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How the Rachel Nickell story unfolded

Kiran Randhawa
16 Nov 2009


July 1992: Rachel Nickell is stabbed 49times while walking on Wimbledon Common with her two-year-old son.

August 1993: Colin Stagg is charged with her murder.

September 1994: Mr Stagg is cleared of Ms Nickell's murder after the case is thrown out at the Old Bailey, on the grounds that police had used a "honey trap" plot to encourage him to confess.

October 1994: New officers are appointed to re-examine all the evidence in the case.

April 1995: Mr Stagg pleads guilty to possessing an axe and threatening behaviour following an altercation on Wimbledon Common.

August 1995: Police investigating Ms Nickell's murder fly to New Zealand to interview a British former barman and his girlfriend.

November 1996: Mr Stagg takes a lie detector test with TV investigator Roger Cook for the Cook Report, in which he is asked if he murdered the young mother. He passes.

October 2002: Professional misconduct charges against psychologist Paul Britton - whose involvement in the case helped lead to Mr Stagg becoming the chief suspect -are dropped.

November 2007: Robert Napper, 41, is charged with Ms Nickell's murder after an extensive re-investigation of the case by Scotland Yard.

January 2008: Napper pleads not guilty to Ms Nickell's murder in a hearing at the Old Bailey.

August 2008: Mr Stagg is awarded £706,000 compensation.

December 2008: Napper pleads guilty to the manslaughter of Ms Nickell on the grounds of diminished responsibility. Judge rules that Napper must be held indefinitely at Broadmoor Hospital because he is "avery dangerous man".

Mr Stagg receives a public apology from the police.

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