THE heartbroken mother of a teenager who died in mysterious circumstances 14 years ago has issued a fresh appeal for information.

Lizzie Gilmour, of St Stephen’s Road, in Acomb, York, who was 15 at the time, was found on a dark and isolated stretch of the city’s A1237 outer ring road near the Askham Lane junction, after being hit by a car in January 2000.

Speaking on the 14th anniversary of her death, Lizzie’s mother, Rose Ozturkce, formerly Gilmour, has appealed to people who know what happened to her daughter to come forward. She has also asked North Yorkshire Police to re-open the case.

Rose said question marks remain over why and how Lizzie got to the area at the time, but she believes some people who knew the teenager – some of whom still live in the community – know what happened.

Rose, 59, said: “I want to see if the people who were with her on the night she was killed will come forward.

“It has been a long time but it only feels like yesterday to me. To lose such a beautiful daughter, sister, friend and niece feels surreal and part of that is that we still have not got justice for Lizzie.

“It will never, never go away. This will live with them for the rest of their lives and it would be better for them if they would come forward and speak.

“She did not walk to the bypass and lie in the road. She was taken there.”

Lizzie left home at about 6.30pm and was later seen at Acomb Green where she was seen to be very distressed and crying in the back of a car, her mother said.

It remains a mystery how and why Lizzie came to be on the outer ring road where she was hit by an Audi car as she lay in the road at 8.20pm. Police said the car driver was not at fault.

Rose said she has been made aware individuals in the community knew how her daughter came to be in such a situation but refused to talk.

After Lizzie’s death, an open verdict was recorded. York coroner Donald Coverdale said he could not believe the “sensible and level-headed” Lowfield School pupil intended to take her own life, or had lain in the road on January 15, 2000, to make “a grand gesture” after falling out with her boyfriend.

Lizzie, who would now be 29, was a talented singer who was the youngest of five children.

Rose said Lizzie’s father, David, and her brothers and sister all need to know what happened to her.

She said: “Lizzie was destined to be a singer. She was so musically talented. She could be married with kids herself now. It tears my heart out to think her life was so cruelly taken.”

A police spokesman said: "North Yorkshire Police will maintain a regular programme of reviews of any serious cases that remain unresolved, not least for those family, friends and loved ones who can often suffer life long devastating effects caused by such crimes. There are no current plans to review this particular case at present.

“However, if any further information comes to light which could prompt further lines of enquiry or a review, we will investigate fully."

Anyone with information should phone the North Yorkshire Police control room on 101 or phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.