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The brother of a schoolgirl murdered as she walked a neighbour’s dog 20 years ago has spoken of how her death has completely devastated his and his family’s lives. The interview came as police re-launched the investigation on the 20th anniversary of the death of Kate Bushell.

Kate, 14, had her throat cut during an attack in a field just 300 yards from her home outside Exeter, on November 15, 1997.

The teenager, from Burrator Drive, Exwick, had walked with the terrier called Gemma up Exwick Lane around 4.45pm.

When the schoolgirl failed to return home her parents, Jerry and Suzanne, went to look for her and her father, a retired local government officer, found her body with the dog waiting nearby at 7.30pm.

Detectives, who have never closed the case, are convinced the killer had local knowledge and a connection to the Exwick area.

It is the force’s biggest ever murder investigation, costing more than £1 million, and a team of retired detectives has been assembled to bring Kate’s killer to justice.

Police have now released pictures of the type of kitchen knife used in the murder and revealed a forensic breakthrough.

Officers have also never traced the driver of a blue vehicle seen parked at Exwick stables in Exwick Lane at about 4.50pm on the day of the murder or a man seen running away from the vicinity of the crime.

Her elder brother Tim, who was on the verge of turning 16 when his sister died, has spoken for the first time as the 20th anniversary approaches.

“Reliving it and speaking about it have brought up quite a few memories and visiting the site again with the police the other week did as well,” Mr Bushell said.

“I have memories of the day, where I was and what happened throughout the day and being told I would never see my sister again.

“It is very hard to relive those feelings because they were so difficult and completely changed my life and my family’s life from that day.

“I think when you have got anniversaries coming up they are quite poignant and bring up memories you’ve had before.

“Things have got easier as you have got on with life over the years but anniversaries bring up painful memories.”

Mr Bushell appealed for anyone who had information about his sister’s murder to contact the police.

“I think the police have a lot of the information already and I think they just need something to bring it all together and join up the dots and have someone who is able to point them in the right direction,” he said.

“Obviously a lot could have changed in the past 20 years – relationships they had and they felt they wanted to shelter or protect someone before or they had a few doubts or there was a reason for them to shelter someone before.

“Loyalties change and I would urge them to come forward and contact the police.”

Kate was murdered where she was found and there was no attempt to conceal her body.

After she failed to return home her parents, who still live in the same house 20 years on, drove the route they thought she would have walked and when they did not find her, called the police.

Her father borrowed a torch from a neighbour and walked the route himself. The torch beam reflected off the dog's eyes and then he made the grim discovery.

He ran home screaming and went to use a neighbour’s phone to call 999 and a major police inquiry was launched.

Officers are calling on people to come forward with critical information that they may have withheld at the time, either due to misplaced or divided loyalty, intimidation, or duress, or simply not thought relevant over the years.

They still hope to trace a man seen in a blue car near the lane and a man who was seen running from the field where Kate was found.

Another critical piece of evidence is orange fibres found on the victim that they believe belong to the killer.

Retired Detective Superintendent Paul Burgan said: “It has never gone away, we’re still conducting enquiries to this day and we’re desperate for a member of the public to come forward with that critical bit of information that will hopefully break open the case.

“We found a number, probably in excess of 100, orange fibres on Kate’s clothing and on her body, which we believe were deposited there by the offender through an item of clothing he may have been wearing at the time.

“That clothing was a bright polyester and cotton mix, predominantly used in workwear such as aprons, boiler suits, work gloves.

“Did anybody know an individual who had access to that type of clothing that could have been in Exwick that evening?”

Mr Burgan added: “Any murder investigation is like trying to piece together a huge jigsaw, we’re still missing that one piece of the jigsaw.

“I’m convinced that somebody out there watching this or other broadcasts has got that relevant information. The appeal is - please come forward and give us that vital breakthrough.

Kate's best friend Nicky Johns, 34, also joined the appeal.

She added: “It’s strange to look back now lots of things remind me of Kate and what happened. It is difficult to think about it knowing that this person was never caught so you don’t get closure.

“I remember the night in great detail.

“I just remember feeling completely numb. I didn’t cry, I was just in shock, sitting there kind of not believing what I had been told.

“I think the hardest thing is knowing this person hasn’t been caught, that they are not paying for what they did. It would mean everything and I just pray that somebody can remember something and can come forward with some information."

Cops are calling on people to come forward with critical information that they may have withheld at the time, either due to misplaced or divided loyalty, intimidation, or duress, or simply not thought relevant over the years.

They still hope to trace a man seen in a blue car near the lane and a man who was seen running from the field where Kate was found.ying to piece together a huge jigsaw, we’re still missing that one piece of the jigsaw.

“I’m convinced that somebody out there has got that relevant information. Please come forward and give us that vital breakthrough.

“I myself was a detective sergeant back in 1997, I worked on the case. It never leaves you because it’s the sort of case, especially a child murder, that you always want to solve.

“Everybody who worked on the case was the same and everyone is as committed today as they were 20 years ago to find out who is responsible for Kate’s death.”

Crimestoppers is offering a £10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Kate’s killer.