Calls for an inquest into Jack the Ripper have grown after DNA evidence arose that might help identify the canonical killer.
Unsolved for 130 years, the notorious 19th century murder has been attributed for the killings of at least five women during 1888 in the East End of London.
The victims’ ancestors have now started calling for a new inquest after the discovery of a bloodstained shawl indicated that it carried the DNA believed to be the 19th century slayer.
Aaron Kosminski was the main suspect at the time, although the police could never actually arrest him because Scotland Yard had not acquired any strong evidence against him.
Unsolved for 130 years, the notorious 19th century serial killer has been attributed for the murder of at least five women during 1888 in the east end of London
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The shawl – taken from the body of Jack the Ripper’s fourth victim, Catherine Eddowes – is understood to contain her own DNA, as well as that of Kosminski.
The shawl was purchased by author and Ripper researcher Russell Edwards, who believes that “justice can be served” through naming the murderer and has since hired lawyers to pursue a fresh inquest.
Karen Miller, 53, who is distantly related to Eddowes, was the individual who offered her DNA which matched the bloody shawl.
“The name Jack the Ripper has become sensationalised, it has gone down in history as this famous character,” she told the Daily Mail.
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“It has all been about him, this iconic name, but people have forgotten about the victims who did not have justice at the time.
“What about the real name of the person who did this? Having the real person legally named in a court which can consider all the evidence would be a form of justice for the victims.
“We have got the proof, now we need this inquest to legally name the killer.
“It would mean a lot to me, to my family, to a lot of people to finally have this crime solved.”
Others related to the victims of the sensationalised serial killer have supported the campaign, including Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride and Mary Jane Kelly.
Others related to the victims of the sensational serial killer have supported the campaign
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Sue Parlour, the wife of a man distantly related to Nichols, said: “There was no justice for these victims at the time. It was all such a long time ago.
“But it would mean a lot to finally be able to name the killer, to get some closure on this.
“These women have been dismissed as just prostitutes like they did not matter, but they did.”
Meanwhile, Kosminski’s own descendants have also expressed their support for the inquiry as Amanda Poulos, his three-times great-niece, declared: “I’m more than happy to finally establish what really happened.”
The original inquest in 1888 culminated in the verdict of “wilful murder” but, if the new proceedings were to be approved by the Attorney General, it could go ahead.