JERSEY HOME: POLICE FIND MORE REMAINS; Teeth of 'at least' five youngsters in cellar

Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England), July 31, 2008

Byline: By EXAMINER News Correspondent

JERSEY police have discovered the partial remains of at least five youngsters at Haut de la Garenne, the former children's home at the centre of the island's child abuse investigation, it was revealed.

However, the grim discoveries may not result in a murder inquiry because experts have been unable to pinpoint when the children died, the detective leading the investigation told BBC Radio 4 's Today programme.

Deputy Chief Officer Lenny Harper, from States of Jersey Police, said there are difficulties dating teeth and bone fragments from the children, who are believed to have been aged between four and 11.

"Theremay not be the evidence there to mount a homicide inquiry and an attempt to bring anybody to justice for whatever crimes took place there," he said.

Police have evidence the bodies were burned and attempts were made to conceal them in the late 60s to early 70s, he will say.

To date, police have recovered a total of 65 milk teeth from the cellars at Haut de la Garenne.

Experts believe the teeth could only have come out after death because of their condition, it was reported on the BBC website.

More than 100 other human bone fragments were also found at the site.

Tests showed some fragments were cut while others were burnt, suggesting that murders had taken place and the victims' bodies had possibly been cremated in a fireplace.

Police are looking into about 97 allegations of abuse in Jersey dating back to the early 1960s and have said there are more than 100 suspects.

CAPTION(S):

GRIM: Police stand guard outside the Haut de la Garenne in Jersey; DIFFICULTIES: Deputy Chief Officer Lenny Harper