Jane walked over to the maps on the wall, then used the most recent one to show where the coffin had been found and described how it had been uncovered by the workmen. She then moved over to the wall with the photographs on it. She touched the photograph of the nun in the coffin with her index finger.

‘It was fortunate the body was mummified. This helped to preserve evidence of injuries on the body that might not have been found if advanced decomposition had occurred. Dr Samantha Pullen, the forensic pathologist, concluded the victim had been initially strangled to unconsciousness then put in the coffin. Scratch marks and broken fingernails on the inside indicate she regained consciousness and tried to get out. At or about this time, she was then stabbed in the back of the neck. The knife severed her spinal cord, which would have caused total paralysis. She may have died instantly or lost the ability to breathe properly and suffered a slow death by asphyxiation.’

The room fell silent as everyone took in the disturbing details of the murder.

‘How old do you think she was?’ a journalist asked.

‘Expert opinion from a forensic dentist and anthropologist suggests between eighteen and thirty.’ Jane pointed to Richard Eaves’ drawings. ‘These artist’s impressions of her face were done by the anthropologist. We can’t say they are an exact likeness of our victim but we’re hoping they may help to identify her. We have copies for you to take with you.’

Jane pointed to the photographs of the cross. ‘We recovered this cross she was wearing around her neck. As you can see from the enlarged photograph, it’s engraved with the initials MB and the date 20.02.58. Clearly this date is significant as the convent closed in 1963. It could relate to the date she became a novice or took her final vows, which would generally be five years later. We believe the nun—’

‘Could it be her date of birth?’ Becky interrupted without thinking, eliciting some mocking laughter around the room.

Jane was polite in her reply. ‘We excluded that possibility as it would mean the nun would only have been five when the convent closed.’

Becky blushed and looked at Boon apologetically.

Jane continued. ‘We believe the nun lived and worked at the convent. It’s reasonable to surmise she was murdered between 1958 and 1963.’

‘Do you think someone else at the convent was involved?’ a journalist asked.

Jane knew his question required a guarded answer. Before she could reply, Barnes stepped forward.

‘On the evidence so far, yes, I do. But that’s not to say it is the only line of inquiry we are looking at.’

‘Do you have any suspects?’ the same journalist asked.

‘Yes, but for obvious reasons I can’t disclose who they are at this stage.’

‘Is the diocese helping you with your inquiries?’ a female journalist asked.