Two protestors turned up at the Oliver Cromwell Hotel in March to make a peaceful stand against a press conference in which Ruth Neave demanded that Cambridgeshire Police find her son’s killers.

Cambs Times: Protest outside Oliver Cromwell. Picture: Steve WilliamsProtest outside Oliver Cromwell. Picture: Steve Williams (Image: Archant)

On the 20th anniversary of Rikki Neave’s death, Mrs Neave today (Friday 29) held a conference at the hotel in which she called for police to find those responsible for killing the schoolboy and leaving him spread eagled in woodland in Peterborough in 1994.

National and local media gathered in the hotel to hear her talk about how the case files need to re be re examined as it could provide clues as to who carried out the crime.

Two protestors stood at the entrance of the hotel for the duration of the conference.

Steve Fox, 35, who started a thread on Facebook page March Free Discussion, said: “I am a father of two teenage boys. This story is close to my heart.

Cambs Times: Protest outside Oliver Cromwell. Picture: Steve WilliamsProtest outside Oliver Cromwell. Picture: Steve Williams (Image: Archant)

“I think it’s disgusting that this press conference is being held in March where people will have strong memories of the event.

“Across the UK there are stories of Social Services failing families and kids are suffering. There are unnecessary deaths. This press conference should not be held at all.”

Mother of an 18 week old boy Louise Goakes, 32, said: “I’m friends with Rikki’s cousins which is why I’ve come down here today.

“The story of Rikki’s death is bad enough but when you become a Mum it just hits home even more how bad it was.

“Everybody knew about this story in town. It shouldn’t be raked up again like this.”

Mrs Neave was convicted of child cruelty following the trial in 1996 but found innocent of her sons’ murder.

She left prison in 2000 after serving a sentence for child neglect and re married 10 years later.

Today she made an appeal for 15 or more witnesses to come forward who claim to have seen her son on the day he was murdered.

Mrs Neave and her husband Gary have spent hundreds of pounds – and months of research- to obtain the evidence file from the 1996 trial which acquitted her of murdering her son.

She said: “It has been an uphill struggle to get all of those statements and now having done so I want those who volunteered their information at the time to come forward, re read their evidence, and to ask if the passage of time has prompted fresh recollections.

“It is thanks to Gary that I have been finally able to find the strength to persuade police to look again into Rikki’s murder.