Seven-Year-Old Nikki Allan Brutally Attacked in Sunderland – DNA Evidence Sparks New Twist
Girl Murdered After Night Out in Sunderland
Seven-year-old Nikki Allan was viciously attacked in Sunderland’s Old Exchange building back in October 1992. She was struck with a brick before being repeatedly stabbed. Now, decades later, her case is back under the spotlight at Newcastle Crown Court.
DNA Mystery: Man Denies Murder, Claims Spit Link
David Boyd, once known as David Smith and a neighbour of Nikki’s family, is facing murder charges. DNA matching Boyd’s was found on Nikki’s clothes—specifically under her right armpit and on her leggings waistband. Prosecutors say these spots suggest her killer grabbed her to haul her through a broken window into the derelict building.
Boyd denies the allegations, claiming he was spitting from his third-floor veranda the night Nikki vanished and his saliva may have landed on her or been wiped by her hands. He stated this in police interviews from 2018 and 2019.
Forensics Clash with Defence
But forensic expert James Chapman cast doubt on Boyd’s explanation, telling jurors he found no evidence of saliva on Nikki’s clothes. While saliva doesn’t typically carry DNA, cheek cells in spit can. The DNA under Nikki’s clothes remains a key piece of evidence.
Suspicious Movements and Witness Testimony
The court heard a chilling sighting: a girl seen walking with a man from nearby flats toward the Old Exchange shortly before 10pm on the night Nikki went missing, followed by a scream moments later. Nikki’s body was found in the building’s basement the next morning by searchers.
Boyd reportedly had used the same broken window days earlier to enter the building – a fact prosecutors say puts him under suspicion. Detectives highlight inconsistencies in his account of that evening’s movements.
The high-profile murder trial continues as jury considers the grim details of that tragic night.
