Ricky Reel
(Picture: Murray Sanders)The Met Police is reinvestigating the death of a 20-year-old student whose body was found in the River Thames 25 years ago.
Ricky Reel was found dead after going missing from a group of friends on a night out in Kingston-upon-Thames on October 15, 1997.
Two white youths had attacked Mr Reel and his friends, a group of young Asian men, before he went missing.
An original police investigation concluded the 20-year-old fell into the river, but his family have long claimed there were failings in the investigation.
Mr Reel's mother, Sukhdev Reel, believes he was the victim of a racist attack.
The force said the reinvestigation of the case came after its top officer Sir Mark Rowley met with the family on January 11.
“The Met’s Major Inquiries Specialist Casework team has re-examined the case and is now looking more closely at certain lines of enquiry from the original investigation,” it said.
“These lines of enquiry are being followed up with fresh eyes and the benefit of modern technology so we can explore every possible avenue in the hope of providing answers to Ricky’s family.”
Mrs Reel said she hoped the police “under the leadership of the new Commissioner can finally approach this case with an open mind and make every effort to obtain justice for my son”.
An open verdict was recorded at the Brunel University student's 1999 inquest.
MP for Hayes and Harlington, John McDonnell, told the BBC: “This will be a test for the Met on whether there is evidence of real change in its attitude and behaviour towards the Asian community and wider society.
“Our hope is that this time around no stone will be left unturned in the search for truth and justice for Ricky Reel.”
