First Successful Prosecution after use of Pioneering DNA Technique

The teenage killer of lorry driver Michael Little, who died after a brick was thrown through his cab windscreen, admitted manslaughter at a hearing at The Old Bailey – ending a 12-month Surrey Police investigation.

Craig Harman, 20, of Glamis Close, Frimley, admitted manslaughter at a hearing in London. This is the first time that an innovative technique of “familial searching” of the National DNA Database^® has directly led to a criminal prosecution.

Mr Little, who worked for Ford for 26 years as a lorry driver, was killed when a brick was thrown from a bridge through the windscreen of his lorry while he was on the M3 between junctions four and three at Frimley, Surrey, on 21 March 2003. Michael, known to his family and friends as “Micky,” was killed after the brick struck him in the chest, causing a fatal injury to his heart. His professionalism was demonstrated when he managed to control his lorry for around 250 metres after the bridge, pulled the cab over to the hard shoulder, put the hazard lights on and turned off the ignition before he died.

Surrey Police immediately launched a murder inquiry, and detectives were confident that the killer was likely to live locally, as the footbridge is a shortcut between Camberley and Frimley, which many local people use after a night out.

DNA evidence recovered illustrated that whoever had thrown the brick at around 12.30am had also been involved in an unsuccessful attempt to steal a Renault Clio, parked in a driveway in Brackendale Road, Camberley, shortly before, when offenders had smashed a car window, and tried to hotwire a vehicle, pushing it into a hedgerow. They are then thought to have made off towards the motorway footbridge, taking two house bricks from a driveway further along the road. Harman, a shop assistant, had left blood in the vehicle, which matched the DNA profile on the brick found in the lorry cab.

The DNA profile was searched on the DNA database without a result, and an early decision was made to conduct intelligence-led DNA screening. A decision was made between Surrey detectives and The Forensic Science Service^® to use familial searching, aimed at providing DNA intelligence to investigations where a full profile has been obtained from a crime scene but there are no matches on the database. The technique is based on the fact that individuals who are related are statistically more likely to have similar DNA profiles than people who are unrelated.

Harman was arrested on 30 October 2003, and was initially charged with murder, attempting to steal a car, and stealing two house bricks.

DCI Graham Hill, senior investigating officer for Surrey Police, said: “This was an unusual investigation in that there was no direct contact between the victim and the offender, and therefore, many of the standard forensic opportunities were not available to assist us with our inquiries. I am particularly pleased with this successful conviction as it demonstrates the determination of Surrey Police to bring offenders to justice, using innovative techniques if necessary. I also want to commend the diligence of our officers from the Major Incident Room at Dorking in securing a conviction.

Dr Jonathan Whitaker from The Forensic Science Service's^® (FSS^®) Forensic Intelligence Bureau said: "Although we were able to obtain DNA profiles from a car and brick at the crime scene, there was no match on the National DNA Database^®. Using a new intelligence technique - familial searching - the FSS^® was able to identify a close relative of the offender. This information, along with other evidence, led Surrey Police to Craig Harman.

“Familial searching could be of immense intelligence value to the police investigating serious crimes such as these, where there is a full DNA profile from a crime scene but no match on the database.”