A PROBE by '"cold case" investigators into evidence used to convict wife killer Gordon Park is now into its sixth year. 

The Criminal Cases Review Commission say they continue to look into what is a complicated case which will take time. 

The independent watchdog has been looking at all the evidence and police files to see if the case should go before the Court of Appeal. 

It probes miscarriages of justice in the UK but rarely considers cases when the person has died and can take up to six years to fully investigate.

It's 11 years this month since Park was convicted of murdering his teacher wife Carol.


‘GONE ON TOO LONG’ Sisters Kay Washford and Claire Gardner Her niece, 51-year-old Kay Washford, said all she wanted was their family left in peace with their fond memories of their aunt and if there was any new evidence then let them see it.

It was in 2010 – nine months after he was found dead in prison on his 66th birthday - that Park's family launched a bid to clear his name.

In 2013 an inquest jury in Preston ruled that the ex-teacher from Barrow, had killed himself.

He was found asphyxiated in his cell at HMP Garth in Leyland, Lancashire.

<u><strong>The Lady in the Lake</u></strong>

She was dubbed ‘The Lady in the Lake’ and vanished in July 1976 after she and Park had a string of rows. Ex-teacher Park always maintained he had taken their children to Blackpool for the day and she had stayed at home in Leece and then disappeared.

He waited six weeks before reporting her missing.

In fact, he had bludgeoned her to death with an ice axe after she threatened to walk out on him. The keen sailor then tied up her body and dumped her in 80ft of water.

Divers found her - wearing a summery pinafore dress - trussed up and weighted down in Coniston Water in August 1997. 

<u><strong>Justice</u></strong>

Park was arrested for murder but the case was dropped due to a lack of evidence. He was re-arrested six years later and stood trial in 2005 at Manchester Crown Court. 

He was linked to the killing by the knots used to tie up Carol’s corpse and a piece of Westmorland green slate, used to weigh it down, that matched stone at the family home. 

In November 2008 three judges sitting at the Court of Appeal in London rejected an application by Park for leave to appeal against his conviction. 

In 2014 the Evening Mail exclusively revealed how a source claimed that the watchdog may be re-examining evidence from a woman who saw the former teacher push something into Coniston Water in 1976. 

She came forward to give her account in 2004. 

Joan Young’s testimony was challenged during the court case a decade ago, because so much time has passed and because of the distance involved. 

<u><strong>Family response</u></strong>

Mrs Washford, formerly of Barrow and now Preston, whose dad Ivor Price fought tirelessly for justice for his sister, said: "I'd just like to say that the family still going ahead with thinking there is new evidence and if they say they have it, let's see it.

"They just seem to keep dragging it on, we all know the truth and I'm sure deep down they know too.

"It's gone on far too long for the decision to be changed and they need to leave us in peace with our fond memories of Carol.

"However I would like to know the outcome of this new inquiry if there is still going to be one." 

A watchdog spokesman said it was a complicated case and: “The case is still under review and there is nothing else to report at the moment." 

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