Three people have already been cleared of Julie Ward's murder

John Ward, 70, said he was confident a new inquiry would be launched after a British coroner found that Miss Ward had been unlawfully killed in 1988.

Miss Ward, 28, who lived near Bury St Edmunds, died while travelling in the Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya.

Kenyan officials initially said she had been attacked by wild animals.

Her Jeep was found stuck in a gully in the middle of bush land populated by lions.

The remains of her left leg and lower jaw were found near a fire nearly five miles away.

John Ward was praised for his resolve and tenacity

Pathologists said she had been murdered, decapitated and dismembered with a heavy instrument and her remains scattered around the bush.

A dental expert said it was likely she received a blow which broke her jaw before dying.

But the Kenyan government, under then president Daniel Arap Moi, refused to open a murder inquiry saying Miss Ward had either been struck by lightning, attacked by animals or committed suicide.

Officials at the British High Commission, detectives from the Metropolitan Police and MI6 agents subsequently became involved in the case.

Three people who worked in the game reserve have stood trial but have been acquitted of killing Miss Ward.

Three years ago Mr Ward triggered a new inquiry - which is being carried out by detectives from Lincolnshire police - by complaining about the British and Kenyan investigation.

The net is closing around those responsible for this awful and brutal crime Greater Suffolk coroner Peter Dean

Lincolnshire detectives - who are due to report to the Police Complaints Commission later this year - told Greater Suffolk Coroner, Peter Dean, that new evidence had come to light and they were confident the killers could be found.

The Kenyan Government - now under the control of new President Mwai Kibaki - told the coroner it was prepared to reopen the case.

"A resolution will only be reached and justice finally done for Julie by the reopening of this case in Kenya," said Dr Dean as he recorded his verdict.

'Emotionally moved'

"The net is closing around those responsible for this awful and brutal crime."

He added: "There are clearly people in Kenya at this time who do have knowledge ... now is the time for those people to come forward and let the authorities know what they know."

Dr Dean said the Moi regime had tried to cover the truth and he praised Mr Ward for his crusade for justice.