Four individuals have been taken into custody on suspicion of perverting the course of justice in relation to the death of a woman killed more than three decades ago on the island of Anglesey.
Doreen Morris, aged 64, was fatally stabbed with a fork in 1994 after she encountered intruders committing a burglary at her residence, Penrhyn Uchaf. A 2023 inquest confirmed these circumstances surrounding her death.
Joseph Carl Westbury, who was accused of breaking into Morris's bungalow, was acquitted of her murder following a trial in 1995. Westbury died by suicide in May 2016.
North Wales Police confirmed that the four individuals arrested on Wednesday morning comprise one man and three women, all residing in the north Wales region.
How did this development come about?
The arrests followed significant breakthroughs in forensic investigation methods and a comprehensive reassessment of evidence gathered during the original inquiry. North Wales Police stated that the Morris family had been informed of these developments prior to the arrests being made.
Mark Pierce, who serves as senior review officer, explained the basis for the action taken:
"Forensic results, combined with a detailed review of witness evidence, have provided grounds to interview four people on suspicion of perverting the course of justice."
What happens next?
Pierce issued an appeal for members of the public who possess information relevant to the case to contact the police. The force continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding Morris's death and the subsequent handling of the case.
The arrests represent a significant development in a case that has remained unresolved for three decades, with modern forensic techniques now enabling investigators to revisit evidence that could not be fully analysed at the time of the original trial.
