caroline Devlin on Mother’s Day in 2006.

Both families of the victims had criticised Sussex Police for its handling of the investigations – and the force apologised to them after the sentence was announced.

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But now, Sussex Police has commissioned three reviews: one of the investigations, one about how the police handled complaints following the investigations, and a review by West Sussex County Council to see what lessons can be learnt across multiple agencies.

W51C susan nicholson

Susan Nicholson, aged 27 ENGSNL00120111220121806W51C susan nicholson

Susan Nicholson, aged 27 ENGSNL00120111220121806
W51C susan nicholson Susan Nicholson, aged 27 ENGSNL00120111220121806

Elizabeth Skelton, Miss Nicholson’s mother, welcomed the police reviews. She said: “We hope it comes to a good conclusion, but we still have so many unanswered questions.

“We will have to wait for the outcome; you can’t make a judgement until they say what they are going to do.”

Mrs Skelton and her husband Peter spent £10,000 of their life savings to get the case to court in a five-year battle.

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Mrs Skelton felt ‘angry’ they had to go to such lengths to get justice for their daughter, but said ‘we weren’t going to give up’.

Robert Trigg has been handed a life sentence. Picture: Eddie MitchellRobert Trigg has been handed a life sentence. Picture: Eddie Mitchell
Robert Trigg has been handed a life sentence. Picture: Eddie Mitchell

Assistant Chief Constable Laurence Taylor said the reviews would be ‘robust and probing’: “The force will act on any key findings and, in our commitment to be open, we will publish those of the internal reviews after sharing with the families.

“I am truly sorry it has taken this long to get justice and it is important that we learn any lessons and provide answers for the families of Caroline and Susan.”

The families of both Miss Nicholson and Miss Devlin have been informed about these reviews.