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Murder squad's appeal to caller
POLICE want to trace a woman who anonymously gave details to Crimestoppers about Blackpool teenager Charlene Downes.
A woman called the anonymous hotline on Thursday lunchtime from a woman who gave "interesting" information about the murder investigation.
Detectives are keen for her to get in touch again to speak to her in more depth.
Det Supt Paul Buschini, the man leading the inquiry, has assured the caller that her anonymity will be maintained.
He said: "At around lunchtime on Thursday, Crimestoppers received a call from a woman who gave information about the on-going investigation into the disappearance and alleged murder of Charlene Downes.
"This information was very interesting and we would like to follow-up on what was said.
"However, we are very keen to speak to the woman who supplied the details to get a bit more information and help in our investigations.
"i would ask her to make contact again with Crimestoppers and ideally we would like her to speak with a member of the inquiry team.
"Of course, all discussions will be done in the strictest confidence and we will fully respect her wishes to remain anonymous."
While police have not revealed the content of the information, they have said it could shine new light on the two-year inquiry which took a major turn this week.
After investigating the disappearance of the St George's High School pupil since November 2003, detectives arrested and charged two men in connection with Charlene's alleged murder. A third man has been released on police bail pending further inquires.
Charlene, of Buchanan Street, North Shore, said goodbye to her mum outside the Winter Gardens, in Blackpool town centre, on Saturday November 1, 2003.
She went off to meet a friend but has never been seen since. She was 14.
On Tuesday, police swooped on three addresses across Blackpool to arrest the suspects and began searching Funny Boyz takeaway, on Dickson Road, and a house on Hornby Road.
Those searches were wound-up yesterday with police saying they had found "nothing that would seem to be significant at this time".
* IYAD Albattikhi, 28, of Dickson Road, Blackpool, will appear at Preston Crown Court on June 15 charged with Charlene's murder.
Mohammed Raveshi, 49, of Hornby Road, Blackpool, is charged with assisting in the disposal of a body and will appear at Blackpool Magistrates' Court in April for committal of his case to the higher court.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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