The murder of Rosie Palmer was committed in Hartlepool, County Durham, England on 30 June 1994. Three-year-old Rose Palmer was abducted, raped and murdered after buying an ice pop from an ice cream van only 20 metres from her home. Her partially clothed and mutilated body was found in a house 50 metres from her own on 3 July 1994. It was the third visit to the premises by police during the inquiry, and the second time that it had been searched. The occupant was Shaun Anthony Armstrong, who had a history of psychiatric problems and was widely disliked in the neighbourhood, where he was known as "Tony the Pervert". In March 1993 a social worker had warned that Armstrong was "likely to be a risk to any child he comes into contact with" but Durham County Council failed to act on the report. He was convicted of the child's murder on 27 July 1995 and was sentenced to life imprisonment.
The case highlighted a number of issues including social housing policies for single men, communication between governmental agencies, standards of psychiatric care and the conduct of the police search operation. The nature of the crime and the age of the victim caused a wave of public anger and protests, and threats and violence were also directed at the local council. The first solicitor appointed to represent Armstrong withdrew from the case, stating "I have my staff to think about." In 2010 the case began to attract news media coverage again when it was revealed that Armstrong could be released from prison in 2011 but would be exempt from signing the Sex Offenders' Register – despite the murder being one of those that led to the creation of the register – as he was never formally charged with a sexual offence. Councillor Kevin Kelly warned that despite the passage of time community feelings about the case were still very strong and stated: "If he ever came back here he would be lynched."
Read more about Murder Of Rosie Palmer: Abduction, Shaun "Tony" Armstrong, Aftermath
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