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'Turning point' in murder inquiry

BBC Published Jun 2, 2010 Reviewed Jul 2, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors
Citation-ready fact
Ffion Wyn Roberts' body was found in a drainage canal in Porthmadog, Gwynedd, on 10 April.
10 · Ffion Wyn Roberts' body discovery
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Ffion Wyn Roberts was last seen socialising with friends a mile away in Tremadog in the early hours of Saturday 10 April.
10 · last sighting of Ffion Wyn Roberts
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Police wanted to speak to anyone who was near the sluice gate up to 1400 BST on Saturday, 10 April.
at least 1400 BST · time cutoff for witness inquiries10 · date of incident and inquiry cutoff
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An inquest, which was adjourned while the police investigation continues, heard Miss Roberts had been strangled with a ligature and drowned.
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Detective Superintendent Peter Chalinor said 4,900 people had been interviewed by police at every home in Porthmadog.
4900 people · people interviewed by police
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Half a mile from where her body was found, her empty brown handbag, a pair of extra large blue track suit bottoms and a right-hand trainer shoe, of size 10-and-a-half to 11, had been discovered.
0.5 mile · distance from body discovery to item discoveryat least 10.5 · trainer shoe sizeat most 11 · trainer shoe size
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Miss Wyn Roberts' 20-year-old younger brother Elgan was arrested early last month as part of the inquiry. He was released on police bail.
20 years · Elgan Wyn Roberts' age at time of arrest
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A 52-year-old man also arrested was released following questioning.
52 years · arrested man's age
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Only one container of similar trainers had been delivered to this country and 12 pairs were sent to each factory shop at Porthmadog, Barmouth and Pwllheli, half of which had been sold.
1 container · containers of similar trainers delivered to the country12 pairs · pairs sent to each factory shop3 factory shops · factory shops receiving shipments (Porthmadog, Barmouth, Pwllheli)50 % · proportion of trainers sold
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Police previously set up road blocks in the town two weeks after the death in an attempt to trigger motorists' memories.
2 weeks · time after death when road blocks were set up
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Police investigating the murder of a 22-year-old care worker say they have reached a "turning point" in the inquiry.

Ffion Wyn Roberts' body was found in a drainage canal in Porthmadog, Gwynedd, on 10 April.

Her empty handbag, along with tracksuit bottoms and a trainer were found nearby hours later, officers have revealed.

Detectives believe the items were thrown over railings into a sluice gate.

Det Supt Peter Chalinor, who is leading the search for her killer, said water had poured over the items and they would have been washed away had they not been discovered.

Miss Wyn Roberts was last seen socialising with friends a mile away in Tremadog in the early hours of Saturday 10 April.

Her body was found in a stretch of water known as Y Cyt, within yards of her family's home. She had been strangled.

On Wednesday, Det Supt Chalinor said he believed the investigation was now at a "turning point".

He revealed that half a mile from where her body was found, her empty brown handbag, a pair of extra large blue track suit bottoms and a right-hand trainer shoe, of size 10-and-a-half to 11, had been discovered.

He said only one container of similar trainers had been delivered to this country and 12 pairs were sent to each factory shop at Porthmadog, Barmouth and Pwllheli, half of which had been sold.

The detective said 4,900 people had been interviewed by police at every home in Porthmadog.

He said officers wanted to speak to anyone who was near the sluice gate up to 1400 BST on Saturday, 10 April.

He added: "It is imperative that we speak to the owner of the training shoe and the tracksuit bottoms, which were discarded near to Ffion's handbag on the night that she was murdered..

Police previously set up road blocks in the town two weeks after the death in an attempt to trigger motorists' memories.

Officers said at the time there had been an excellent response locally to the investigation, but believed there may be people with information which could help the inquiry.

Miss Wyn Roberts' 20-year-old younger brother Elgan was arrested early last month as part of the inquiry. He was released on police bail.

A 52-year-old man also arrested was released following questioning.

An inquest, which was adjourned while the police investigation continues, heard Miss Roberts had been strangled with a ligature and drowned.

The nursing home worker, was well known in the community.

A minute's silence was held at Porthmadog FC's ground where she worked in the canteen on match days.

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