Monster OAP, 66, GUILTY of murdering Shani Warren, 26, found gagged and bound in lake 35 years ago
A MONSTER has today been found GUILTY of murdering a woman found bound and gagged in a lake 35 years ago.
Shani Warren, 26, was discovered in Taplow Lake, Bucks, in April 1987 by a woman walking her dog.
The young woman's hands had been tied together with a red jump lead and gagged by a piece of cloth.
Police discovered she died from drowning - meaning she must have been alive when she entered the water.
Donald Robertson, 66, has today been convicted of murdering Shani - bringing an end to the 35-year mystery.
Tragically, Shani's parents passed away last year before Robertson was charged over her killing.
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The fiend was also found guilty of false imprisonment, indecent assault and the kidnap and rape of a 16-year-old girl in July 1981.
He was quizzed over the attack the same year the horror took place but denied it and was released.
The coward refused to attend the trial at Reading Crown Court.
Robertson already has previous convictions for raping two girls aged 14 and 17 in separate incidents.
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The horror attack on the older girl took place just two months after Shani was discovered.
Robertson was also convicted of burglary with intent to commit rape and kidnap after tricking his way into a woman's home where he assaulted her.
The court heard how Shani's body was pulled from the water on Easter Saturday in 1987 after the dog walker saw a pair of hands "with beautifully manicured nails".
She had bruising to her neck and pin prick-sized bleeds to her face, eyes and scalp, which "pointed strongly to an act of strangulation".
Robertson's DNA was found on Shani's bra as well as in the underwear worn by the 16-year-old girl.
Jurors were told how there were chilling similarities between his previous sex attacks and Shani's death.
CHILLING SIMILARITIES
Robertson raped the 17-year-old girl just two months after Shani's body was found.
The victim was walking from Slough to Maidenhead after missing the last train when she was ambushed by Robertson.
She said she was "frightened for my life" during the attack and that while she did not see a weapon, Robertson "absolutely convinced me that he had one and that he would use it".
While in 1981, Robertson raped the 14-year-old girl after telling her: "Don't bloody scream 'cos if you do, you'll be scarred."
It came after he kidnapped and attacked the 16-year-old girl in July of the same year.
Principle investigator Pete Beirne, Head of the Major Crime Review Team for Thames Valley Police, said: "I'm really pleased we managed to secure the conviction.
"I wasn't involved in the original 1987 investigation, however, I've spoken to numerous officers that were involved and they're all delighted that finally it was proven that Shani was murdered, and that Donald Robertson was responsible.
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"For 35 years [Shani's family] haven't known what happened to her. There were question marks that she may have committed suicide, but now the court has decided that she had been murdered, but more importantly that Donald Robertson was responsible for her death."
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Robertson, who is currently serving a life sentence, will be sentenced on Thursday.
