Evidence that missing aristocrat Lord Lucan was smuggled out of the UK to a secret life abroad has come from two new witnesses.
An ex-detective said there was a credible sighting of Lucan in Africa.
And a woman who worked for Lucan's friend John Aspinall told the BBC she arranged for his children to fly to Africa where the peer could view them "from a distance".
Lucan disappeared in 1974 after the murder of his children's nanny.
Sandra Rivett was found dead at Lucan's home in Belgravia, London.
The peer's blood-soaked car was later found abandoned in Newhaven, East Sussex.
The Metropolitan Police said any "significant" new information about her death would "be fully considered".
'Flights to Africa'
Lucan, born Richard John Bingham in 1934, was officially declared dead by the High Court in 1999.
Instructions were to make arrangements for John Bingham, also known as Lord Lucan, to see his children”
In an interview in 2000, Aspinall said Lucan probably committed suicide by scuttling his boat in the English Channel.
Since Lucan's disappearance there have been more than 70 alleged sightings of him in countries across the world including South Africa, Australia, Ireland and the Netherlands.
Mr Aspinall's secretary, who asked not to be identified and assumed the name Jill Findlay, said she was invited into meetings where the missing aristocrat was discussed by her boss and Sir James Goldsmith, the multi-millionaire businessman.
"Instructions were to make arrangements for John Bingham, also known as Lord Lucan, to see his children and to do that I had to book his two eldest children on flights to Africa," she said.
"I don't know the exact dates, it was between 1979 and 1981 and it was on two occasions I booked the flights."
She said the children would have visited Kenya and Gabon and Lucan would have been able to see them from a distance but he would not meet them or speak to them.
Clear conscience
Ms Findlay said she had "no idea of the enormity" of the search under way for Lucan who was then the most wanted man in Britain.
She also said Mr Aspinall told her to expect him to announce Lucan's death to the press, a statement which came in 2000 and which she took as a signal that he had died in Africa.
It took Ms Findlay a further 12 years to break her silence.
She said events began to piece themselves together as she reflected on her life during a recent illness and she wanted to talk to the BBC to pass on information to whoever may find it of interest.
Ms Findlay said her conscience was clear because she had not helped Lucan escape. She said she was prepared to give Scotland Yard a statement.
Mr Aspinall died in June 2000, three years after the death of Sir James Goldsmith.
'Investigation stopped'
Bob Polkinghorne, a former detective inspector who worked on the Lucan inquiry when it was being dealt with as a cold case during the 1980s, also said: "The word was he was in Africa.
"Lady Lucan, I am quite convinced, didn't think he was dead."
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I think his gambling fraternity friends spirited him out the country”
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Bob Polkinghorne
He said a further confirmation that Lucan was alive came from a reliable witness who saw one of Lucan's close acquaintances in the early 1980s as he holidayed in Africa.
Mr Polkinghorne said: "He was surprised to see this acquaintance standing on a bridge.
"After two to three minutes, he was joined by another man who he is adamant was Lord Lucan."
The former detective, who now lives in Kent, said permission to pursue this lead was refused by the Metropolitan Police.
He said: "I was then later told, a few days later, discontinue the inquiry. You haven't got approval to continue."
And he added: "I think his [Lucan's] gambling fraternity friends spirited him out the country."
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: "The inquiry into the death of Sandra Rivett is the subject of regular review, as is the case with any unsolved murder. It has never been closed.
"Any significant new information will be considered and we keep an open mind in connection with this case and anyone with information should contact the Met Police."
One has always been quite well disposed to Africa, dear Jimmy, but one did miss ones home comforts, especially when the interweb came along. You know, there are some villages in deepest Africa who are still relying on a dial-up connection. One simply had to come back to Blighty to avail oneself of the fibre optic variety.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
THIS IS A TRUE STORY ,NO FABRICATIONS OF THE TRUTH .
A friend of mine ,a Lady,used to work as a Croupier in a club of which Lord Lucan was a member ,the club was in Curzon Street ,Mayfair .
Lucan played cards nearly every night at his club ,he was known as "Lucky Lucan ",but he wasn't always that lucky ..This friend of mine acted as croupier on hundreds of occasions on the tables that Lucan played at ,and knew his preference of bets .
Then the Murder was committed and Lucan disappeared,to who knows where ,some said Africa other South America ,but nobody knew for sure .
Many years later my friend was working as a croupier in "Sun City " South Africa ,she was at the card table this particular night when a man placed a bet on the cards and she recognised the type of bet as one that Lucan would place ,she looked but the face didn't belong to Lucan ,but the hands,she said to me" Roy ,it was the hands and voice ,is WAS definitely Lucan "
Naturally I tried to pass it off as a big mistake on her behalf ,but she was adament it was Lord Lucan,face changed ,but not his hands and voice.
Ladies and Gentlemen I know it sounds far fetched ,but do you know what, I Believe her ! !
He has officially been classed as 'dead' for many years, though his son has been barred from using his title or sitting in the house of Lords, so his family are stlil disgraced.
Ms Findlay said she had "no idea of the enormity" of the search under way for Lucan who was then the most wanted man in Britain.
Yeah, pull the other one. It has been all over the press for years. Surely she can be charged with withholding evidence – assuming it is true.
His wife/widow has denied the story,she would have had to agree to the children leaving the country,she would know if they suddenly disapeared to africa for 2 weeks wouldnt she?
Of course the dear boy is alive and well. His stay in Africa ended when several detectives started snooping around clubs in Durban. I hear that the 'new and improved' version of Lucky is a frequent visitor to a fancy house near Grosvenor Square.
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