THE killer of teenage prostitute Carly Bateman is being questioned about the mysterious death of his daughter eight years ago.

Geoffrey Porter, aged 43, is currently serving life for murdering the 17-year-old vice girl and dumping her body in an alleyway in the Haulgh, Bolton, in November 2001.

His daughter Phyllis Porter - a former pupil of Highfield Special School in Leigh -was found dead in her bed by her mother Ann at the family home in Kitt Green Road, Marsh Green, Wigan, in November 1996.

Detectives want to speak to Porter about the death of the 11-year-old following advances in DNA techniques.

They are hoping the results of tests carried out on her body will help to explain her sudden death.

Officers are also continuing to liaise with forensic experts, the Crown Prosecution Service and pathologists.

The investigation into Phyllis' death was reopened following Porter's conviction at Manchester Crown Court in December 2002 for Carly's murder.

At the time, a Home Office pathologist failed to find a cause of Phyllis' death and a coroner recorded an open verdict at the inquest.

In April last year, her remains were exhumed from the churchyard at St Luke's Church, Orrell, for a second post mortem examination to be carried out. She was reburied hours later in the same family grave.

During the last nine months, scientists have been using advanced DNA techniques to carry out tests on the samples taken.

Det Chief Insp Tony Cook, who led the investigation, said: "We have had some very important meetings with the original pathologist and we have presented the results of the scientific tests to him.

"We are now waiting for his final conclusion in relation to the cause of death.

"Following the investigation into Carly's murder and what we learned about Porter and his activities, we decided to look again at his daughter's death.

"The Crown Prosecution Service will decide if charges will be brought against him.

"It has been a long process but I am hopeful we will be able to bring it to a conclusion."

As part of the inquiry, officers have interviewed scores of people who knew the family and put together a picture of Phyllis's short life.

Her mother Ann, who is still married to Porter and has two teenage sons, was also been quizzed.

The inquest into the girl's death is also likely to be reopened later this year.

Phyllis, who was named after her grandmother, was buried with her grandfather Patrick who had died from cancer two years earlier.

Scores of people turned out for the funeral of the popular youngster including classmates from Highfield Special School in Leigh, where Phyllis attended.

Porter, of Columbia Road, off Chorley New Road, Heaton, is currently being held at Wakefield Prison after a jury rejected his innocent plea.

He also has previous convictions for indecent assault on three young girls under the age of 12 dating back 20 years.

During the trial, he was described as an "oddball" with an obsession for vice. Carly's partially clothed body was discovered in an alleyway off Crawford Avenue. She had been strangled.