New blow for parents of murdered clubber Melanie Hall as police release arrested suspect without charge

THE HEARTBROKEN parents of murdered clubber Melanie Hall say they are “deflated” another suspect has been eliminated from the case.

Steve and Pat Hall said they were “on a downer” after cops announced yesterday they were not charging a 45-year-old man who had been arrested in June in connection with her death.

But the grief-stricken parents who have been fighting to catch Melanie’s killer for 20-years said last night: “We will never give up.”

Melanie, 25, disappeared on a night out in Bath, Somerset, in June 1996 and her remains were found dumped by a motorway 13 years later.

No-one has ever been charged with her murder.

Steve, 72, and Pat, 71, gave up their life savings to offer a £50k reward to catch her killer – which The Sun doubled.

Shortly after our appeal in June a 45-year-old man was arrested when he voluntarily walked into a police station and asked to speak to detectives.

But Avon and Somerset Police announced yesterday he had been released without charge.

Steve, a painter and lecturer, of Bradford-on-Avon, Somerset, said: “It’s disappointing because early on

when he came forward we thought it would be positive but after investigation police couldn’t corroborate his story.

“He came forward with information that might have helped the enquiry but when he was questioned, his story didn’t add up.

“You feel low and deflated, you get your hopes up and then it doesn’t materialise.

“We’ve been through it many times so we’re battle hardened but you still end up on a downer.

“I feel we’ve given it a maximum effort with the reward and The Sun getting involved but generally we’re disappointed we didn’t get more out of it.

“We will never give up but on this occasion we have drawn a blank.

“Every time someone is arrested there is flicker of hope but there have been so many now. The pain of losing Melanie will never go away.”

Avon and Somerset Police detective superintendent Andy Bevan said: “We’ve updated Melanie’s parents Steve and Pat on this latest development and have reiterated our determination to bring their daughter’s murderer to justice.

“I firmly believe we’re getting ever closer to finding out who was responsible, especially with the advancements in DNA technology.

“I have a team of officers and staff actively working on this case and I’m extremely grateful to the public, especially the residents of Bath, for their continuing support and their response to all our previous appeals.

“It’s never too late to come forward and speak to us. Even the smallest piece of information may prove to be the key to solving this case.”

Melanie was last seen at 1.10am on Sunday, June 9 1996 on a night out with friends, sitting on a stool at the edge of the dance-floor in Cadillacs nightclub, Bath.

Her remains were found in undergrowth by junction 14 of the M5 in Thornbury, Glos, around 25 miles from Bath by a workman on 5 October 2009.

Her belongings – including a pale blue silk dress, a black satchel and silver drop earrings – have never been found.

A 44-year-old man from Bath was also arrested in November 2013 on suspicion of Melanie’s murder but released without charge after several months on bail.