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Police are relaunching an appeal for information about the murder of university graduate Melanie Hall, who disappeared nearly 30 years ago.

Ms Hall was last seen at Cadillacs nightclub in Bath in the early hours of 9 June 1996 following a night out with friends.

Her remains were found by workmen on the M5 motorway more than 13 years later.

Undated handout file photo issued by Avon and Somerset Police of Cadillacs nightclub in bath where Melanie Hall was last seen, police investigating her murder have issued a renewed public appeal for information to mark the 11th anniversary of her remains being discovered.
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Cadillacs nightclub in Bath where Melanie Hall was last seen

EMBARGOED TO 0001 WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 27 Undated handout file photo issued by Avon and Somerset Police of an aerial view of the area where Melanie Hall's body was found. The father of university graduate Melanie Hall, who was murdered nearly 30 years ago, has spoken of the devastating impact her death has had upon their family in a new documentary. Ms Hall was last seen at Cadillacs nightclub in Bath in the early hours of June 9 1996 following a night out with friends.
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Ms Hall’s remains were found by workmen on the M5 motorway in 2009

Detective Superintendent James Riccio, who’s leading the investigation into the murder of the hospital clerical worker, said he is hoping for “one small piece of evidence” to find out what happened to Melanie that night and solve the case.

He said: “We will always be led by the evidence, but based… on the 6,000-plus investigative actions, 2,000 statements, the accounts, the intelligence, the deposition location, I’m of the belief that Melanie did know her killer.”

As part of a public appeal in 1996, authorities released an e-fit of a man spotted inside the nightclub with a woman matching the victim’s description and are urging anyone to come forward if they recognise them.

Undated handout file photo issued by Avon and Somerset Police of an e-fit which was released as part of a public appeal in 1996 of a man seen inside Cadillacs nightclub with a woman matching Melanie Hall's description as police investigating her murder have issued a renewed public appeal for information to mark the 11th anniversary of her remains being discovered.
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The e-fit released as part of a public appeal in 1996

“This is still very much a focus of our appeal to the public today and we want to know who this man is,” Det Supt Riccio said.

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The force is also keen for information about an unconfirmed sighting of a woman, who potentially matched Ms Hall’s description, engaged in an argument with a man in the Old Orchard area near the Cadillacs nightclub between 1.45am and 2am on the night of her disappearance.

Cadillacs nightclub in Bath. The father of university graduate Melanie Hall, who was murdered nearly 30 years ago, has spoken of the devastating impact her death has had upon their family
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Cadillacs nightclub in Bath

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Detective Superintendent Riccio added: “We suspect that whoever has done this has told someone, and allegiances alter over the decades.

“Someone knows who killed Melanie and someone knows how she ended up at the side of the M5 at junction 14, and these dark secrets need to be brought into the light.

“We have a number of enquiries we’re pursuing. It’s very much an active case, and there may be more related operational activity in the near future.”

Ms Hall’s clothing – a pale blue silk dress, black suede mule shoes, a cream single-breasted long-sleeved jacket and a black satchel-type handbag – have never been found.

Some of her other belongings including a chequebook, bank card, a Next watch, and silver drop earrings are also missing.

EMBARGOED TO 0001 WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 27 Undated handout file photo issued by Avon and Somerset Police of missing clothes, handbag and shoes similar to the ones belonging to Melanie Hall. The father of university graduate Melanie Hall, who was murdered nearly 30 years ago, has spoken of the devastating impact her death has had upon their family in a new documentary. Ms Hall was last seen at Cadillacs nightclub in Bath in the early hours of June 9 1996 following a night out with friends.
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Missing clothes, handbag and shoes similar to the ones belonging to Melanie Hall

EMBARGOED TO 0001 WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 27 Undated handout file photo issued by Avon and Somerset Police of of missing earrings similar to the ones belonging to Melanie Hall. The father of university graduate Melanie Hall, who was murdered nearly 30 years ago, has spoken of the devastating impact her death has had upon their family in a new documentary. Ms Hall was last seen at Cadillacs nightclub in Bath in the early hours of June 9 1996 following a night out with friends.
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Earrings similar to the ones belonging to Melanie Hall

Ms Hall’s father Steve, speaking on a Channel 5 documentary, said: “When Melanie was murdered, it wasn’t just one person’s life that was taken, it changed and ruined many lives after.

“Mine, my wife’s, my daughter’s, my mother’s – there’s obviously someone out there, and probably some people out there, who know what happened to Melanie.

“If they felt they could come forward with information which led to us finding out what happened to Melanie, then at least we could feel that we’ve done all we can do for our child.”

Police hope the documentary, The Body In The Bag: The Murder Of Melanie Hall, will spark memories and encourage people to get in touch with any information.

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UK

M4 and M48 closed after human remains found

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M4 and M48 closed after human remains found

Two motorways have been shut after human remains were found on the road. 

Several drivers reported a body on the carriageway between junctions 20 and 21 of the M4 – between Almondsbury and Awkley – at about 6.40pm this evening.

The body is believed to be that of a man in his forties, whose next of kin have been told.

A police investigation to establish how the person came to be on the motorway continues.

Parts of the M4 and M48 motorways near Bristol are likely to remain closed until the early hours of Sunday morning, Avon and Somerset Police said.

In a statement, the force said: “Police are keen to hear from anyone who was travelling along that stretch of the M4 has any relevant information or dashcam footage.”

The road closures were likely to cause significant delays in and out of Wales tonight, with closures starting on the English side of the Prince of Wales Bridge and the Severn Bridge.

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National Highways said the M4 is shut in both directions between junctions 20 and 21, while the M48 eastbound is closed from junction 1 near Aust.

The links from the M5 junction 15 south to the M4 junction 20 west, and the M5 junction 16 north to M4 junction 20 west were also closed.

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UK

Starmer asks US to stand by Ukraine with security guarantee as bad peace deal would be ‘disaster’ for all

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Starmer asks US to stand by Ukraine with security guarantee as bad peace deal would be 'disaster' for all

Sir Keir Starmer has urged Donald Trump to stand by Ukraine with a security guarantee as he warned a bad peace deal would be a “disaster for everyone”.

The prime minister is due to meet the US president for talks in Washington DC next week amid fragile relations between America and Europe after Mr Trump launched a verbal attack on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The US president called Ukraine’s leader a “dictator” on Wednesday and later said Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron, both of whom will visit the White House in the coming days, “haven’t done anything” to end the war.

Sir Keir Starmer leaves after a meeting in Paris with European leaders on Ukraine on 17 February. Pic: Reuters
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Sir Keir Starmer met with European leaders in Paris on Monday to discuss Ukraine. Pic: Reuters

Sir Keir said a good peace “can only be won through strength” and Ukraine “must have a voice in negotiations about its future”.

And he warned that a “peace deal which does not stop Putin from attacking again would be a disaster for everyone”.

Writing in The Sun on Sunday, he said Kyiv needs strong security guarantees “so the peace will last” and America “must be part of that guarantee”.

This could mean providing air defence and a promise that the US will come to the aid of a NATO country if Russia attacks them, the paper reported.

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So far, talks aimed at ending the war have been taking place between US and Russian delegations in Saudi Arabia, which have not included the Ukrainians.

UK Defence Secretary John Healey has said “any negotiations about Ukraine cannot happen without Ukraine. We all want the fighting to end, but an insecure peace risks more war”.

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‘Turn the screws’ on Russia

The third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is on Monday.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has said he will unveil new sanctions to “turn the screws” on Russia on Monday to coincide with the anniversary.

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Sir Keir also said the UK must increase its defence spending and play a bigger role in NATO.

And he is open to British troops playing a role in any European force in Ukraine after a peace agreement.

He added: “This is not something I say lightly.”

Sir Keir, along with other European allies and UK opposition parties, has backed Mr Zelensky as a “democratically elected leader”.

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Conflicting views over Ukraine deal

Also, Washington has warned that Europe must shoulder more of the cost of its own security.

Sir Keir is expected to use his upcoming trip to the US to confirm a timeline to raise UK defence spending from 2.3% to 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) in a bid to ease tensions.

It comes amid pressure from defence chiefs and opposition critics including Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, who wrote to the prime minister on Saturday demanding he set out a plan for meeting the target.

:: Education secretary Bridget Phillipson, campaigner for global health and education Sarah Brown, and shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge will be discussing all the latest political stories in the UK and around the world on the Trevor Phillips on Sunday show on Sky News from 8.30am

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UK

Girl, 3, dies after tram and van crash in Manchester city centre

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Girl, 3, dies after tram and van crash in Manchester city centre

A three-year-old girl has died after a collision between a tram and a van in Manchester city centre.

The girl was taken to hospital but died from her injuries, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

“No arrests have been made and inquiries are ongoing,” the force said.

The child was a pedestrian and was not travelling in either the tram or van, GMP said.

The fatal collision happened on Mosley Street shortly before 10am, a Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) spokesperson said.

“All of our thoughts are with her family and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time. We are supporting police with their investigation,” a statement said.

A North West Ambulance Service spokesperson said two ambulances, a rapid response vehicle and two air ambulance crews attended the scene.

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TfGM said there was continued disruption across the Metrolink after the incident and advised people to check the Bee Network website and app for the latest travel information.

Manchester‘s Bee Network said: “Due to a road traffic collision on Mosley Street in the city centre, no tram services are operating between St Peter’s Square and Piccadilly Gardens.”

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An X post from GMP’s traffic officers said: “Our officers are currently in attendance at a collision, involving a tram and another vehicle in Manchester city centre.

“We are presently trying to establish the circumstances however we envisage there will be a lengthy closure of surrounding streets near to St Peters Square.”

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