Law student's murder case still active 30 years on

News imagePA Media Close up of Janet Murgatroyd. She is smiling and has long fair curly hairPA Media
Janet Murgatroyd was a law student at the University of Central Lancashire

On the 30th anniversary of a law student's murder, detectives have said they are continuing to investigate her killing.

The body of 20-year-old Janet Murgatroyd was found in the River Ribble at Penwortham, Preston, after a night out in 1996. It is believed she lay unconscious for hours before being swept up by the tide, causing her to drown.

A man's manslaughter conviction for her death was quashed on appeal in 2004. Andrew Greenwood, then 28, had been found guilty at a retrial in 2003.

Lancashire Police previously said Murgatroyd was a part-time police staff member and they believed the attack was sexually motivated.

Man seen by river

The University of Central Lancashire law student had been shopping with a friend in Preston on 15 June 1996 before drinking in several pubs later that day.

She was seen leaving The Adelphi pub with a man before separating from him, and was later spotted sleeping on Fishergate near Preston Railway Station.

Murgatroyd was subsequently seen fleeing from a man across Penwortham Bridge, by a taxi driver early on 16 June.

Two witnesses described hearing the sound of a female moaning and saw a man crouched down on the bank of the River Ribble.

Her body was found later floating in the water.

The cause of death was drowning and head injuries, a post-mortem examination found.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Lancashire Police.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.