Advertisement

Serial child-killer will not be charged over Genette Tate's murder

Robert Black will not be charged over the disappearance and murder of Devon teenager Genette Tate. Credit: PA

Serial child-killer Robert Black will not be charged over the disappearance and murder of teenage schoolgirl Genette Tate.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has informed Devon and Cornwall Police that they will not charge dead suspects.

Child serial-killer Black died in jail in January. He was the only suspect in the murder of 13-year-old Genette Tate who disappeared while delivering newspapers one sunny afternoon in August 1978 in her home village of Alyesbeare near Exeter. Her body has never been found.

A file concerning this matter was sent to the CPS for a charging decision.

This has been a long and complex enquiry and we have kept the family of Genette Tate informed throughout.

We have now been advised by the CPS that they will not make a charging decision in respect of this case because the of suspect being deceased.

This is in line with national policy on the matter from the CPS.

This is a new policy initiated by the CPS. Until very recently this policy was not in place.

– Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman