Clutching an old teddy bear and picking through a collection of antique clay pipes on a windowsill, Steve Hall looks thoughtfully around his murdered daughter’s bedroom, which has barely changed since the evening she disappeared 30 years ago.
The neatly-made bed sits under a faded picture on the wall, there are books on the shelf and a wooden dressing table is positioned in one corner.
“Nothing prepares you for it,” he says. “It’s a bit like car accidents, you always think they’re going to happen to someone else, but occassionally they happen to you.”
Melanie Hall, 25, went missing on a night-out with friends at the former Cadillacs nightclub in Bath in 1996. She had spent the afternoon with her boyfriend, watching the opening day of the Euro football finals where England drew against Switzerland.
The university graduate was last seen sitting on the edge of the dance floor. Her disappearance sparked a major police operation, but 13 years later, in 2009, her body was discovered wrapped in bin bags beside the M5 motorway. Police have made 11 arrests, but no-one has ever been charged with her murder.
open image in galleryOn Friday, on the anniversary of her vanishing, Avon and Somerset Police is launching a fresh appeal in the hope of a “huge breakthrough” to solve the painstaking case.
For Melanie’s family – her parents Steve and Pat, and sister Dominique – the anguish over what happened to her, and why, will continue until justice is done.
“The biggest [thing] I put in a box is her being scared and frightened,” says Dominique. “I find it a little bit overwhelming. I hope and pray that whatever happened to her was quick and she didn’t know it was coming.
“As for justice, I do feel angry. I feel angry that she lost her life at 25, that someone chose to take that away from her. I feel angry that I lost my sister. I’ve lost part of myself, part of my identity.”
Sitting alongside Dominique in the family home just outside Bath, Mr Hall says: “It will never bring Melanie back, it will never take away the 30 years of what we’ve lost with her. I’d like justice for her, I’d like to understand why.”
The pain ended up being too much for Melanie’s mother, Pat, who is now suffering with advanced dementia, the family have said.
open image in galleryMr Hall adds: “I think she gave up when Melanie was found. I think she kept going until that point in time and I think when she got her daughter back, I think that for her was the finish of it, and she wasn’t the same afterwards.”
The anniversary of Melanie’s death will see Avon and Somerset Police launch the Justice for Melanie campaign, which aims to take people back to the month of her disappearance in an attempt to trigger details or memories.
Messages will be displayed on the digital screen during the match between Bath Rugby and Leicester Tigers on Saturday, while advertising will appear on a van travelling around the city, and on businesses and council services.
open image in galleryDetective Chief Inspector Ben Lavender said: “Just one small detail or memory… could prove to be a huge breakthrough and solve Melanie’s murder.”
Melanie’s remains showed she had suffered extensive head injuries. Her clothing, jewellery and belongings have never been found. These include a pale blue silk dress, black suede mule shoes, a cream single-breasted jacket, Next watch, silver drop earrings and a black handbag.
A reward of £20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Miss Hall’s murder has been offered by independent charity Crimestoppers.
Information can be reported to Avon and Somerset Police’s Operation Denmark team online, by calling 101 or visiting an enquiry office. Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously through the website or by calling 0800 555111.