EXPERTS from across the country are being drafted in to help detectives hunting the killer of Herefordshire skydiver Stehpen Hilder.

Officers admit they are baffled at the motive for the murder of the 20-year-old from Stretton Sugwas, near Hereford.

The Army cadet plummeted to his death in Hilbaldstow, North Lincolnshire, in July last year after the cord on his main parachute and the reserve had been cut.

Now some of the country's most experienced detectives - both retired and serving officers - will be joining forensic experts, crime profilers and criminal psychologists at a one-day conference in Scunthorpe on Wednesday.

All those attending the event have received briefing packs on the inquiry providing background information about the case.

Opinions

During the conference, they will sit through a number of representations summarising the case and the different aspects examined so far before being asked for their own views and theories.

"This case is unprecedented and so we have not been able to get any input from officers with previous knowledge or experience of any similar job," said Det Supt Colin Andrews, who is leading the investigation.

"However, there are a lot of very experienced senior investigating officers across the country who have worked on very complex murder investigations and I want to tap into their skills, knowledge and expertise to see if they can see anything we've missed.

"I'm also keen for views on how we can get through the huge amount of information and intelligence we have amassed over the past seven months."