THE head of Dorset Police's major crime investigation team has praised the officers who worked tirelessly to ensure the capture and conviction of Jong-Ok Shin's killer.

Detective Superintendent Phil James said the good policing of a number of officers helped to put Omar Benguit behind bars for life - almost three years after the South Korean language student was killed.

In particular, he praised PC Fen Luckham who had the initiative to ask a suspected shoplifter whether she knew anything about the murder. That woman, a drug addict and prostitute, proved to be the main witness in the case as she unsuspectingly drove Benguit to and from the murder scene.

Mr James said: "PC Luckham saw an opportunity to ask someone she had arrested for shoplifting if she may be able to help with a murder inquiry.

"Clearly she did, she tried to help by putting us on the right line but also tried to hide or conceal her involvement.

"And it was PC Luckham's determination and ability to form a rapport with this lady that allowed us to eventually find out the true facts."

The Oki murder investigation was led by DI Kevin Connolly and over the last two and a half years has involved some 300 officers, including DC Mark Prince, DC Adrian Hugill and DC Simon Tallick.

Mr James said: "The officers working in this enquiry have had to be persistent and determined in their dealings with a number of potential witnesses who brought about some very good evidence. They have lived this case for nearly three years.

"I think it just shows that drug addicts and dealers do have consciences and they are keen to see justice is done.

"They all recognised that Oki was an innocent visitor to Bournemouth, had no connections with the drugs world, and there was a very dangerous man in Bournemouth who needed to be convicted for murder and sent to prison for a long time."

Mr James added: "We have supported these witnesses and I will be looking at the possibility of working with them again. They may have information about other major crimes and I would be keen to hear from them and work with them in confidence."

DC Prince, who worked with DI Connolly, said: "This case has taken up a lot of our working life over the last two and a half years. We have been making enquiries on it every day. We are really relieved that justice has been done."

The trial, which began last month, was the third time Benguit had been tried for Oki's death - two previous juries had had failed to reach a verdict. Taking Benguit to trial a third time for Oki's death was an unusual step for the Crown Prosecution Service.

Roger Hall, Crown Court Unit Head, said: "It is a convention that if you have two trials, you will not attempt a third trial.

"The reality was that the entire prosecution team, the barristers, CPS and the police, we all took the view that justice required a verdict one way or another."

Mr Hall said the prosecutor Nigel Pascoe QC even sought the approval of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

It was the first time in Dorset that a defendant had been taken to trial three times, although unsuccessful attempts have been made in the past. Mr Hall added: "This outcome shows how justice can work if we all work closely together - the police, CPS and counsel."

First published: February 3