A man could soon be charged with the murder of schoolgirl Nikki Allan, her mum's solicitor told a court.
The seven-year-old was brutally stabbed to death in 1992 and found in a derelict Sunderland building.
Despite tireless campaigning from her family, no one has ever been brought to justice.
Nikki's mum Sharon Henderson appeared at Sunderland Magistrates' Court on Thursday charged with an offence under the communications act.
The court heard how she became involved in a bitter Facebook dispute with the owner and regulars of The Guidepost pub in Ryhope.
Ms Henderson was found not guilty but she was given a restraining order preventing her from contacting the people she had been feuding with.
As the case came to a close, her defence solicitor Jason Smith told the court that someone could be charged in connection with Nikki's murder.
He said: "We understand the CPS may well have authority to charge with that murder."
Mr Smith also told the court he was "not entirely convinced" but said "that's what we've informed to be the situation".
Nikki vanished on a Wednesday evening more than 25 years ago, after leaving her grandparents’ flat in Sunderland’s Wear Garth.
Nikki, her mum and their family were well known at the Wear Garth flats, which have since been pulled down.
Neighbours formed search parties in a desperate bid to find the little girl.
But her body was found in the derelict Exchange building a few hundred yards away, after her shoes were spotted outside.
She had been stabbed 37 times.
In 1993, George Heron, 24 at the time, stood trial for Nikki’s murder, but was cleared by a jury at Leeds Crown Court.
Then in 2014, Sunderland serial killer Steven Grieveson was arrested and questioned on suspicion of Nikki’s murder. He was later told he would face no action.
On April 17 last year, Northumbria Police raided a house in Stockton, Teesside, and detained a man following a DNA breakthrough.
Police confirmed he was then released under investigation.
The charity Crimestoppers had offered a reward of up to £10,000 for anyone who has information which leads to the conviction of Nikki’s Killer.
Anyone with any information about Nikki’s death is asked to call Northumbria Police’s major crime team on 101 ext 69191 or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
