The horrific murder of a Bradford pensioner remained unsolved today after a convicted killer was cleared of her brutal attack.

The case against Richard Whelan, who was accused of murdering 86-year-old spinster Amy Shepherd, ended today when the jury was directed by the judge to deliver a verdict of not guilty.

Leeds Crown Court had heard that in 1995 Whelan, 23, formerly of Sunnybank Avenue, Bankfoot, Bradford, was convicted of the murder of 80-year-old widow Mary Kilbride. She had died of asphyxiation after Whelan broke into her Rooley Lane home and carried out a sustained attack which included stamping on her and stabbing her in the face.

The prosecution at Leeds Crown Court had said Miss Shepherd's death - within 12 days of Mrs Kilbride's - displayed "striking similarities" with the other attack.

Miss Shepherd was killed at her home in Holly Hall Gardens, Wibsey, by a man apparently invited into her home, the prosecution had said.

Paul Worsley QC, prosecuting, said the main facts which linked the cases were the overall level of violence used and the complexity of the attacks.

But Judge Mr Justice Nelson said the facts did not constitute a "hallmark or signature" of the killer and therefore the evidence of Mrs Kilbride's killing was inadmissible.

He said: "There are similarities but on the evidence as a whole they don't bear the defendant's signature. Suspicion may exist but this is not enough." David Robson QC, defending, said there were great differences between the two incidents which eventually led to the case's dismissal.

He said there was no evidence of a sexual assault during the attack on Mrs Kilbride, unlike that of Miss Shepherd.

Mr Robson highlighted that in the case of Mrs Kilbride, Whelan had broken into the house at night-time, whereas Miss Shepherd's killer had struck during the day and had not broken in.

Pathologist Professor Michael Green had told the court Miss Shepherd had not suffered serious head injuries.

He said there was considerable evidence of stamping on the body of Mrs Kilbride which caused 15 fractures to her ribs, but although Miss Shepherd also suffered broken ribs, this was more likely caused by her killer kneeling on her.

Detective Chief Inspector Mick Fields, of Bradford Central police, said after the case that the investigation into Miss Shepherd's death would carry on, as it had done over the past five years.

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