Child killer Robert Black WON'T be charged with killing of missing schoolgirl Genette Tate

Robert Black has long been considered the prime suspect in the case of the missing 13-year-old, who vanished from a country lane in Devon in 1978.

In 2005, Devon and Cornwall police interviewed convicted child murderer Robert Black, who in 1994 was given 10 life sentences for the abduction and murder of three young girls and the abduction of a 15-year-old girl.

Insufficient evidence: Childkiller Robert Black was questioned over the disappearance of 13-year-old newspaper delivery girl Genette Tate

After the interview the force sent a file to the Special Crime Division at Crown Prosecution Service Headquarters in London for their consideration.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall police said: 'Following the submission of a file to the Crown Prosecution Service, Devon and Cornwall Police has been informed that there is insufficient evidence to justify the institution of criminal proceedings against the individual arrested by the force in connection with the disappearance of Genette Tate.

'The force is aware that the 30th anniversary is approaching and would ask anyone with further information concerning this unsolved crime to contact us.'

Black was also interviewed by the Devon and Cornwall force in 1996 and 1998.

A former poster delivery driver, of Stamford Hill, north London, Black was convicted of the murder during the 1980s of 11-year-old Susan Maxwell and five-year-old Caroline Hogg, both from Scotland, and 10-year-old Sarah Harper, from Morley, near Leeds.

Genette's father, John Tate, has prostate cancer and on Monday said his dying wish would be to find the body of his 'little girl'.

He told the Western Morning News what happened to his family is similar to the case of missing Madeleine McCann.

The 66-year-old said: 'I have nothing but total sympathy and empathy for the McCanns. What has happened to Maddie is very similar to what happened to ourselves.

'I hope Maddie is found alive and well and reunited with her family. I would have loved nothing more than that for myself with Genette.

'But, of course, her mum Sheila and myself have known for many years that Genette was murdered.'

Appeals: Posters went up and people scoured the countryside during the search for Genette

Tomorrow will be the 30th anniversary of Genette's disappearance. Her body was never found.

Thousands of people turned out to search the countryside for the schoolgirl after she vanished on August 19 while delivering newspapers.

All the original police team members investigating the mystery have now retired.

Over the years the Genette file has grown so large it is kept in a 12ft by 10ft document cage at the Devon and Cornwall police headquarters.

The mountain of paperwork includes over 20,000 cards in a filing system.