Sharon Henderson believes that David Boyd, who murdered her seven-year-old daughter Nikki Allan in 1992, had accomplices who helped him and assisted in covering his tracks. Sharon’s daughter Nikki was lured to a disused warehouse and stabbed to death in October 1992. After a Mirror probe revealed that Boyd used seven different names to evade justice, Sharon tracked him down and gave two of those identities to Northumbria Police, who eventually arrested him in 2018 due to DNA evidence linking him to Nikki’s coat. Boyd was convicted of murder and given life imprisonment.
Sharon is still fighting for justice as she believes Boyd had accomplices who helped him on the day of the murder and assisted in covering his tracks. She is advocating for the police to reopen the case, and she points out that the owner of a mystery man’s bracelet found in the lining of Nikki’s coat has still not been identified. Sharon expressed her anger at the original police investigation and stated that her grieving process has evolved from anger to true grief for Nikki. She wants the mistakes made during the initial investigation to be addressed to prevent others from experiencing the same pain.
Sharon believes that Boyd had accomplices in the murder and that they may have been part of a paedophile ring. She is working with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to examine the original investigation into George Heron, the man who was previously cleared of Nikki’s murder in 1993. Once the IOPC inquiry is concluded, Sharon may be entitled to significant compensation, but she has stated that she has “no interest” in the payout and intends to give it to her three surviving children and four grandchildren instead. The police only made the connection between Boyd and Nikki in 2018, more than 25 years after the murder. A DNA link from Nikki’s coat to Boyd was crucial in bringing him to justice.
Following Boyd’s conviction, Sharon’s solicitor, Harriet Wistrich, emphasized the concerns over the delayed apprehension of a child murderer who lived near Nikki’s home for nearly three decades without coming under police scrutiny. The police failed to explore other suspects and wrongly acquitted the prime suspect on a technicality. Wistrich hopes that the IOPC investigation will expose incompetence and wrongdoing related to the case. Sharon’s relentless pursuit of justice, the reopening of the case, and the identification of potential accomplices signal her determination to ensure that her daughter’s murder is fully investigated and the responsible parties are held accountable.
In addition, efforts are being made to enhance awareness and understanding of the case by working with various authorities and legal representatives. Sharon’s focus on uncovering the truth surrounding Nikki’s murder reflects her enduring commitment to seeking justice and closure. The complexities of the case, from multiple names used by the perpetrator to potential connections to a criminal network, highlight the importance of ongoing investigations and reviews to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. Sharon’s journey serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring impact of unsolved crimes on families and communities, and the need for continued efforts to seek truth and justice for victims and their loved ones.
