Following an investigation by Thames Valley Police’s Major Crime Review Team, a man has been convicted of the murder of a woman and the rape of a girl that happened in the 1980s.
Donald Robertson, 66, was convicted of the murder, indecent assault and false imprisonment of Shani Warren. He was also convicted of the kidnap and rape of a 16-year-old girl that happened in Farnham Lane, Slough in July 1981.
On April 17, 1987, which was Good Friday, 26-year-old Warren was cutting the grass of her garden. At around 6 pm, Warren was seen loading bags of the grass cutting into her car, a black Vauxhall Cavalier. She then drove away from her house, presumably to dispose of the grass cuttings.
On the evening of the following day, a woman who was walking her dog around Taplow Lake found Warren’s body in the shallows of the water. She had been bound and gagged and was faced down in the water. An investigation was launched by police and the death was treated as suspicious.
Following a post-mortem examination, the pathologist decided that Warren had committed suicide.
However, despite the pathologist’s judgment, Thames Valley Police conducted a murder investigation but unfortunately no-one was charged in connection with Warren’s death.
In 2007, the Thames Valley Police’s cold Case team, formally known as the Major Crime Review Team, was set up and at this time further forensic examinations in relation to Warren’s murder were carried out, but unfortunately no DNA from a suspect was found.
Further tests were then carried out between 2019 and 2020 by forensic experts Eurofins, on behalf of the Major Crime Review Team. Eurofins carried out DNA analysis on items from the murder scene, including a cloth that had been used as a mouth gag on Warren, and DNA material from Warren’s bra.
The DNA found on these items was compared with the National DNA database, and provided a positive match with Robertson, who was already serving time in prison, having been convicted of the Thames Valley Police cold case team for the kidnap and rape of a girl in Slough in June 1987.
During its investigation into Warren’s murder, the force’s cold case team also linked Robertson to the rape of a 16-year-old girl in Farnham Lane, Slough, in July 1981. The victim was abducted, forced into a school playing field and raped. Robertson was arrested for this offence at the time, however due to procedures involving identity parades in 1981, no charges were brought against him.
However, modern forensics techniques allowed a review of DNA from clothing from the victim to be undertaken and again these tests matched Robertson’s DNA profile.
Following a three-week trial at Reading Crown Court, a unanimous jury convicted Robertson of murder, indecent assault and false imprisonment of Warren, and the kidnap and rape of the 16-year-old girl.
“In both of these cases the victims were put through terrifying ordeals by Robertson and I only wish that he could have been made to pay sooner for his abhorrent crimes,” said Peter Beirne, head of the Major Crime Review team, and senior investigating officer on this investigation. “I would like to pay tribute to the family of Shani, and to the victim of the rape in 1981 for their bravery and courage throughout the many years that they have been waiting for justice. I am proud of the work carried out by the Major Crime Review Team in order to bring Robertson to justice. I am also extremely grateful to Eurofins who carried out the forensic analysis as well as the Crown Prosecution Service and Prosecuting team: John Price QC and Alan Blake.”
According to Beirne, the Thames Valley Police cold case team has now secured convictions for 19 stranger rapes and six murders and with ever-advancing forensic technology.
“[We] remain committed to reviewing unsolved homicides and sexual offences,” he said. “We will lock up more offenders, and bring justice to other victims and their families.”
Republished courtesy of Thames Valley Police.