Ruth Neave is being briefed privately today ahead of a news conference when police will provide a ‘significant update’ on the murder of her son 21 years ago.

Cambs Times: Ruth Neave before the press conference. Picture: Steve Williams.Ruth Neave before the press conference. Picture: Steve Williams. (Image: Archant)

Mrs Neave, and her husband Gary Rogers, were collected from their home on the outskirts of Cambridge shortly after 9am by officers from the Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire major crime unit.

At 10am they were due to be briefed by Det Supt Paul Fullwood, the crime unit’s head, before he and his officers move onto to a 1pm press conference.

Mrs Neave said she had only had two hours sleep last night ahead of today’s dramatic developments.

Her son Rikki, 6, was found murdered near to his home on the Welland estate, Peterborough, 21 years ago.

His mother was tried but acquitted of the murder but later jailed for cruelty offences.

In the past two years Mrs Neave and her husband have led a campaign to have the murder investigation re-opened; twice officers looked at the case but decided there was no fresh evidence to pursue.

However following a fresh campaign the major crimes unit referred it to a cold case review and it the result of their eight month probe that will be revealed today.

“How are they going to explain two years ago other officers had nothing to look at?” said Mrs Neave as she waited for officers to arrive to take her to the briefing.

“It has been an extraordinarily stressful time but I am hopeful that today we may have some good news in the bid to find who murdered my son.”

“There have been so many lies written about this case and about my family. I simply want the truth to come out.”