Two similar murder cases, one in the Netherlands and the other in Great Britain are being linked together by Dutch and British police.

The headless body of a woman was found in a bag in a canal in Rotterdam in 1990. The hands had also been removed. In 2008, using the latest DNA techniques, it was finally identified as that of 33-year-old Melissa Halstead of Dayton Ohio in the United States.

Meanwhile, in 2001, someone fishing in Regent’s Canal in the Camden Town district of London came across some bags containing the remains of 31-year-old Paula Fields. Her head and hands were also missing.

On Tuesday evening, Inspector Howard Groves of the British police told Dutch television viewers that the investigations into the two murders have been reopened and are now a joint Dutch-British effort.

Serial killer?
The police suspect the same person was responsible for both crimes and are not ruling out that they could be the work of a serial killer. Mr Groves said that two useful tips had been received following the case being featured on the Crimewatch programme on British TV.

The Dutch prosecution authorities are offering a 20,000-euro reward for information leading to the case being solved. They have already received 50 tips which are currently being followed up. They are particularly interested in a man called John who is said to have had a relationship with Ms Halstead.

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide