"Significant opportunities" were missed by Wiltshire Police to bring killer Christopher Halliwell to justice sooner for a Swindon woman's murder, a damning report has found.

The inquiry into Becky Godden-Edwards' murder was "poorly progressed and supervised" and key evidence was not forensically examined between 2011 and 2014, according to the Independent Office for Police Conduct's investigation.

The IOPC said there were “serious failings” in the murder investigation and that the force allowed “a fog of confusion” to develop about who was in charge.

Much of the evidence was available to the investigation team in 2012 but it took four more years to convict Halliwell of Ms Godden-Edwards' murder.

Wiltshire Police's now Chief Constable Kier Pritchard received management action for his handling of the inquiry after the watchdog's investigation concluded he had a case to answer for misconduct.

Wiltshire Police and Mr Pritchard say they are “profoundly sorry” and have personally apologised to Ms Godden-Edwards' family. 

Ms Godden-Edwards, 20, was strangled by Halliwell in 2003 and her body was buried in a field in Gloucestershire. She was reported missing in 2007.

Halliwell was being questioned about the murder of Sian O'Callaghan in 2011 when he admitted murdering Ms Godden-Edwards.

But a judge ruled that his confession was inadmissible as evidence because Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher had failed to caution Halliwell and had denied him access to a solicitor.

Halliwell was only brought to justice for Ms Godden-Edwards' murder in 2016 when a different judge ruled the confession was admissible.

Mother Karen Edwards, who made a series of complaints about Wiltshire Police, believed Halliwell kept her daughter's skull, hands and feet as "trophies".

The watchdog investigation found that reasonable lines of enquiry were not pursued and key evidence was not forensically examined.

For example, a soil sample from a spade which was seized on Halliwell’s arrest in 2011 matched a rare soil in the field where Ms Godden-Edwards was found but it was not forensically examined until three years later.

Halliwell’s ‘trophy store’ of women’s clothing and other items in Ramsbury was only investigated three years after a gamekeeper first reported seeing a taxi there. The Ramsbury pond wasn’t explored until 2014 so many items had degraded and lost forensic potential. 

Evidence from a RAC recovery driver who attended Halliwell’s vehicle just six miles from where Ms Godden-Edwards had been buried was only followed up three years later.

As Detective Chief Superintendent at the time, Mr Pritchard had overall responsibility for serious and major crime investigations.

There were allegations that Mr Pritchard did not ensure a sufficiently thorough murder inquiry or make sure case reviews were conducted.  

IOPC regional director Catrin Evans said: “In our view, the issues that arose stemmed from a combination of systemic weaknesses within the force at the time as well as individual shortcomings. 

“Our investigation indicated that no one in Wiltshire Police took responsibility for ensuring that the murder inquiry progressed effectively.  

“This led to the murder investigation stalling, a lack of appropriate reviews, and obvious lines of enquiry that were potentially capable of securing Halliwell’s conviction being overlooked.”

Wiltshire Police apologises

Wiltshire Police have already responded to the recommendations made by the IOPC to prevent these mistakes from being repeated again.

Mr Pritchard said:  “This has certainly been an opportunity for deep personal reflection for me. I acknowledge that there was confusion at the time concerning the oversight of the investigation into Becky’s murder, as highlighted within the IOPC investigation. 

“This arose, in part, due to the major crime collaboration being in its infancy. For that, I am really sorry.  

 “The murder investigation was a complex case with very unique circumstances. We always strove to deliver justice for Becky's family, further to the tragic and shocking loss of their much-loved daughter.  

“I fully appreciate the grief and despair that the delay in the investigation has had on Becky's family as they have rightly sought to have justice delivered. Whilst justice was achieved, it is with deep regret that justice was delayed for Becky’s family.  

“It is of personal regret to me that there were missed opportunities identified during the investigation and I take full responsibility for any individual shortcomings.

“I am very sorry for the impact that failures in this case have had on Becky’s family.”  

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson added: “My heartfelt sympathies lay with Karen, and the families of both victims. 

“We should never forget at the very heart of this is a grieving family who have lost their loved one in the most horrific and unimaginable way.

“Both myself, the Chief Constable and a Wiltshire Police representative, have met with Karen to provide her with an unreserved apology on a personal level and on behalf of the organisation. This apology has been extended to further family members of both victims.

“My hope is, that while I know this outcome will never give back those years spent fighting for her complaints to be recognised and actioned, where appropriate, this result will go some way to providing a sense of clarity for Karen and her family.”