The police team which dealt with a brutal double murder that stunned Spalding have been commended at the Lincolnshire Police Annual Recognition Awards.
The 13-strong group worked on Operation Leopard, the investigation into the murders of Elizabeth Edwards and her 13-year-old daughter Katie in Spalding in April 2016. The murders were committed by Elizabeth’s 14-year-old daughter Kim and Kim’s 14-year-old boyfriend Lucas Markham.
The first police officers on the scene were Sgt Chris Fletcher, PC Charles Ferguson and PC Alastair Pullen, who discovered the bodies and subsequently, arrested Kim and Lucas.
Speaking after the awards, Spalding Inspector Gareth Boxall said: “The investigation team in this case were rightly commended. They did an excellent job and this was properly recognised.
“It’s particularly important for me and for us as a community to recognise the work of Sgt Fletcher and PC Ferguson, who were also commended. Those officers did not know the tragedy that they would face. Not only did they deal with the incident calmly and professionally but they were the start of that investigation.
“By following procedures correctly and through their professional conduct, evidence was properly secured and went some way to ensuring the convictions. Of course this was a tragic incident and one which I hope our community never have to face again.”
Thirteen police staff from a variety of departments were commended at the event.
The citation said: “Sergeant Allen, along with Angela Hibbitt and Carole Flintham ran the incident room and supported the investigation and assisted the officers in building the prosecution file. The excellent quality of this file was commented upon by the Judge. Their contribution was both vital and invaluable.”
