Englishman Convicted for Murder After 13 Years

An English killer has been brought to justice following a 13-year murder investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

James Citro, 54, of Lyddon Way, Weston-Super-Mare, was found guilty Monday at the Old Bailey of murdering Nijole Siskeviciene in Wembley in 1998.

"Citro has now been convicted of murder and is no longer at liberty to commit any further offences. Although this brings little comfort for their loss, Nijole's sons are reassured that justice has been secured for their mother," Detective Superintendent Keith Niven said in a statement.

He added, "Nijole came to the UK in search of a better life for herself and her sons. She had only lived in Lancelot Road, Wembley, for six days when she fell victim to Citro's violence. He was a neighbour living but a few doors away from her."

Siskeviciene's body was found 200 yards from her home by a local resident on Oct. 20, 1998. She had been placed in a seated position, leant up against garages at the rear of Lancelot Crescent.

The victim had been strangled with a ligature and suffered injuries consistent with her attacker restraining her by her wrists and throat. Forensic evidence indicated that she had also been sexually assaulted.

Eight days after the murder, two anonymous handwritten letters were received by the police. In both letters the writer described seeing two black men carrying Siskeviciene out of her house. It is now known that the author of these letters was James Citro.

In the first letter, Citro posed as a pensioner. The letter ended: "I am not much help, am I, I am too old, I am afraid to go outside my door."

The second letter, posing as a neighbour, described Siskeviciene's blue jeans and a blue jumper she had been wearing at the time. Citro went on to write, "Sorry, I do not want my family in this sort of thing."

During the course of the investigation, detectives regarded the letters as credible and genuine evidence. Subsequent media appeals urged the "authors" to come forward and speak to the police as they were believed to be vital witnesses.

Throughout the course of the 13-year investigation, detectives used all forensic technology available to them to establish and match the DNA found upon the woman's clothing and body. This was hampered by the profiles being partial - meaning they were not full DNA profiles - and as such it could not be loaded onto the DNA database.

Despite this obstacle, police ensured that regular searches of the database were conducted, and that every avenue was explored and technology exploited in order to identify potential suspects.

Then Citro was arrested and charged for an unrelated offence in Somerset and his DNA and fingerprints were taken in 2010. His DNA profile matched the partial profile found upon Siskeviciene, and he was subsequently arrested. His fingerprints also matched those present on the anonymous letters.

It is now known that Citro, originally from Tipperary in the Republic of Ireland, had changed his name by deed poll in 2003, from Kennedy. He had travelled and is believed to have worked as a barman in the Hayes, Ealing, Hampstead and Essex areas before moving to Weston-Super-Mare in 2002.

Citro was arrested by MPS officers in January 2011, charged and remanded into custody. He had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of perverting the course of justice. He will be sentenced on Dec. 9.

Detectives are now appealing for any victims of assault that may have been carried out by the same man to come forward.