Margate search moves inside
Forensic experts at work in the back garden of the property on Irvine Drive, Margate
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Published by Gibson Square, out November 15th, 204 pages, £12. |  |
Sunday, 18, Nov 2007 08:02
The search for human remains in the Kent home where two bodies were discovered in the last week moved indoors today.
Forensic officers began working on the interior of the property in Irvine Drive, Margate, after completing a search of its back garden yesterday.
Tiled flooring on the ground floor is being removed and concrete drilled out to the level of the damp proof layer. Any areas with surface anomalies can then be investigated further.
"We're not expecting any significant developments today," an Essex police spokesman said earlier.
A post mortem carried out on the body discovered on Friday led police to believe the remains are those of missing 18-year-old Dinah McNicol from Essex, who disappeared in 1991.
The remains of 15-year-old Vicky, who also went missing in 1991, were discovered in the house on Monday.
"It has been a long week of intense physical work," Detective Superintendent Tim Wills said on Saturday.
"The team, encouraged by yesterday's sad discovery, is determined to continue with this for as long as it takes to complete the task we came here to do."
Peter Tobin, 61, who previously lived at the house in Margate, appeared in court on Thursday charged with the murder of Vicky, who was from Falkirk, Stirlingshire.
The local community has been shocked by the gruesome find and prayers were said this morning at Holy Trinity Church.
"We're making special prayers for the families and the community," Reverend Arthur Howston told the BBC.
"We're very concerned for the local neighbours here in this community that their lives have been so disrupted, especially the family who lived in the home."
Nicola Downing, 37, whose family lived in the property for 12 years, yesterday said she was living a "nightmare that seems to get worse every day".
She and her family were allocated alternative accommodation by the local authority, which owns the property, after being informed of the situation on November 9th.
"Essex police will not be reimbursing the cost of the house to its current occupants," the spokesman added, clarifying earlier contradictory media reports.