‘My life is in limbo’ - Noddy Rice’s twin sister appeals for information on the 20th anniversary of his murder
David ‘Noddy’ Rice’s family are appealing for closure on the 20th anniversary of his murder.
The twin sister of David ‘Noddy’ Rice has urged anyone with information about his murder to contact the police ahead of the 20th anniversary of his death.
Noddy, 42, was shot multiple times at close range on May 24, 2006, as he sat in his vehicle at Marsden car park.
Steven Bevens, of Birtley, who lured Mr Rice to the scene, was later caught and jailed for life in 2007 for his role in the murder.
Driver Derek Blackburn, who lived in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, was also sentenced to two-and-a-half years for assisting an offender.
However, the prime suspect for pulling the trigger, Allan Foster, was never arrested and remains on the National Crime Agency’s most wanted list.
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‘His best friend rang and told me that he was dead’
Shirley Rice, Noddy’s sister, has recalled seeing the emergency services rushing to the murder scene only to later learn that it was her brother who had been killed.
She said: “I remember shopping at The Nook with my mam and we saw lots of ambulances and police cars going up towards Marsden.
“I took my mam home because she was poorly and then I remember coming down the street with a horrible feeling in my chest.
“Then the next thing I know, there was a knock on the door from one of Noddy’s friends who said that he had been shot.
“I went into panic, tried to get ready to go to the hospital and then his best friend rang and told me that he was dead.
“It was just horrendous and something you couldn’t believe.”
‘My life is in limbo’
As the 20th anniversary of Noddy’s murder approaches, Shirley has called on anyone with information relating to the whereabouts of Allan Foster to get in touch with the police.
She added: “You don’t just go to the seaside and kill someone in broad daylight and then just get away, you expect them to be caught straight away.
“It has broke us as a family and as long as I live, I will be fighting for justice for Noddy.
“The police have done a lot to track down Allan Foster over the years but I don’t want it to be forgotten about, I want it to be seen that he still is one of the most wanted criminals.
“My dad will have been dead 30 years in June and that feels like a lifetime ago, yet it’s 20 years for Noddy and it feels like it happened last week.
“My life is in limbo and I can’t get past it.
“To anyone hiding Allan Foster or knows of any information, could you please just contact Northumbria Police so I can have some closure.”
Police appeal for information
Detective Chief Inspector Graeme Barr, of Northumbria Police’s Major Investigation Team (MIT), has stated that any new information will be investigated.
He commented: “Our thoughts remain with the family of David Rice 20 years on from his tragic death.
"As with any unsolved cases, any new lines of enquiry will be fully investigated. Unsolved murders are also all subject to periodic reviews.
“Anybody with information that could help us with any of our unsolved cases is asked to send us a direct message on social media, or use the report tool on our website.
“Alternatively, you can call 101 or pass information through independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
*Shirley Rice has not received payment for this article, nor, she tells us, has she ever received payment for any interview relating to her brother's murder. Shirley says she will, however, continue to do both newspaper articles and television interviews until such a time that her beloved late brother's alleged killer is caught and convicted, or until the end of her own life, should that come first.*