DETECTIVES have spent almost a quarter of a million pounds trying to solve the riddle of dog walker Jean Campbell's death.

 

Figures released to the Evening Times show the cost of the investigation into the murder of the Glasgow grandmother has soared to more than £230,000.

Despite spending almost 4000 "core days" on the case, the man police accused of the horrific killing was dramatically cleared last month.

A judge told police and prosecutors they had not done enough to prove that Paul Ward, 21, killed the 53-year-old in Cranhill Park by beating her with a metal dog lead.

He described the Crown case as "weak".

But today we can reveal there are no dedicated officers currently working on the case, despite no conviction being secured.

Police claim detectives are now awaiting instructions from prosecutors.

Jean, 53, was found dead on the morning of December 14, 2013, by her husband, John, near their home in Glasgow's east end.

She was seen on CCTV at 10.30pm the night before, walking towards the park with her German shepherd, Kai.

Ward, who has a psychotic illness and was found unfit to stand trial, denied having anything to do with the killing.

Judge Lord Matthews acquitted him after an "examination of facts" at the High Court in Glasgow.

Ward is now being treated at a secure psychiatric unit.

Under freedom of information legislation, Police Scotland revealed £238,560.46 has been spent on overtime and expenses throughout the investigation.

Officials said the force does not record the "general costs" involved for any specific investigation.

Police Scotland told the Evening Times: "A total of 3805 core days were worked by the host enquiry team during this protracted enquiry."

Lord Matthews said that the Crown case did not convince him beyond reasonable doubt that Ward was Jean's assailant.

He added: "I appreciate that what I have said might not find favour with the family and friends of Mrs Campbell.

"In this day and age what I have to say may not be the final word on the matter.

"No doubt the matter can be revisited if compelling new evidence emerges. However, I can only proceed on the evidence presented to me."

Jean, who was 4ft 11in, tall and weighed six-stone, suffered 11 broken ribs, a fractured leg, bruising to her head and neck and a brain injury.

When she was found, she was naked from the waist down, and wearing a pyjama top and a black coat.

Her pyjama bottoms and a pair of flip-flops were nearby.

John came back from a nightshift to find no one at home.

He went looking for his wife, and found her dead in the park at about 7.40am.

After Jean's death, rumours began to link Ward to the killing, but he denied having anything to do with it.

However, the court heard Jean sometimes shouted at and hit her dog, which was too powerful for her to control.

Advocate depute Alex Prentice QC said: "Mr Ward said words to the effect: 'I hate her. She is always hitting the dog. How would she like it if I did that to her?' "