In an enduring urban legend, it was rumored that the body of a teenage girl had been processed into kebab meat, complicating the investigation into her murder for an extended period.
Charlene Downes, aged 14, went missing without a trace from Blackpool on November 1, 2003. Following this, authorities informed her parents, Bob and Karen, that they suspected she had been killed shortly after her last sighting. The subsequent investigation, involving over 3,000 interviews, exposed the presence of a child grooming gang operating in the coastal town of Lancashire.
Although two men were charged and tried in 2007, they were later acquitted after their retrial collapsed, leading to each receiving £250,000 in compensation for wrongful imprisonment. Central to their trial was the controversial “kebab theory,” falsely alleging that they had murdered Charlene, used a mincing machine to dispose of her body, and incorporated the remains into kebabs.
As the 22nd anniversary of Charlene’s disappearance approaches, actor and broadcaster Nicola Thorp, a neighbor of the Downes family, has definitively debunked the myth in her newly launched Daily Mail podcast, Charlene: Somebody Knows Something.
Detective Superintendent Gareth Willis stated to Thorp that the covert evidence presented in court had been significantly discredited and proven inaccurate. He emphasized that the supposed facts were unsubstantiated upon independent review.
Thorpe’s meticulously crafted eight-part podcast, developed over three years, features discussions with the initial suspects, Charlene’s relatives, friends, witnesses, and other crucial individuals linked to the case.
Expressing her aspirations for the podcast investigation, Thorp emphasized the importance of dispelling the false and harmful narrative surrounding Charlene’s case. She stressed the need to honor the missing teenager, who was a victim of child sexual abuse, rather than reducing her to a dehumanizing headline.
The recent focus on Charlene’s case by far-right rhetoric, particularly targeting the two individuals of Middle Eastern descent who were on trial, has raised concerns. In a notable incident, Elon Musk retweeted a post perpetuating the kebab myth and naming the accused, garnering over 5.7 million views.
Karen, Charlene’s mother, last saw her described as a vibrant, mischievous teenager with an engaging smile. Despite Karen reporting her daughter missing promptly, law enforcement initially did not take the report seriously. It was only after uncovering links between Charlene and grooming gangs that authorities escalated their response.
During the investigation, police were alerted to approximately 60 schoolgirls, some as young as 11, who were allegedly targeted by male sex offenders in Blackpool. Reports indicated that before her disappearance, Charlene had suffered sexual abuse by one or multiple men in an alleyway near takeaway establishments frequented by teenagers.
Although takeaway owner Iyad Albattikhi and his associate Mohammed Reveshi emerged as primary suspects, no physical evidence connected them to the crime. Detectives covertly recorded conversations between the two men by bugging Mr. Raveshi’s residence and vehicle.
Mr. Albattikhi, aged 29 at the time, faced charges for Charlene’s murder, with Mr. Raveshi, aged 50, accused of aiding in disposing of the body. The infamous kebab theory stemmed from barely audible recordings supposedly capturing Mr. Albattikhi joking about Charlene’s demise.
The trial at Preston Crown Court heavily relied on transcripts of these conversations. However, jurors failed to reach a verdict in either case, leading to their acquittal after the retrial collapsed due to substantial errors, as highlighted by the police watchdog.
Thorpe’s commitment to the investigation aims to provide closure for the family and seek justice. As a former Coronation Street actress known for advocating women’s rights, she has a history of standing up against discrimination. Notably, she successfully campaigned for disclosing stalkers’ identities to victims following her personal encounter with online stalking, which culminated in legislation changes.
The inquiry into Charlene’s disappearance remains active, with a £100,000 reward offered for any information leading to a conviction.
