Forensic review into 40-year-old Swansea sex shop murder begins

South Wales Police have launched a new forensic review into the 1985 death of Sandra Phillips, who was killed while working in a sex shop on Dillwyn Street in Swansea. The killing occurred on 14 June 1985, and the case has remained unresolved for decades, attracting renewed attention as crime-solving methods evolve. Police say the review aims to determine whether new forensic techniques or retested materials could yield fresh lines of inquiry and bring closure for Phillips’ family, who have been kept informed of the latest work.

Detectives said a number of forensic exhibits have been submitted for testing as part of the review. An extensive reinvestigation of the murder began in 2004, with officers pursuing multiple lines of enquiry and interviewing witnesses. However, after years of examination, officials said all viable leads were exhausted, and the case remained unsolved. The renewed review represents the latest step in a process that began shortly after the original investigation and has continued intermittently through the years as forensic science advanced.


Det Ch Insp Claire Lamerton, who heads South Wales Police's review unit, said the force has a track record of bringing new attention to old cases and welcomes the chance to apply fresh forensic testing to Phillips’ death. "South Wales Police has had considerable success with cold cases, being one of the first forces in the country to set up a review team in 1999 to conduct cold case reviews. We hope that the outcome of the forensic review will give us the opportunity to bring justice for Sandra's family who we have informed of this new work. Even though four decades have passed, I appeal to anyone who has any information about Sandra's death to come forward," she said.

Officials stressed that the review is focused on forensic evidence and does not imply a suspect has been identified. The work aligns with broader efforts in the UK to re-examine historic cases using improved DNA analysis, digital forensics, and modern investigative techniques. The case remains part of a wider pattern of reopening long-dormant inquiries, in which police agencies reassess old exhibits and records for potential relevance with current science.

Police said they are seeking information from anyone who may have seen or heard anything at the time or since that could help officers piece together what happened. The family of Sandra Phillips has been informed of the new review and continues to press for answers.

While the Swansea case is not unique in its age, it underscores how some families wait decades for answers. Investigators note that new evidence could emerge from previously tested material, new DNA technology, or re-analysis of stored exhibits. No timeline was provided for when results might be expected.

The case remains under review by the South Wales Police's cold-case unit, which has sought to set up a systematic approach to re-examining unsolved killings in the region.