A GRIEVING father has claimed his daughter, who was found dead at a notorious suicide spot, was murdered by the killers of Julie Smailes.

Julie, 27, was strangled and repeatedly stabbed in an attack at her home in Leadgate, near Consett, County Durham, in October 1996.

This week, John Kennedy has told how he believes his daughter Emma's death was a cold-blooded murder designed to silence her about Julie Smailes' murder.

On New Year's Eve 1999, Emma Kennedy, 22, a former friend of chief Julie Smailes suspect John Thompson, was found dead under the Gill Bridge, near Castleside, Consett.

In September 2000, North Durham Coroner Andrew Tweddle returned an open verdict on her death.

He also said there were no suicide notes and not enough evidence to suggest that Emma intended taking her own life.

Mr Kennedy, 46, of Bridgehill, Consett, said: "The people who killed Julie Smailes murdered my daughter - I am convinced of that.

"She had been a pal of John Thompson, one of the chief suspects who killed himself. She told me she talked about Julie's murder. She became frightened.

"She said another man connected was on the phone constantly."

Emma's death came 18 months after her boyfriend, Mally Hester, 28, was beaten to death in a street attack outside Emma's home in Delves Lane, Consett.

Mr Kennedy spoke weeks after a man charged with Julie's murder - Darren Willis, 30, of Park Villas, Leadgate - was released because of insufficient police evidence.

Officers are adamant there are people in the community who have information about the killings.