Neighbour who battered Nikki Allan, 7, with a brick and stabbed her 37 times guilty of 1992 murder
12 May 2023, 14:57 | Updated: 12 May 2023, 15:57
A man has been found guilty of murdering Sunderland schoolgirl Nikki Allan after she was stabbed to death more than 30 years ago.
David Boyd, 55, has been convicted at Newcastle Crown Court of the 1992 murder of seven-year-old Nikki Allan who was battered, stabbed and dumped in a derelict warehouse.
Nikki Allan's family never gave up their fight to see justice done after the youngster was lured to her brutal death 300 yards from their home in Sunderland's East End.
After a trial at Newcastle Crown Court, the family neighbour was found guilty of murdering Nikki, who was attacked with a brick and stabbed 37 times in the chest, before dumping her in the basement of the old Exchange building.
Northumbria Police first prosecuted the wrong man, George Heron, who was cleared after a trial in 1993.
Nikki Allen seen with David Boyd in 1992 CCTV
Outlining the prosecution case, Richard Wright KC told the court Boyd was known to Nikki's family, lived in the same block of flats as her and was the boyfriend of their babysitter.
Nikki had been out with friends on the evening of October 7 1992 and a woman told police she saw a little girl wandering with a man now known to be Boyd.
Mr Wright said: "The little girl would occasionally drop behind and would then skip to catch up.
"This was Nikki Allan. She was with her killer and she was unwittingly skipping to her death."
Boyd, who was 25 at the time of the killing, denied murder but refused to go into the witness box to give evidence.
Prosecutors said Nikki must have known her killer to willingly follow him after grainy CCTV showed a male adult being trailed by a child.
Locals told police they heard piercing screams on the night Nikki was killed.
The next morning, Nikki's shoes and coat were found outside the dockside warehouse - with her body found in the basement.
Her blood was discovered outside the only entry point, a boarded-up window about six feet off the ground.
Investigators believe Boyd must have hit Nikki outside the building, then lifted her inside and carried out his monstrous attack, during which he left traces of DNA on her clothes.
Seven years later, Boyd indecently assaulted a nine-year-old girl in a Teesside park.
He already had a conviction for breach of the peace in 1986 after asking an underage girl for a kiss.
He told his probation officer he had fantasised about naked "young girls".
In 2017, police to re-examined Nikki's case and extracted DNA samples from her clothing.
Tests indicated a one in 28,000 match for Boyd - or a male relative of his - was found on the clothes "in multiple areas", jurors heard.
Police were then able to go back and request a DNA test from the man they considered a mere witness 31 years ago.
Boyd was arrested on suspicion of murder in 2018 and charged last year after a painstaking investigation involving the DNA testing of 839 men linked to the area at the time.
The jury spent just two-and-a-half hours deliberating after a four week trial.
Mrs Justice Lambert said Boyd could not be sentenced next week "for various practical reasons" as there had been an application for the sentencing remarks to be televised.
She set a sentencing date of May 23.
David Boyd seen getting arrested in 2018
Speaking outside court, Nikki's mother, Sharon Henderson, spoke of the "injustice" that "this evil man slipped through the net to murder Nikki when he was on their (police) files in the first place".
"Three doors down from Nikki's grandparents. They should have investigated him straight away," she said.
Asked how she found the strength to keep fighting for justice, Ms Henderson said: "Because Nikki's my daughter and I love her."
Assistant Chief Constable Brad Howe, of Northumbria Police, said: “Today is about justice – for Nikki and her family.
"We thank them for their patience and strength over the last 30 years and our thoughts very much continue to be with them.
"David Boyd hid his crime, lying about his involvement and prolonging the family’s suffering, knowing all along that he had taken the life of their little girl.
"The investigation into Nikki’s murder has been one of the most complex and comprehensive ever conducted by Northumbria Police.
"I’m extremely proud of the investigative team and all those who played their part in securing this conviction. I further hope this sends a strong message that no matter how long ago an offence took place, we will do everything we can to see justice served."
David Boyd seen in Northumbria Police interviews
Detective Chief Superintendent Lisa Theaker, the senior investigating officer in the case, added: "Nikki would have been 37 now and who knows what her life could have been.
"But her future was cruelly taken away her by David Boyd. The pain and suffering that he has caused, and to so many people, is immeasurable.
"This is a huge day for Nikki’s family. I would like to thank them for their incredible strength – after 30 years, they have justice.
"Since 2017, as an investigative team, we have worked tirelessly on what has been a complex and challenging case. Our commitment has always been to find the person responsible and ensure they were brought to justice.
"New forensic techniques were a key part in this investigation, and we have been supported by incredible experts, witnesses and specialists who have helped us discover and prove who was responsible."
