Convicted Capital killer to be quizzed on Bassey girl's death

A CONVICTED killer from Edinburgh is being investigated over the death of Dame Shirley Bassey's daughter, it was reported today.

Avon and Somerset Police have confirmed that they are looking into claims Michael Moffat, 47, was involved in the death of Dame Shirley's daughter, Samantha Novak, 25 years ago.

She was found face-down in the River Avon near Bristol in 1985.

Now the family of one of Moffat's victim has been in touch with police claiming he was involved in Samantha's death.

Moffat was jailed for 11 years after murdering 31-year-old lover Penny Beale in Hastings, East Sussex, in 2001.

Detective Chief Inspector Mike Carter, from Avon and Somerset Police, said: "The mother of Moffat's victim wrote to us with some information in the last couple of weeks.

"Her daughter had said that Moffat told her he was involved in the murder of Samantha Novak."

Moffat had left Penny with 123 injuries, including 18 broken ribs, while her liver, spleen and lungs were also ruptured. He is now in a Scottish jail.

DCI Carter said: "Within the next three or four weeks we'll decide whether we will travel to Scotland to speak to Moffat.

"We looked at the circumstances surrounding the death six months ago after comments made by Dame Shirley Bassey.

"There was nothing from the coroner's report to suggest it was murder rather than suicide. This information is obviously additional so we are making fresh inquiries."