HAUT DE LA GARENNE is being treated as a homicide scene, Jersey Police have confirmed.
But further excavation has been delayed until the site has been deemed structurally sound.
Deputy police chief Lenny Harper, who is leading the investigation, said that given the current uncertainty it was necessary to treat the scene as if a homicide had taken place. ‘There is no evidence that the person whose remains we have found was a victim of a homicide, but we must treat the case as if that had taken place until we know otherwise,’ he said.
Mr Harper yesterday revealed details of three people who told police of the strong possibility that human remains could be found within the building. He said that two men and a woman, former residents of Haut de la Garenne but unknown to each other, had tipped off officers.
Mr Harper said that the skull of a young person was found by a sniffer dog on Saturday. ‘It was not possible for us to determine at this stage whether the skull is that of a young child or a teenager,’ he said. The skull, which has no teeth, will be sent to the UK for forensic examination.
It is also unknown whether items found near the skull, including fragments of clothing and a hair clasp, are linked to it.
Mr Harper said the focus was now on a bricked-up cellar in which the dog had shown great interest from above. Other sites inside and out are due further examination.
Police have received a further 14 calls from people claiming to have been victims of abuse at the former home, bringing the total to more than 140 since the force began the inquiry over a year ago. It was made public in November.
Last month, a 78-year-old man was charged in relation to historic child abuse at Haut de la Garenne – but not in relation to the discovery of the body.
Article posted on 27th February, 2008 - 1.00pm
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