For 30 years, the devastating murder of 17-year-old Melanie Road went unsolved, and it was feared the case would forever remain a mystery. Then, an unrelated incident provided the breakthrough police had been holding out hope for
At 5.30 am on June 9, 1984, the murdered body of 17-year-old Melanie Road was found by a milkman and his ten-year-old son mere metres away from her home in Bath.
Melanie, remembered as bright and outgoing by loved ones, had decided to make the short journey home in the early hours after a night out with friends. She was attacked in a quiet suburban cul-de-sac, where the assailant stabbed her 26 times through her clothing, which he’d removed to rape her before redressing her.
The tragedy sparked a nationwide manhunt, codenamed Operation Rhodium, and police officers initially held out hope that they’d catch the killer quickly. However, it would be 30 years before murderer Christopher Hampton was finally brought to justice, with an unrelated incident tying him to the cold case.
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In the aftermath of Melanie’s death, investigators analysed a trail of blood which led away from the crime scene. It was determined that the killer had a rare blood group shared by just three per cent of the population. In total, 71 swabs of blood and semen were taken from the scene, as well as from Melanie’s clothes and body.
Although 94 men were arrested, these suspects were all eventually eliminated. Months became years, and for a long time, it looked as though Melanie’s murder would forever remain a mystery. Although DNA analysis wasn’t yet available, police kept hold of these samples.
In April 1995, 30 years ago this month, the DNA national database was established, and the suspect’s profile was loaded. In 2009, Crimewatch aired a 25-year-anniversary appeal about Melanie’s murder. This generated 72 new leads, but once again, Melanie’s family was left with further heartache after each one was ruled out.
It wasn’t until 2014 that officers finally had their breakthrough. Following a domestic incident with her partner, which involved a necklace being broken, a 41-year-old woman from Bath was arrested. In accordance with police protocol for domestic violence, the woman was cautioned and had her DNA taken, which was then uploaded to the national database.
One year later, the DNA testing was rerun, and this time, a familial match was found the cautioned woman. After getting in touch with her, officers learned that her father, Christopher Hampton, a painter and decorator from Bristol, had lived in the area at the time of Melanie’s murder.
Detectives who visited the 64-year-old to take swabs thought it likely that he was involved. Hampton had no criminal record and lived a quiet life with his wife Julie, 55, in their end-of-terrace house in Bristol’s Fishpond area. The seemingly devoted husband was seen kissing his wife on the doorstep every morning before driving off to work in his silver Toyota, while friends would later recall how Hampton worked hard to provide for his family and preferred collecting war medals to spending time in the pub.
Five weeks later, however, in July 2015, the test results showed that Hampton’s DNA did indeed match the blood found at the murder scene, resulting in his arrest that same night. A police officer later described how, as he was being led away, Julie – who he married in 1989 – enquired whether she would see him that evening, to which Hampton replied: “No, you won’t.’” She then asked: “ Will I see you tomorrow?” to which he responded: “No, you won’t.”
For 30 years, Hampton has concealed his dark secret from all those who knew him, including Julie and his two grown up children, daughter Amy and stepson Darren. His wife and three children from his first marriage – including the daughter whose DNA provided the connection – also had no idea what he had done.
Part-time shop worker Julie, 55, refused to believe her devoted husband of 26 years could be behind Melanie’s murder. She stood loyally by him, visiting several times a week with her daughter Amy. Everything changed, however, when Hampton changed his plea to guilty just one week before his trial.
In May 2016, Hampton was given a life sentence at Bristol Crown Court, of which he must serve a minimum term of 22 years. Handing down sentencing, the judge told Hampton: “You married and had a child and lived your family life for all those years knowing the extreme misery you must have inflicted on your victim’s family, but you were too callous and cowardly to put an end to their heartache. You will very likely die in prison.”
Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com
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