Man identified 23 years after being hit and killed by train

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Police have finally identified a man 23 years after he was struck and killed by a train in West Hamstead.

Derek Burns, of West Calder, West Lothian, Scotland, has been identified using advanced DNA profiling techniques which have been developed since his death in 1989.

Mr Burns father has said he is “relieved” that his son has finally been identified.

Recent enquiries established that on the day of his death Derek Burns, 20, had visited his girlfriend at her address close to West Hampstead station before discovering that she was ending the relationship.

He had been reported missing to Lothian and Borders Police in Scotland the day before and was never seen again.

In a statement, Derek Burns Snr said: “We are relieved that our son has now been found and we can at last put our minds at peace. We are very grateful to the police for the work and effort they’ve put in, and would also like to thank the help and assistance we’ve had over the years from the charity Missing People.

“Finally, I would like to pass my thanks to all those in West Calder who have been so helpful and supportive during what was a very difficult and sad time for us.

“Derek was a happy boy and one of the terms he was known by when he was young was ‘Jolly Boy’. We did many things together as a family and he and his older brother had great times together. Looking back over the photographs gives us great pleasure.”

The investigation formed part of Operation Santana – a joint operation between BTP and UK Missing Persons Bureau to establish the identity of unknown people who have died on the rail network.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Taylor, who was leading the inquiry, said: “Derek Burns’ family will clearly have many unanswered questions about what took place that day, and about the circumstances leading up to Derek’s death, but we hope this will provide them with some comfort, solace and ultimately a form of closure.”

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