Family still don't have answers after man killed in St John's Gardens

Merseyside Police said it is "determined to get justice" for a man who was killed in the city centre. Businessman Gordon Miller was visiting Liverpool when he was murdered in St John's Gardens.

His naked and beaten body was found by the Museum of Liverpool on a Monday morning and decades on, still no-one knows why. The accounts manager had been visiting the city from Oxford on a business trip.

He arrived in Liverpool on a Sunday to stay at the Adelphi hotel. It is thought the 36-year-old left his hotel at around 8pm and headed for drinks. Although not certain, it is speculated Mr Miller was walking through the gardens as a shortcut back to where he was staying when he was viciously attacked.

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Mr Miller was hit in the head multiple times with a blunt instrument that has never been found. His body was discovered the next morning, Monday, November 27, 1995. Today marks 29 years since he was killed and his grieving family still don't have answers.

Merseyside Police continues to investigate Mr Miller's murder. Kevin Clague, Head of the Serious Crime Review Unit, told the ECHO: "Although 29 years have passed since Gordon was killed, we are still determined to get justice for his family. A murder investigation is never closed, and we are taking this opportunity to appeal again to the community for help with our investigation.

“Loyalties can change over time and we believe that there are people in the community who know who was responsible. If those people are in a different situation and now feel able to assist, I would urge them to come forward and help us to get closure for Gordon’s family.”

At the time two men were arrested in relation to his murder but the charges against them were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service. Questions arose regarding Mr Miller’s sexuality as St John’s Gardens was then known as a common spot used by gay men for cruising - the act of searching about a public place in pursuit of a partner for sex.

However, Mr Miller did have a girlfriend at the time so it is unsure if this is why he was in the area. Police said it could have been an instance of “wrong place, wrong time”. It was also considered that Mr Miller could have been attacked by robbers.

Although there was no indication Mr Miller had been sexually assaulted, he was found naked with his shirt and jeans wrapped round his head. His expensive watch, credit cards and cash in his wallet were not taken. His brother arrived in Liverpool following the murder to formally identify his body.

The ECHO contacted what was believed to be Mr Miller's workplace at the time of his death as he was in the city on a business trip. AXA Health, formally AXA PPP, said it did not hold any employee records dating back to 1995 due to GDPR regulations, which state all files must be deleted after seven years. However, it did extend its sympathies to the family and friends of Mr Miller for their loss.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the social media desk @MerPolCC, call 101, or you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.