AMANDA MURDER INQUIRY: THE decision to release convicted rapist Ian Cortis from custody, even though he could have been held for another day, was the only one police could have taken, said Det Ch Supt Paul Howlett.

Cortis was released from 80 hours of custody just after midnight on Friday morning, despite dog teams indicating that a further search was justified at the Knoll House site in Malmesbury.

Amanda Edwards' body was eventually found at the building site on Friday. DCS Howlett applied for an extra 15 hours to question Cortis on Thursday. But he said the inquiry had been hampered by the time it took to call experts to the scene.

Questions regarding why it took so long to find Miss Edwards' body and why Cortis was released, are likely to be the focus of an independent investigation into the case by the Police Complaints Commission.

But Det Ch Supt Howlett, who was at Swindon Police Station when Cortis was released, said police had done all they could in the circumstances.

"I am aware that concern has been expressed regarding the release of the man held in custody last week and the subsequent discovery of Amanda's body," he said.

"The simple fact is that at the time, there was not sufficient evidence to allow any hope of obtaining successful prosecution in relation to any criminal charge concerning Amanda's disappearance."

He added: "The decision to release him from custody was not taken lightly and was made after a review of all the evidence in our possession. The Crown Prosecution Service also agreed this was the appropriate course of action

"Should new evidence have come to light, this decision would have been revisited and it would have been possible to re-arrest the man and start the whole process of detention over."

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