The group of four or five men – and possibly a woman – ambushed him near his neighbour’s driveway and dragged him back to his home in Sandmoor Drive, Alwoodley, at around 11.30pm on February 16, 2004. His wife, daughter and the family’s au pair had been tied up and found Mr Luper unconscious in another room when they later freed themselves.
Despite attempts to resuscitate him, Mr Luper was pronounced dead at the scene in the early hours of February 17. A post-mortem examination found he died due to asphyxiation.
The case is among a series of unsolved murders in Leeds, including those of 20-year-old Deborah Hall, young dad Adam Chadwick and pensioner Leonard Farrar. It is also one of the ‘cold’ cases taken on by West Yorkshire Police’s Major Investigation Review Team with the aim of unearthing new leads.
Speaking in 2017 when the specialist team announced a review of all the evidence, Mr Luper’s brother, Toby, said: “You read in the media, all the time, that old criminal cases are regularly solved by technical advances being made in the field of DNA and I am confident that one day John’s murderers will be brought to justice through this method too.”
While forensic examination of existing evidence was said to be a key focus, both the police and Mr Luper’s family have regularly urged anyone with information to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Here we take a look at key details in the case.
The case is among a series of unsolved murders in Leeds, including those of 20-year-old Deborah Hall, young dad Adam Chadwick and pensioner Leonard Farrar. It is also one of the ‘cold’ cases taken on by West Yorkshire Police’s Major Investigation Review Team with the aim of unearthing new leads.
7. Grieving daughter
Speaking for the first time in 2016, Mr Luper's daughter said: “I just remember waking up to being tied up by masked men and, when I was finally free, finding my father dead on the floor. Whether they were men or women or whatever, they were masked. I just need to find out who they were - they need to be caught." Photo: Gary Longbottom
Police were called at 1.45am on February 17 and, despite attempts to resuscitate him, Mr Luper was pronounced dead at the scene. A post mortem examination showed he died as a result of pressure being applied to his neck and/or chest. Photo: Gary Longbottom
Jewellery and cash totalling around £100,000 were taken during the robbery. The items stolen included a rare platinum Cartier watch with vertical rows of diamonds either side of the face. Photo: Submitted
A reconstruction of the burglary was staged by the BBC Crimewatch programme in May 2004. Det Supt Shackleton said two callers out of the 40 who rang in had given them "very definite" lines of inquiry to identify the raider who called himself the "huge man". He said the attackers were familiar with the layout of the house and garden and that the same raider also told the women: "I wish I hadn't come here. I'm not a bad man. I'm so sorry." Photo: Dan Oxtoby
Rabbi Daniel Levy, who led the funeral in May 2004, said Mr Luper's widow had received 1,200 letters of condolence in the wake of her husband's death. Some 400 mourners attended the emotional service at the Jewish cemetery in Gelderd Road in Gildersome to hear tribute paid to his "wonderful passion for life" and his substantial charity work. Photo: Tony Johnson
Mr Luper's brother, Toby, has made a number of public appeals over the years. Speaking in 2017 as a 'cold case' review began, he said: "As a family, we are pleased to hear that the West Yorkshire Police’s determination like our own, has not diminished over the years and they are continuing in their efforts to trace John’s murderers. We would like to appeal to anyone with the slightest bit of information that they might have in relation to this case to contact the police." Photo: James Hardisty