The family of a woman who was murdered almost 40 years ago have appealed for people to come forward with information after DNA evidence showed the man believed to be her killer was wrongfully convicted.
Diane Sindall, 21, was raped and murdered by a killer dubbed the "Beast of Birkenhead" in Wirral, Merseyside, in the early hours of 2 August 1986.
For decades, investigators from Merseyside Police thought they had caught her killer: a local man called Peter Sullivan.
Mr Sullivan, 68, had always maintained his innocence, and he was freed last year after new tests showed his DNA - unearthed due to scientific advances - was not present in semen samples collected at the scene.
By the time his conviction was overturned, Mr Sullivan had spent 38 years in prison. It is the longest miscarriage of justice in UK history.
Ms Sindall's family's appeal on Crimewatch Live is their first statement since the conviction was quashed.
"Diane was 21 years old with so much to live for. She had a beautiful heart and soul, and was full of love, fun and laughter which could brighten your day," they said.
The family said Ms Sindall's loss "has been felt throughout our everyday lives with a heartache that will never heal".
"We cannot put into words what we as a family went through at the time of her death, and we are now reliving that terrible time and all that it brings once again," they added.
They urged members of the public to contact police "no matter how small or insignificant you think your information is".
Read more from Sky News:
Police try to identify man found dead in wetsuit
New appeal after woman murdered 30 years ago
Crimestoppers has offered a £20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for Ms Sindall's murder.
Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson said Merseyside Police "will leave no stone unturned" to find Ms Sindall's killer.
"In 1986, DNA was very much in the early stages and as such was not available to the detectives who originally investigated Diane's death but her murder was fully investigated by the team," she said.
"Unfortunately, there is no match for the DNA identified on the national DNA database and we know it does not belong to any member of her family or her fiance at the time.
"We are working with the National Crime Agency, and with their support we are trying to identify the person the DNA profile belongs to, and extensive inquiries remain ongoing."
(c) Sky News 2026: Diane Sindall: Family of murder victim appeal for information after wrongful conviction
British teen Sky Brown is skateboarding world champion again
Taxpayers could fund funeral for Soham murderer Ian Huntley
Two jailed after 'dangerous' lorry pursuit involving three police forces
Fire shuts Scotland's busiest train station for at least two days
Gerry Adams 'directly responsible' for bomb decisions, High Court told
Police appeal for help to identify man found dead in a wetsuit
Syrian charged with crimes against humanity in UK first
Cancer death rates fall to historic low - as types with biggest drop in fatalities revealed
