THE mum of a Flintshire postman who was murdered as he went about his work has spoken of her determination to see justice delivered.

Paul Savage was beaten to death with a wooden baton while making his delivery round in Mold on February 4, 2003.

His mother June White (pictured below) told the Leader of the events leading up to Mr Savage’s death at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, aged 30.

“I was in Mold at the time,” she said.

“I’d just taken my granddaughter to school.

“It was freezing and thick with snow.

“Paul’s wife had to dash to the sorting office in Mold, where he worked.

“And then half an hour later I got a call, saying someone from the sorting office would be coming to pick me up.

“The said there had been an accident and I thought oh my god - I thought he’d come off his bike or been bitten by a dog or something.

“But he hadn’t. He’d been beaten to death.

“I was picked up and taken to the hospital in Wrexham and I held him.

“He was all wired up. The nurse and doctor just looked at me, and the machines just buzzed - he was dead.”

Mrs White, 70, said some months later she came back to the town in an effort to raise awareness of the crime.

She said: “My late husband had taken a lot of time off work because of what had happened.

“I didn’t tell him where I was going. Once I got my head right, I just took Paul’s picture in the frame and got in the car and came straight down to Mold.

“It was market day, on a Wednesday.

“I sat in the town centre with Paul’s photo, and then I did the same along the rows of shops.

“I was angry, determined - I wasn’t nervous.

“I’d have done anything to get the truth and I’d do it all over again.

“People were passing and doing their shopping, and the odd one would come up and speak to me.

“Someone in Mold knew who murdered my son.

“Someone still knows - they might even have kids of their own now.”

North Wales Police announced in 2018 that the investigation in Mr Savage’s murder had ‘never been closer’ to a conclusion.

At that time, DI Christopher Bell of North Wales Police told BBC One’s Crimewatch Roadshow Live: “The difficulty in this case has been has been gaining the confidence and trust of the members of the Mold area.

“We know from a number of witness that they have vital information and through fear of reprisals or the court process they are reluctant to come forward.

“The attack took place half way up Clayton Road in Mold.

“Mr Savage placed his bike outside a gatepost and we know that is where he was viciously struck and left for dead.

“We know from witness accounts that we have two people in dark clothing walking up from the Queens Park area.

“A key witness has seen two people matching the description walking away – I have no doubt they are connected.

“From the murder weapon we know there are paint fragments which have been matched fragments on the hat of Mr Savage.

“Over the last few years there have been huge strides made with DNA. We are re-examining that now and we have never been closer.”

Three years after the death of her son, Mrs White’s husband Lance died following his diagnosis with pancreatic cancer.

Just a few short years after that, Mrs White was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, but received the all-clear five years later.

She said: “In September 2020, I was operated on for bowel cancer.

“I was told I might not survive, and I thought who knows what is going to happen to me.

“But then I thought no; I have to fight. I’m not giving up.

“The morning I was going in for the operation I looked at Paul’s photo and I said ‘you are not seeing me yet.”

Mrs White, who now lives in the north of England with her partner, said her son had “a wild sense of humour.”

She recalled: “He was happy go lucky and he was a handsome, big lad.

“He could be silly - the laughs we had.

“Paul wasn’t a postman for long, maybe a matter of months.

“He seemed to be enjoying it.

“He liked his Man United; we’re originally from Manchester.

“I think about him daily, and sometimes I can have a giggle.

“It might be that something comes on the radio, one of his favourite songs from the time.

“Or I might look in the TV Times and say to my partner - Paul’s favourite is on.

“He’s always there, every day.”

Looking ahead to the future Mrs White said while she has to an extent “moved on,” she is “always hopeful” that the investigation will find those responsible for her son’s death.

She added: “This tore us apart. I am determined I will see justice.”

A spokesperson for North Wales Police said: “Such cases are never closed and anyone with new information should call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."