THE Crown Prosecution Service today defended its decision to drop the murder charge against a man accused of killing Lancashire woman Janet Murgatroyd.
A statement came after a charge of murder against Andrew Philip Greenwood, 25, of The Maltings, Lower Penwortham, was discontinued.
He had been charged on August 2 with the murder of 20-year-old Janet, the daughter of former Chorley Football Club chairman David Murgatroyd, on June 16, 1996.
A CPS spokesman said: "The case has been exhaustively reviewed by senior CPS lawyers and regularly discussed by police. Statements made by Mr Greenwood have been carefully scrutinised against other evidence and significant inconsistencies emerged. There is no forensic evidence to link Mr Greenwood with the crime.
"We are as anxious as the police to see progress made in this horrific case but we cannot proceed unless the evidential test is passed. We are always willing to look again at any cases in the light of any new evidence."
Police officers in the case have expressed their disappointment at the decision and Janet's family has been informed.
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