THE brother of a murdered schoolboy still hopes he can get justice, more than 50 years on.

Keith Lyon had gone out to buy a compass for his geometry set and was walking on a bridle path near his home in Ovingdean when he was stabbed to death in May 1967.

The 12-year-old had two shillings in his pocket when he was knifed 11 times in Happy Valley near Warren Road.

His murder shocked Brighton as he was the son of city bandleader Ken Lyon, who was performing on stage at the Metropole Hotel when he was told the terrible news.

But no one was ever charged with the murder. Neither Ken or Keith’s mother Valda lived to get justice.

Since their deaths, Keith’s younger brother Peter has taken on the battle to bring the person or people responsible to justice.

He said: “I was seven years old at the time of Keith’s murder. I am now 59. I remember that day quite distinctly especially when my father returned home from work unexpectedly at around 9pm on Saturday night.

Read more on this story: 'There is nothing worse than shielding a cowardly child killer'

“He was accompanied by two large men in dark overcoats, who I later found out to be policemen. He collapsed into my mother’s arms in tears and I was sent to my bedroom.

“After that night things were never the same again.

“My parents must have suffered terribly but they remained strong and together and tried to hide their grief from me. They never fully recovered and I respect them tremendously for being so strong under the circumstances.

“The fact that they both died without knowing the identity of Keith’s killer is the greatest sadness of my life.”

Peter, 59, now lives in Thailand with his own son Christian, aged 20, which he says has made him miss his brother even more.

He said: “I am very sad that I only knew him for so few years. I feel guilty for not loving him more and being a better brother.

“I don’t have any other siblings and I wish he was still with me, protecting me, perhaps. I have had a lonely life I think because of the loss of Keith at such a young age. I was very proud of my brother and I think a little in awe of him.

Read more on this story: 'There is nothing worse than shielding a cowardly child killer'

“It’s hard to describe the enormous hole in our family after he was gone. We grieved I suppose but separately and I don’t think adequately.

“Of course, not having a solution to the murder was most painful and has been perplexing for so long now.”

Peter said that while his parents trusted the police, he has lost faith because no suspect has been identified.

He believes mistakes were made in the original investigation, and fears other mistakes have also been made in subsequent inquiries.

Detectives launched Operation Engine, which was last reviewed in 2007. Police found documents and the murder weapon used, but say DNA techniques are not yet advanced enough.

Three men were arrested, but were later released without charge.

Read more on this story: 'There is nothing worse than shielding a cowardly child killer'

In a statement, the police said: “The murder of Keith Lyon, whose body was found in Woodingdean on 6 May 1967, remains unresolved at this time.

“It has been reviewed on several occasions, and most recently a review we completed in 2015 found that there were no new lines of enquiry and there are no current developments

“This case forms part of Sussex Police Crime Review Team’s schedule of unresolved major cases and is assessed every two years.

“The team will examine any new information that has been provided, and consider any advances in investigative techniques that would make a review or re-investigation viable.”

They said “no new information” has come to light, despite Peter’s belief that an unknown suspect had been identified. It is more likely this man was one of the three arrested and released without charge.

Police say they are committed to examining new information and using advances in forensic science when the opportunity arises.

The force said DNA from up to three people was found when the case was reviewed in 2006 and into 2007, when there was a fresh public appeal.

Read more on this story: 'There is nothing worse than shielding a cowardly child killer'

Officers said: “It is likely that it includes Keith’s DNA and some of it may have come from one or more suspects. However it is does not enable any identification and that remains the case at present.”

Peter said: “I want to know what happened to my brother. I want to know the truth. I don’t need any more prevarication from the police.

“I know there is still a lot of public interest surrounding Keith’s murder and I dearly hope we may be near to some resolution and closure. I live in hope.”

Anyone with information can call 101 and quote Operation Engine.