UNSETTLING pictures released to the public for the first time show the key evidence police used to build their case against Shani Warren’s murderer.
Donald Robertson, formerly of Slough, was today found guilty of kidnapping, assaulting and murdering the 26-year-old woman in April 1987.
The 66-year-old was also found guilty of the kidnap and rape of a 16-year-old girl in Slough in July 1981.
READ MORE: Killer found guilty of murdering 26-year-old 'lady in the lake'
Following the jury’s verdicts, Thames Valley Police has released shocking images taken following Shani’s discovery on Easter weekend, 1987.
Reader discretion is advised -- the following images may be upsetting for some.
Here’s what police found after Shani’s body was recovered on the evening of April 18, 1987.
Jump leads and ropes
After being pulled out of the lake by a passing dog-walker and a nearby motorist, it could be seen that Shani’s hands were tied up with a yellow tow-rope.
Her ankles were tied up with a red jump lead, and a black jump lead was recovered from the river by a diver.
It was suggested by Dr Benjamin Davis, a pathologist who examined Shani following her death, that the 26-year-old tried to strangle herself using the black cable.
The pathologist used this evidence to suggest Warren tried to kill herself.
He said: “The ligatures around the wrists and ankles appeared to be somewhat loosely applied possibly applied by the deceased herself.”
Dr Ashley Fegan Earl, a pathologist who re-examined the case prior to Robertson being charged, disagreed with this assessment and said Ms Warren died from ‘third-party involvement.’
Mouth gag
In addition to the tow rope and the jump leads, a gag was found tied around Ms Warren’s mouth and head.
Caught up in the cloth were some strands of Warren’s hair. Once unfurled, it was measured to be approximately 44’ by 42’.
In 1987, Dr Davis did not take a mouth swab from Ms Warren.
But upon inspection of the mouth gag 33 years later, traces of semen were found upon it.
The DNA from this sample matched the profile of Donald Robertson, the prosecution said.
Shani Warren’s car
The deceased’s car, a black Cavalier, was found at Taplow Lake following the recovery of her body.
Upon inspection, the driver’s seat was found in a reclined position.
A key part of the prosecution’s evidence was that when Robertson raped another woman in June 1987, just weeks after Warren was killed, he forced her to perform oral sex on him after reclining his seat.
No key for the black cavalier car was ever found.
Inside, an Easter egg was found in the driver’s footwell, a cigarette lighter was found on the front passenger seat, Ms Warren’s wristwatch was in the front passenger footwell, and in the footwell of the rear nearside passenger seat was an unwritten notelet and envelope.
Miscellaneous items
After setting up a cordon at Taplow Lake following the discovery of Ms Warren, police found a number of miscellaneous items on the ground nearby.
One item was an envelope addressed to ‘Sir Roger’.
Police determined this was intended for a man named Roger Pell, a former boyfriend of Shani’s.
They had met for dinner the Thursday evening (16th April) before she died, when a waiter addressed the man as ‘Sir Roger’.
The prosecution believes the words on the envelope were a jokey reference to this incident.
A credit card wallet of Ms Warren’s, containing her cheque guarantee card, was also found nearby.
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