A WEAPON that may have been used in a murder 40 years ago is being examined by police.

       The body of pregnant Diane Jones was found with a fractured skull in a copse in 1983.

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       The body of Diane Jones was found in Suffolk in 1983 Credit: PA:Press Association

       The prime suspect was her husband Dr Robert Jones, who was never charged and died in France two months ago after living there for years.

       A Suffolk Police spokesman said his death had limited the scope of the investigation, but the team will continue to exhaust all leads.

       Andy Guy, the Major Crime Review and Unsolved Case Team manager, said: “We had been making some positive progress in the case of Diane’s murder and are unearthing new information, even after all this time.

       “The death of the suspect in this inquiry means it is unlikely we will be able to progress much further now, as we are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with this crime.

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       “Unfortunately, we were unable to reach the evidential threshold required for a prosecution for murder on two separate occasions.

       “This case will remain with our team. Several people have spoken to us recently who had not felt able to do so before, but we would still like to hear from anyone who believes they have information about the incident.”

       Diane, of Coggeshall, Essex, was found dead in Martlesham, Suffolk.

       The county’s police have launched an investigation in France around a potential murder weapon.

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       “We’re not looking for anyone else in connection with this crime.”