Could fishing ponds hold key to 11-year-old murder case of Jimmy Millen? (From The Argus)
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Could fishing ponds hold key to 11-year-old murder case of Jimmy Millen?
3:00pm Tuesday 11th September 2012 in News By Emily Walker, Chief Reporter
Divers search for murder weapon in 11-year-old case of Jimmy Millen
Specialist search teams yesterday began wading through metres of mud to try to find a handgun hidden there more than a decade ago.
Police, acting on a tip off, have begun searching for the weapon which they believe was used to shoot dead Jimmy Millen on October 24, 2001.
It is the first major breakthrough in the case – stifled by fears of gangland retribution – in a decade.
Teams of police divers are expecting to spend all week at the two lakes at Clive Vale Angling Club off Harold Road, Hastings.
Mr Millen’s widow and three children are praying the search will put an end to their years of misery and finally give them the answers they have been searching for.
Detective Chief Inspector Nick May of Sussex Police’s major crime branch said: “Information has come to the police that a firearm used in the shooting of Jimmy Millen is in one of these fishing lakes.
“I have assessed the information and believe it is credible enough that we can’t move forward in this investigation until we have checked out these lakes.
“The specialist search unit of Sussex Police are here to properly search it.
“There is still a £10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
“I met Mr Millen’s family for the firsttime last week.
“They were very pleased with this development.
“This is an unsolved murder investigation so is a priority.
“Any information has to be acted on, but we are confident that it is credible.”
Assasination
The two lakes are around four metres deep at the deepest – but any weapon will have sunk to the bottom where the search teams will be wading through up to two metres of mud and silt.
Mr Millen is believed to have been killed as a result of a gangland assassination.
At the time of his death Sussex Police had more than 100 officers working on the case, yet just over 200 members of the public called in – far fewer than officers would normally expect on a murder case.
Detective Superintendent Kevin Moore – the officer in charge of the case at the time – concluded it was a professional assassination.
He said: “In most murder inquiries you get hundreds or thousands of messages.
“The fact we only got 233 means it is likely to be a criminal underworld hit and the public knew very little about it.”
Arrests
Jimmy, who had a lengthy criminal record, reportedly told his family that he had been involved in the murder of another man Jason Martin-Smith along with four other men.
Arrests were made during the initial investigations into Jimmy’s death, but no one has ever been charged and the £10,000 rewards is still valid today.
DCI May said yesterday that the two murder investigations were still linked.
He said: “Information at the time seemed to link the two cases.
“This latest development neither adds not detracts from that theory.
“It points specifically to the gun used to kill Jimmy.
“If we find that gun it will be a major breakthrough.
“Obviously we don’t know what state it will be in and it will need forensic and ballistic examination, but recovering that firearm would be a significant development in the case.”
Anyone with any information about the murder of Jimmy Millen should call Sussex Police on 101 Quoting Operation Fare, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Timeline
October 24, 2001 – Jimmy Millen, 27, was shot dead whilst repairing his Ford Fiesta in Tile Barn Road, Hastings.
October 25, 2001 – Detectives said they believed Jimmy’s murder was a planned gangland assassination.
October 26, 2001 – Jimmy’s father Fred Millen branded his son’s killers “cowards” for shooting him in the back of the head four times.
November 1, 2001 – Sussex Police offered a £10,000 reward to catch Jimmy Millen’s killers.
December 14, 2001 – Police issued sketches of two suspects seen close to where Jimmy was gunned down.
January 10, 2002 – Police launched a second murder investigation linking the death of Jimmy to he suspected killing of Jason Martin-Smith – who disappeared in August 2001. Three men were arrested on suspicion of Jimmy’s murder in dawn raids at addresses across Hastings.
January 22, 2002 – Police increased the reward from £10,000 to £25,000 after revealing they believe Mr Martin Smith was shot dead in Hastings shortly after his disappearance.
January 25, 2002 – A man was arrested on suspicion of the murder of Jason Martin-Smith.
February 8, 2002 – Police said their investigation had been thwarted by a “climate of fear” in the Hollington area of Hastings.
February 13, 2002 – Police dogs are used to search Kelk wood, in Battle, for Jason Martin-Smith’s remains.
June 20, 2002 – Jimmy’s family said he had been involved in killing Mr Martin-Smith. His widow Michelle said Jimmy had phoned her to say he and four others had killed him and that one of the others had chopped the body up and buried his body parts across Hastings.
October 20, 2011 – In the run up to the tenth anniversary of Jimmy’s death, his mother Marion Millen said she “lived in hope” that his killer would still be found.
October 25, 2011 – Jimmy’s widow Michelle criticised the police’s failure to solve her husband’s murder.
September 10, 2012 – Police start searching lakes at Clive Vale Angling Club for the murder weapon
"It will be nice to get some form of closure"
Jimmy Millen’s widow Michelle and middle son Jimmy junior visited the lakes where police are searching for the weapon that may have ended his life.
Mrs Millen said: “This has been a mixture of emotions.
“I definitely have renewed confidence in the police. My confidence has been reassured.
“We had a call last Wednesday to tell us. I was gob smacked.
“But now I’m pretty confident this could give us the answers we have been looking for.”
Jimmy junior, 18, was nine when his father was killed.
He said: “We really hope that something is found.
“It has not been nice all these years.
“It will be great to finally get those answers, not just for us but also my brother and sister and the rest of the family.
“It will be nice to know.
“It has been a long time since it happened, but you just have to cope.
“We need to know who killed him.
“It will be nice to get some form of closure.”
Comments(27)
bumbar
says...
4:26pm Tue 11 Sep 12
RussHamilton
says...
4:58pm Tue 11 Sep 12
RussHamilton
says...
5:10pm Tue 11 Sep 12
rolivan
says...
5:22pm Tue 11 Sep 12
y it is all about statistics and if they can close a few more unsolved cases that is what they are interested in.
AmboGuy
says...
5:23pm Tue 11 Sep 12
RussHamilton wrote:Yeah and neither of them were angels were they? Maybe the CPS are more interested in finding the killers of TRUE victims ie decent people.
And further to the above comment the family know who killed jimmy and who killed my son Jason, as do the police but no action was taken because a civil servant in the crown prosercution service did not think that a conviction was likely with out a body not high enough profile more like
F in L
says...
6:48pm Tue 11 Sep 12
AmboGuy wrote:What an offensive judgemental individual you are.
RussHamilton wrote:Yeah and neither of them were angels were they? Maybe the CPS are more interested in finding the killers of TRUE victims ie decent people.
And further to the above comment the family know who killed jimmy and who killed my son Jason, as do the police but no action was taken because a civil servant in the crown prosercution service did not think that a conviction was likely with out a body not high enough profile more like
Russell Martin-Smith
says...
7:10pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Yeah and neither of them were angels were they? Maybe the CPS are more interested in finding the killers of TRUE victims ie decent people.
Angel No,
but my brother Jason was no different then any other 28 year old lad, but unfortunately he wasnt an ethnic minority so the police dont bother to try to investigate his murder, this is not a racial comment but there is always more pressure from national press and central goverment in those cases,
i mean come on neither of these cases even got national news coverage, and lets face it what did the police do.
F ALL
nocando
says...
7:41pm Tue 11 Sep 12
John Steed
says...
7:48pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Russell Martin-Smith wrote:if he was no different from any other 28 year old why did he get murdered?
AmboGuy wrote
Yeah and neither of them were angels were they? Maybe the CPS are more interested in finding the killers of TRUE victims ie decent people.
Angel No,
but my brother Jason was no different then any other 28 year old lad, but unfortunately he wasnt an ethnic minority so the police dont bother to try to investigate his murder, this is not a racial comment but there is always more pressure from national press and central goverment in those cases,
i mean come on neither of these cases even got national news coverage, and lets face it what did the police do.
F ALL
also if the grieving widow of a murderer was told four others were involved whatabout names of these scum did they get passed on to the police? judging by the inaction, no.
Russell Martin-Smith
says...
8:07pm Tue 11 Sep 12
sdhgfhfuyt
says...
9:57pm Tue 11 Sep 12
AmboGuy wrote:you absolute coward Amboguy, some of your past comments wouldn't exactly qualify you to be 'decent people' either
RussHamilton wrote:Yeah and neither of them were angels were they? Maybe the CPS are more interested in finding the killers of TRUE victims ie decent people.
And further to the above comment the family know who killed jimmy and who killed my son Jason, as do the police but no action was taken because a civil servant in the crown prosercution service did not think that a conviction was likely with out a body not high enough profile more like
AmboGuy
says...
10:44pm Tue 11 Sep 12
sdhgfhfuyt wrote:Oh be quiet you pathetic Internet troll.
AmboGuy wrote:you absolute coward Amboguy, some of your past comments wouldn't exactly qualify you to be 'decent people' either
RussHamilton wrote:Yeah and neither of them were angels were they? Maybe the CPS are more interested in finding the killers of TRUE victims ie decent people.
And further to the above comment the family know who killed jimmy and who killed my son Jason, as do the police but no action was taken because a civil servant in the crown prosercution service did not think that a conviction was likely with out a body not high enough profile more like
Do uou even know anything about the two men involved? I do. Both men were involved in the criminal underworld and were as bad as each other. Lots of innocent people got really hurt by these two men when they were alive so I doubt they're too bothered. Decent people get murdered every year and their family never get justice, they are more of a priority for the cps.
The quite obvious racism from the brother on this forum show us all something. I'm not sure how I'm a 'coward' for giving my view, maybe you'd like to post under your real name to prove you're not a 'coward' yourself.
Now go trolling somewhere else.
sdhgfhfuyt
says...
4:29am Wed 12 Sep 12
AmboGuy wrote:Now, now - you can use the word troll when commenters retort something you don't like, but you are also hiding behind the anonymity of the internet and would also be eligible for such an arbitrary definition. Why don't you post your real name ?
sdhgfhfuyt wrote:Oh be quiet you pathetic Internet troll.
AmboGuy wrote:you absolute coward Amboguy, some of your past comments wouldn't exactly qualify you to be 'decent people' either
RussHamilton wrote:Yeah and neither of them were angels were they? Maybe the CPS are more interested in finding the killers of TRUE victims ie decent people.
And further to the above comment the family know who killed jimmy and who killed my son Jason, as do the police but no action was taken because a civil servant in the crown prosercution service did not think that a conviction was likely with out a body not high enough profile more like
Do uou even know anything about the two men involved? I do. Both men were involved in the criminal underworld and were as bad as each other. Lots of innocent people got really hurt by these two men when they were alive so I doubt they're too bothered. Decent people get murdered every year and their family never get justice, they are more of a priority for the cps.
The quite obvious racism from the brother on this forum show us all something. I'm not sure how I'm a 'coward' for giving my view, maybe you'd like to post under your real name to prove you're not a 'coward' yourself.
Now go trolling somewhere else.
sdhgfhfuyt
says...
4:29am Wed 12 Sep 12
AmboGuy wrote:Now, now - you can use the word troll when commenters retort something you don't like, but you are also hiding behind the anonymity of the internet and would also be eligible for such an arbitrary definition. Why don't you post your real name ?
sdhgfhfuyt wrote:Oh be quiet you pathetic Internet troll.
AmboGuy wrote:you absolute coward Amboguy, some of your past comments wouldn't exactly qualify you to be 'decent people' either
RussHamilton wrote:Yeah and neither of them were angels were they? Maybe the CPS are more interested in finding the killers of TRUE victims ie decent people.
And further to the above comment the family know who killed jimmy and who killed my son Jason, as do the police but no action was taken because a civil servant in the crown prosercution service did not think that a conviction was likely with out a body not high enough profile more like
Do uou even know anything about the two men involved? I do. Both men were involved in the criminal underworld and were as bad as each other. Lots of innocent people got really hurt by these two men when they were alive so I doubt they're too bothered. Decent people get murdered every year and their family never get justice, they are more of a priority for the cps.
The quite obvious racism from the brother on this forum show us all something. I'm not sure how I'm a 'coward' for giving my view, maybe you'd like to post under your real name to prove you're not a 'coward' yourself.
Now go trolling somewhere else.
AmboGuy
says...
8:50am Wed 12 Sep 12
sdhgfhfuyt wrote:Why don't I use my real name? Because I'm not the one calling other people cowards - sorry if that wasn't clear enough for you.
AmboGuy wrote:Now, now - you can use the word troll when commenters retort something you don't like, but you are also hiding behind the anonymity of the internet and would also be eligible for such an arbitrary definition. Why don't you post your real name ?
sdhgfhfuyt wrote:Oh be quiet you pathetic Internet troll.
AmboGuy wrote:you absolute coward Amboguy, some of your past comments wouldn't exactly qualify you to be 'decent people' either
RussHamilton wrote:Yeah and neither of them were angels were they? Maybe the CPS are more interested in finding the killers of TRUE victims ie decent people.
And further to the above comment the family know who killed jimmy and who killed my son Jason, as do the police but no action was taken because a civil servant in the crown prosercution service did not think that a conviction was likely with out a body not high enough profile more like
Do uou even know anything about the two men involved? I do. Both men were involved in the criminal underworld and were as bad as each other. Lots of innocent people got really hurt by these two men when they were alive so I doubt they're too bothered. Decent people get murdered every year and their family never get justice, they are more of a priority for the cps.
The quite obvious racism from the brother on this forum show us all something. I'm not sure how I'm a 'coward' for giving my view, maybe you'd like to post under your real name to prove you're not a 'coward' yourself.
Now go trolling somewhere else.
It's interesting that you've chosen to ignore the points I've raised though. I guess sometimes it's easier to just ignore certain facts of they don't fit in with your point of view.
qm
says...
10:02am Wed 12 Sep 12
F in L
says...
4:02pm Wed 12 Sep 12
AmboGuy wrote:Despicable individual you are Amboguy. Your comments never add anything to the posts, you just attack everyone who does not agree with you vitiolic and abusive views. If you are indeed an Ambulance Man you are a disgrace to the profession.
sdhgfhfuyt wrote:Why don't I use my real name? Because I'm not the one calling other people cowards - sorry if that wasn't clear enough for you.
AmboGuy wrote:Now, now - you can use the word troll when commenters retort something you don't like, but you are also hiding behind the anonymity of the internet and would also be eligible for such an arbitrary definition. Why don't you post your real name ?
sdhgfhfuyt wrote:Oh be quiet you pathetic Internet troll.
AmboGuy wrote:you absolute coward Amboguy, some of your past comments wouldn't exactly qualify you to be 'decent people' either
RussHamilton wrote:Yeah and neither of them were angels were they? Maybe the CPS are more interested in finding the killers of TRUE victims ie decent people.
And further to the above comment the family know who killed jimmy and who killed my son Jason, as do the police but no action was taken because a civil servant in the crown prosercution service did not think that a conviction was likely with out a body not high enough profile more like
Do uou even know anything about the two men involved? I do. Both men were involved in the criminal underworld and were as bad as each other. Lots of innocent people got really hurt by these two men when they were alive so I doubt they're too bothered. Decent people get murdered every year and their family never get justice, they are more of a priority for the cps.
The quite obvious racism from the brother on this forum show us all something. I'm not sure how I'm a 'coward' for giving my view, maybe you'd like to post under your real name to prove you're not a 'coward' yourself.
Now go trolling somewhere else.
It's interesting that you've chosen to ignore the points I've raised though. I guess sometimes it's easier to just ignore certain facts of they don't fit in with your point of view.
AmboGuy
says...
5:46pm Wed 12 Sep 12
F in L wrote:So could you explain to me how your post now has has added to the post? Pot - kettle anyone?
AmboGuy wrote:Despicable individual you are Amboguy. Your comments never add anything to the posts, you just attack everyone who does not agree with you vitiolic and abusive views. If you are indeed an Ambulance Man you are a disgrace to the profession.
sdhgfhfuyt wrote:Why don't I use my real name? Because I'm not the one calling other people cowards - sorry if that wasn't clear enough for you.
AmboGuy wrote:Now, now - you can use the word troll when commenters retort something you don't like, but you are also hiding behind the anonymity of the internet and would also be eligible for such an arbitrary definition. Why don't you post your real name ?
sdhgfhfuyt wrote:Oh be quiet you pathetic Internet troll.
AmboGuy wrote:you absolute coward Amboguy, some of your past comments wouldn't exactly qualify you to be 'decent people' either
RussHamilton wrote:Yeah and neither of them were angels were they? Maybe the CPS are more interested in finding the killers of TRUE victims ie decent people.
And further to the above comment the family know who killed jimmy and who killed my son Jason, as do the police but no action was taken because a civil servant in the crown prosercution service did not think that a conviction was likely with out a body not high enough profile more like
Do uou even know anything about the two men involved? I do. Both men were involved in the criminal underworld and were as bad as each other. Lots of innocent people got really hurt by these two men when they were alive so I doubt they're too bothered. Decent people get murdered every year and their family never get justice, they are more of a priority for the cps.
The quite obvious racism from the brother on this forum show us all something. I'm not sure how I'm a 'coward' for giving my view, maybe you'd like to post under your real name to prove you're not a 'coward' yourself.
Now go trolling somewhere else.
It's interesting that you've chosen to ignore the points I've raised though. I guess sometimes it's easier to just ignore certain facts of they don't fit in with your point of view.
Maybe you are the one who should keep your opinions to yourself and keep out of something that doesn't involve you.
AmboGuy
says...
10:05pm Wed 12 Sep 12
Maybe you are the one who should keep your opinions to yourself and keep out of something that doesn't involve you.
F in L
says...
2:15pm Thu 13 Sep 12
AmboGuy wrote:You are pathetic. This is a comment section, open to all, not a personal soap box for your rabid views and nasty attacks on those (the vast majority) who do not agree with your blinkered and moronic views, and your latest comment puts the case against you more succinctly than anyone else ever could.
So could you explain to me how your post now has has added to the post? Pot - kettle anyone?
Maybe you are the one who should keep your opinions to yourself and keep out of something that doesn't involve you.
AmboGuy
says...
3:34pm Thu 13 Sep 12
F in L wrote:Oh dear - yet again you've totally missed the point. You can't slag someone off for not 'adding to the comments' when you're very first post here is just attacking me and is not actually about the story - like mine was. Would you like someone else to explain it to you? I can tell you're struggling to understand my very simple point.
AmboGuy wrote:You are pathetic. This is a comment section, open to all, not a personal soap box for your rabid views and nasty attacks on those (the vast majority) who do not agree with your blinkered and moronic views, and your latest comment puts the case against you more succinctly than anyone else ever could.
So could you explain to me how your post now has has added to the post? Pot - kettle anyone?
Maybe you are the one who should keep your opinions to yourself and keep out of something that doesn't involve you.
Bless.
Living in the real world.
says...
5:00pm Thu 13 Sep 12
F in L wrote:So why don't you give us your opinion on the story then instead of attacking other posters on this site.
AmboGuy wrote:You are pathetic. This is a comment section, open to all, not a personal soap box for your rabid views and nasty attacks on those (the vast majority) who do not agree with your blinkered and moronic views, and your latest comment puts the case against you more succinctly than anyone else ever could.
So could you explain to me how your post now has has added to the post? Pot - kettle anyone?
Maybe you are the one who should keep your opinions to yourself and keep out of something that doesn't involve you.
F in L
says...
11:19am Fri 14 Sep 12
Living in the real world. wrote:It does not matter who the individuals are or what they have or have not done, Justice is blind..... EVERYONE deserves the protection of the Laws of the Land. This point had been clearly made but as it did not agree with Amboguy's, it was attacked (as usual) with the ridiculous argument that we should allow murderers to walk free as no one should care if they are killing other criminals. This would have allowed the Krays (They never hurt no one who did not deserve it) to escape justice. Do not encourage him his views are becoming more bizarre with each passing comment.
F in L wrote:So why don't you give us your opinion on the story then instead of attacking other posters on this site.
AmboGuy wrote:You are pathetic. This is a comment section, open to all, not a personal soap box for your rabid views and nasty attacks on those (the vast majority) who do not agree with your blinkered and moronic views, and your latest comment puts the case against you more succinctly than anyone else ever could.
So could you explain to me how your post now has has added to the post? Pot - kettle anyone?
Maybe you are the one who should keep your opinions to yourself and keep out of something that doesn't involve you.
Living in the real world.
says...
6:04pm Fri 14 Sep 12
F in L wrote:Well I've seen some pretty disgusting views from you F & L. Maybe you should look at your own posts first before attacking someone else...nobody likes a hypocrite mate.
Living in the real world. wrote:It does not matter who the individuals are or what they have or have not done, Justice is blind..... EVERYONE deserves the protection of the Laws of the Land. This point had been clearly made but as it did not agree with Amboguy's, it was attacked (as usual) with the ridiculous argument that we should allow murderers to walk free as no one should care if they are killing other criminals. This would have allowed the Krays (They never hurt no one who did not deserve it) to escape justice. Do not encourage him his views are becoming more bizarre with each passing comment.
F in L wrote:So why don't you give us your opinion on the story then instead of attacking other posters on this site.
AmboGuy wrote:You are pathetic. This is a comment section, open to all, not a personal soap box for your rabid views and nasty attacks on those (the vast majority) who do not agree with your blinkered and moronic views, and your latest comment puts the case against you more succinctly than anyone else ever could.
So could you explain to me how your post now has has added to the post? Pot - kettle anyone?
Maybe you are the one who should keep your opinions to yourself and keep out of something that doesn't involve you.
AmboGuy
says...
8:37am Sat 15 Sep 12
F in L wrote:So are you going to be man enough to respond to Living in the real worlds post? No? Your silence shows you to be thr real coward here. What a pathetic sad little man you are.
Living in the real world. wrote:It does not matter who the individuals are or what they have or have not done, Justice is blind..... EVERYONE deserves the protection of the Laws of the Land. This point had been clearly made but as it did not agree with Amboguy's, it was attacked (as usual) with the ridiculous argument that we should allow murderers to walk free as no one should care if they are killing other criminals. This would have allowed the Krays (They never hurt no one who did not deserve it) to escape justice. Do not encourage him his views are becoming more bizarre with each passing comment.
F in L wrote:So why don't you give us your opinion on the story then instead of attacking other posters on this site.
AmboGuy wrote:You are pathetic. This is a comment section, open to all, not a personal soap box for your rabid views and nasty attacks on those (the vast majority) who do not agree with your blinkered and moronic views, and your latest comment puts the case against you more succinctly than anyone else ever could.
So could you explain to me how your post now has has added to the post? Pot - kettle anyone?
Maybe you are the one who should keep your opinions to yourself and keep out of something that doesn't involve you.
RussHamilton
says...
2:36pm Mon 8 Oct 12
john5001 says...
3:23pm Tue 11 Sep 12