THE detective leading the inquiry into the murder of Amanda Edwards admits the circumstances surrounding her death may remain a mystery forever.

Speaking at a weekend press conference, Det Chief Supt Paul Howlett said his 100-strong team of officers will continue to chase a number of fresh leads but conceded the exact details may never be known.

His comments follow the discovery of two bodies.

On Friday a body, now confirmed to be that of the 21-year-old nursery care assistant from Purton, who had been missing for eight days, was discovered in a makeshift grave at The Knoll building site in Malmesbury.

Hours earlier, convicted rapist Ian Cortis, 48, had been found dead at an address in Calne.

Detectives were forced to release their number one suspect the previous day because they had run out of time to legally hold him, following his arrest earlier that week on suspicion of kidnapping Amanda.

A post mortem examination has now confirmed that the 42-year-old plasterer from Grange Park, Swindon, who is believed to have worked on the building site, had hanged himself.

The exact cause of Amanda's death is still to be ascertained but Det Chief Supt Howlett said there was no obvious natural cause.

On Saturday afternoon Amanda's parents, Beverley and Hartley, had the task of formally identifying their daughter.

While the detective refused to make any link at this stage between the two deaths he said police do not have any other suspects in mind.

"It may be that we may never know exactly what happened," he said.

"The man's family have my deepest condolences at what must be a devastating time for them."

Detectives were forced to release Cortis after the maximum questioning time of 96 hours expired.

It is believed the former Swindon bouncer had two previous convictions for rape, both of which were committed in 1988.

Now Wiltshire Constabulary has voluntarily called in the Independent Police Complaints Commission to investigate its handling of the case.

Asked if he had any regrets about the investigation, Det Chief Supt Howlett told journalists he had none.

He said: "I totally refute that. We turned the place upside down in the search for Amanda.

"We responded to the information we had at the time nobody told us where Amanda's body was.

"More than 100 officers were involved in that search, which included a team of forensic archaeologists and dogs."

Det Chief Supt Howlett confirmed the body had been buried but would not be drawn into revealing any further details.

He said a coroner's inquest, the date of which has yet to be announced, may shed further light.

"These are matters that are personal to the family," he said.

"It may be the case that we do not get as much information as we would like.

"Her parents have said that they would like to come here and we will assist them with that.

"Amanda came from a very loving family. They have conducted themselves with great dignity throughout this investigation."

The inquest into Ian Cortis' death is likely to be opened and adjourned early this week.

Kevin Shoesmith

Victoria Tagg