Home Office review launched into Daniel Morgan case

Daniel Morgan, the victim of a murder in Sydenham 26 years ago for which no one has been found guilty. Pic Daniel Morgan family

Daniel Morgan, the victim of a murder in Sydenham 26 years ago for which no-one has been found guilty. Pic Daniel Morgan family

An independent review into the Daniel Morgan murder case will be launched by the Home Office.

Morgan, originally from Wales, was a private investigator who was killed with an axe in Sydenham in 1987. He was found in the car park of the Golden Lion pub on Sydenham Road.

Although there were five criminal investigations into the case, no-one has been convicted of the 37-year-old’s murder.

In 2008, four men were charged with his death, but they were acquitted when the trial collapsed after alleged procedural failures by police and prosecutors. A CPS report at the time found that boxes of evidence had been left in storage rather than disclosed to the defence.

It has been alleged that police corruption may have played a part in the failure to bring a conclusion to the case.

In March 2011, the then acting commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Tim Godwin, apologised to Mr Morgan’s family:

“I am deeply sorry that the Metropolitan Police Service has failed to bring to justice those responsible for the murder of Daniel. The MPS has accepted that police corruption in the original investigation was a significant factor in this failure.”

Daniel Morgan’s family have campaigned for an inquiry into the police handling of the murder case. A Home Office spokesperson said: “Discussions are continuing with the family and we hope to make an announcement shortly.”

The review will be led by a judge. More details are expected later in May.

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