Gurnell Murder Appeal - 27 Years On
Police appeal for help to solve the case of Penny Bell
Police have renewed appeals following a horrific murder of a local woman which took place 27 years ago this week.
Penny Bell was found slumped over the steering wheel of her Jaguar XJS in the car park of Gurnell Leisure Centre on June 6 1991. She had been stabbed and slashed 50 times in the chest and arms with a long knife.
Despite a reward of £20,000 being offered, 8,000 interviews held, and 2,500 written statements taken, nobody has been convicted of the businesswoman's murder.
The police established that Mrs Bell had left home at 9.40am, telling builders working on the property that she was late for an appointment. She drove into the car park of the Gurnell Grove leisure centre at around 10.30am. She was found at midday by two women returning to their car.
There was no obvious motive for the killing. She was not sexually assaulted, and her handbag was found undisturbed in the car.
Forensic evidence revealed that the attack began from the passenger seat, but the killer switched to the driver's side. Two witnesses told police they had seen a woman who looked like the victim wrestling with a man in her car as it drove through Greenford, mouthing "help me" to passing drivers.
Police were convinced Mrs Bell knew her killer. A builder who was a family friend was arrested after his fingerprints were found in the Jaguar, but he was released without charge.
One witness described the man in the car as about 40 with dark hair, possibly sporting a beard and wearing a bracelet on his right hand. But circulation of the description failed to bring any new leads.
Detectives say the anniversary of a murder is a good time to try to reignite public interest in a killing and produce new witnesses.
A year after Mrs Bell's murder, police told a press conference that as many as 30 people who may have been in the car park at the time had still not come forward.
Her husband also made an appeal for witnesses, but again detectives drew a blank.
Eventually the case was wound down. However, the files still remain open.
Anyone who has information relating to this case is asked to call CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111. Or you can give information anonymously online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org
June 7th 2018