Mabel Leyshon

The small, close-knit community of Llanfairpwll, on the Isle of Anglesey, was shocked by the murder of 90-year-old Mabel Leyshon at her home on 25 November 2001. Forensic Science Service (FSS) scientists were called by North Wales Police to examine the scene.

On their arrival they found that Mabel had suffered multiple stab wounds - the cause of her death - and several injuries following her death that included the removal of her heart. In addition they saw several carefully placed items including a candlestick and a pair of crossed pokers, which only served to emphasise the bizarre nature of the crime.

Retracing the offender’s steps, they discovered that the murderer had removed a slate from the back garden and thrown it through the lower glass pane in a rear door, gaining access to the house. Leaving his footwear marks on the broken glass and on the slate patio outside, scientists were able to create an artist’s impression of the shoes worn by the killer - Levi trainers - which had certain irregularities. In addition, a bloodstain matching the victim had been left by the offender on an interior windowsill on his way out. DNA analysis indicated a hint of a male component in the background, which over a period of time, was developed into a partial male profile.

Laboratory examination of a saucepan into which the victim's blood had been collected revealed the presence of a lip mark on the edge. This macabre finding gave the police an insight into a motive that was ultimately linked with vampirism.

The crime was featured on BBC’s Crimewatch programme in December 2001 and police received over 200 calls. Following up witness reports of a suspect who had attacked a German student, officers went to the home of 17-year-old Matthew Hardman. He voluntarily gave a buccal swab and it was during this visit that officers found a pair of Levi shoes. FSS scientists matched Hardman’s shoes to the footwear marks found at the scene. In spite of the results of offender profiling which suggested a much older offender, an FSS scientist convinced the officer leading the police investigation that the degree of match, although not conclusive, was in the circumstances highly significant.

On the basis of the footwear evidence, Hardman was arrested in January 2002. A knife was found in his coat pocket but there was no visible blood on the weapon. Hardman’s reference DNA sample was sent to the lab for profiling and a match with the profile from the windowsill was returned in 48 hours with a match probability of 1 in 1,000. Hardman was charged with murder based on the partial profile and the footwear match.

Using DNA Low Copy Number testing on the knife, the damaged handle revealed two sources of DNA, one matching Hardman and a partial profile matching the victim. In the meantime, further work on the partial profile from the windowsill improved the discrimination from one in 1,000 to one in five million and finally to one in 73 million.

Police also found magazines and evidence that the art student was accessing internet sites featuring vampires and how to become one.

Matthew Hardman was found guilty of murder at Mold Crown Court in August 2002 and sentenced to life imprisonment.