00:02Four years after the disappearance of Sunderland teenager Ciaran Williams,
00:07police have renewed their appeal for information as the investigation into his murder continues.
00:12Ciaran was reported missing in April 2022 and later found dead at a disused industrial estate
00:18south of the River Weir. Despite previous court proceedings, detectives say the case remains open
00:24and active. Ciaran Williams was 18 years old when he was reported missing from his home on Esplanade
00:30West in Sunderland on April 18, 2022. Police say extensive inquiries were carried out at the time
00:37in an effort to trace him. Six weeks later, on May 31, officers discovered a makeshift grave on a
00:44disused industrial estate to the south of the River Weir, between the Northern Spire Bridge and Clatchew
00:50Frocks. It was there that Ciaran's body was found. A post-mortem investigation confirmed he had
00:57suffered multiple stab wounds, with police stating he had been stabbed at least 23 times and that his
01:03body had been set on fire. Two men were later charged in connection with his death and stood
01:08trial at Newcastle Crown Court. Both were acquitted of murder. One of the men was found guilty of
01:14manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison. However, at a subsequent hearing, a judge concluded
01:20that the person who carried out Ciaran's killing remains at large. Detective Superintendent Matt
01:26Steele, the senior investigating officer, has now renewed the appeal for information, saying a
01:31dedicated team continues to review evidence and pursue all available lines of inquiry. He said that
01:37four years on from Ciaran's death and disappearance, the investigation remains active and officers are
01:43still committed to finding answers for his family. He also said detectives continue to follow up on any new
01:49information that comes to light. Police have highlighted that unidentified fingerprints were
01:55recovered at the scene of the murder. Officers say those prints remain a key line of inquiry and that
02:01someone may still hold information about who they belong to. In the coming weeks, officers say they will
02:06carry out further inquiries in the area where the body was discovered, including obtaining fingerprints
02:12from people in the local community to help eliminate individuals from the investigation.
02:17Detectives are also appealing directly to anyone who may have been at the site of the former
02:22industrial estate, previously owned by Coles Cranes, between mid-April and early June 2022 for any
02:29legitimate reason, asking them to come forward to assist inquiries. Crime Stoppers is supporting the
02:35appeal and is offering a reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those
02:41responsible. The charity says information can be given completely anonymously and independently of
02:47police. Police say the investigation into Ciaran Williams' murder remains ongoing, with officers
02:53continuing to pursue leads and review forensic evidence.
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