Police wrap up Ben Needham probe, saying toddler was likely killed in accident
British police on Monday wrapped up a renewed investigation into the disappearance of toddler Ben Needham on the island of Kos in 1991, saying the boy probably died in an accident involving a digging machine.
Detective Inspector John Cousins, from South Yorkshire Police, told reporters that it was his "professional belief" that the boy died in a digger accident.
"My team know that machinery, including a large digger was used to clear an area of land on 24 July 1991, behind the farm house that was being rented by the Needham's," the detective said.
"It is my professional belief that Ben Needham died as a result of an accident near to the farm hours where he was last seen playing."
Digger operator Constantinos Barkas, known as Dino, had been questioned on several occasions by both local and British police, and had denied any knowledge of Ben’s whereabouts.
Earlier this year, an unidentified witness told authorities that Dino, who died of stomach cancer last year, may have been responsible for the 21-month-old toddler’s death and disposed of his body at one of two dump sites used by the construction crew.
