Murder of Naomi Smith

Naomi Louise Smith (4 March 1980 – 14 September 1995) was a 15-year-old schoolgirl from Nuneaton.

On the evening of 14 September 1995, Smith left her home to post a letter for her mother at a local post box.

When she failed to return, her father Brian Smith and her best friend Emma Jones went out to look for her.

Just before midnight, they discovered her body lying beneath the children's slide of a local playground just a few hundred metres from her home.

Smith had been sexually assaulted, her throat had been cut, and her genitals mutilated with a knife.

She attended Hartshill School.

During the day of 14 September 1995, Smith had been with her best friend Emma Jones at the rehearsals of a local marching band in which Emma played the xylophone.

After the rehearsals Smith had been dropped off outside her home and was seen to walk inside.

Smith left her home at approximately 9.45pm during the same evening to post a letter to a catalogue company for her mother Catherine.

The post box was located about 200 yards from her home on the main road through the Ansley Common area.

She was wearing jeans, a dark blue polo neck jumper with an old white Aran-style jumper.

She was also wearing a bomber-style jacket with the words Chicago Fire Department on the front and BACKDRAFT written on the back.

At around 11.15pm when she failed to return home, Smith’s father, Brian Smith, who worked as a local taxi driver went out in his car to look for her.

Mr Smith drove to the house of Smith’s best friend, Emma Jones, to see if she was there, but when she wasn't found Emma joined the search.

Shortly before midnight as they drove into the car park of the local recreation ground, Smith’s body was discovered underneath the children's slide of the playground.

A post mortem examination carried out later revealed that she had been sexually assaulted, her throat had been cut and her body had been mutilated.

The investigation was headed by Detective Superintendent Tony Bayliss of the Warwickshire Police Force.

An incident room was set up at Bedworth Police Station.

Throughout Friday 15 September, Police search teams of approximately 30 officers scoured the area around the recreation ground to search for clues.

The initial search was hampered by poor weather and continued over the next few days.

Despite a thorough search of the area, Police were unable to find a knife or weapon that might have been used in the murder.

Up to 50 officers were assigned to the case to take witness statements and carry out door to door enquiries.

During the course of the investigation, Bayliss made several appeals directly to the public through news media allowing news cameras access to the incident room and to follow teams of detectives during the investigation.

On Saturday 16 September, Police held a press conference to appeal for information.

Three or four youths had been seen in the area opposite the Smith's home between 10pm – 11pm on the evening that Smith was murdered.

Police appealed for the youths to come forward and the appeals were accompanied by offers of a reward of £10,000 for any information that might lead to a conviction.

At the same time, Smith’s parents, Brian and Catherine Smith, her half-brother David Smith and her best friend Emma Jones made personal appeals for information and for witnesses to come forward.

On 17 September, with her parents permission, the Police took the unusual step of detailing Smith’s injuries.

The information was a direct appeal to someone who might have been trying to shield the murderer.

Detective Superintendent Tony Bayliss said:

"I believe that it is right and proper to reveal the extent of Naomi's injuries, so that those who may have mixed loyalties about whether to come forward with information do so."

Smith’s lower body had been mutilated and the killer had left a bite mark on her left breast.

Saliva was found which might prove crucial to building a DNA profile.

During a press conference held on Monday 18 September, Det. Supt. Tony Bayliss disclosed that scientists were attempting to build a DNA profile of the killer and did not rule out mass DNA screening if it were necessary to identify a suspect.

Early in the investigation, Police focused on witness statements from people who had been in the area at the time Smith went missing.

Edwin Hopkins, 19, was found guilty of the murder in January 1997 and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years.

Naomi Louise Smith was born in Coventry, the daughter of Brian and Catherine Smith.

She lived in Bretts Hall Estate, in Nuneaton, Warwickshire and attended Hartshill School.

Her parents described her as a normal teenage girl who was quite shy and lacked confidence.

She was described locally as a quiet girl who liked music and gymnastics.