Death in 1980 now murder inquiry

A POLICE inquiry, into an art student 's death 20 years ago has been reopened as a mur - d er investigation after new clues were uncovered at the beauty spot where she died. Jessie Earl, 22, went missing from her bedsit in Eastbourne in 1980, but her remains were not discovered until nine years later, in a thicket at the top of Beachy Head, by a man trying to reach a child's kite. An open verdict was record - ed at a coroner's inquest into her death, but her parents, John, 71, and Valerie Earl, 67, have campaigned tirelessly for help in solving the mystery of her last moments. A forensic archaeologist , assisted by 30 volunteers from a metal detec - tor club, has now combed the 500ft clifftop and uncovered a dozen items, including jewel -

lery and belt buckles. A hunt for the killer of the student at Eastbourne College of Art and Design has been re - opened with a squad of 14 offic - ers hoping to take advantage of DNA techniques. An area of 20 square yards around where the skeleton was found has been excavated, with paths leading to it, and the soil exam - ined for a trace of Jessie Earl or her killer. Detective Chief Inspector Steve Dennis, heading the new inquiry, said: "We believe that Jessie was murdered. We have other inquiries we are making and we have a policy to continually review suspi - cious deaths or murders. Sci - ence has moved on in giant leaps since the bones were dis - covered and- we are reinvesti - gatin g the scene where they were found."