DETECTIVES have made a fresh appeal for help in solving the brutal murder of a young woman more than 25 years ago.
The body of Jackie Gallagher was found dumped in a lay-by off the A814 near Bowling, Dunbartonshire on June 24, 1996.
The 26-year-old, who was a sex worker, had been beaten and strangled and her body wrapped in a curtain before being abandoned.
READ MORE: The Glasgow crime story of the murder of Jackie Gallagher
A former client stood trial for Jackie’s murder in 2004 at the High Court in Glasgow but was cleared.
Police Scotland yesterday revealed that the file on Jackie’s murder remains open and it is still committed to bringing the person responsible to justice.
At the time of her death, Jackie had been working in Glasgow’s Anderston red light district to feed a heroin habit.
Detective Inspector Sarah McArthur, of Homicide Governance and Review, said: “Police Scotland never considers cases closed and the passage of time is no barrier to the investigation of unresolved homicide cases.
“If anyone has any new information that could assist the investigation into the murder of Jacqueline Gallagher, please contact the police.”
McArthur added the force keeps all unsolved and unresolved homicides under review and meets regularly with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to discuss any developments.
She added: “We continue to relentlessly pursue advances in technology and investigative approaches which help bring those responsible for serious and violent crimes to justice and provide answers for families of the victims of such crimes.
“Scientific and forensic developments, combined with information from the public and determined investigative work, can yield new opportunities in such cases.”
Jackie was the fifth sex worker, operating in Glasgow, to be murdered in as many years.
None of the previous killings had resulted in anyone being convicted.
Jackie had also been attacked with a hammer and suffered 118 injuries, including 46 to her head and neck.
Much of the police investigation at the time centred round the distinctive homemade curtain which the body had been wrapped in.
There were also sightings of a mystery black BMW car in the lay-by where Jackie’s body was found.
Four months after her murder, Jackie was laid to rest in her hometown of Paisley.
The police and her 56-year-old mother Alice Wilson made repeated appeals for information.
Jackie’s murder was also featured on BBC’s Crimewatch programme.
The investigation into Jackie’s death was eventually wound down after several months and officers moved to other inquiries.
However, in 2001 a suspect was identified after new forensic evidence came to light.
Three years later 43-year-old George Johnstone, from Erskine, Renfrewshire, stood trial at the High Court in Glasgow for murder.
He had been arrested after his DNA matched a sample found on Jackie’s clothing.
Johnstone admitted that he was with Jackie on the night before she was murdered, claiming that he had been to see her about twice a week for the previous four months.
He also led evidence from an alibi witness from the night of Jackie’s disappearance.
After four hours of deliberation, the jury cleared him of the murder.
Anyone with information on Jackie’s murder can contact officers on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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