The brother of a murdered man believes any chance of closure has been lost as it emerged that police no longer had around 170 case exhibits.

Norwich Evening News: Relatives of Peter Miller, who was stabbed to death in Great Yarmouth in 1984, handed out leaflets appealing for information outside Great Yarmouth police station. L-R: his eldest brother Keith, sister Linda Kevern, and brother Tony who has been leading the appeal.Relatives of Peter Miller, who was stabbed to death in Great Yarmouth in 1984, handed out leaflets appealing for information outside Great Yarmouth police station. L-R: his eldest brother Keith, sister Linda Kevern, and brother Tony who has been leading the appeal. (Image: Archant)

Peter Miller, 24, was found stabbed to death on the kitchen floor of his Great Yarmouth home on December 9, 1984.

His brother Tony, speaking after it emerged that around 170 pieces of evidence had been destroyed, returned or lost, said he felt justice had been 'stolen' and today lodged a formal complaint with police.

Detective inspector Marie James said she accepted that a number of exhibits had been destroyed and that this was 'frustrating'.

She said she could not comment on the reasons why, but believed that what happened did not 'fatally flaw' the investigation.

Norwich Evening News: Peter Miller unsolved murder in December 1984 in Great Yarmouth.Camden Place.Picture: James BassPeter Miller unsolved murder in December 1984 in Great Yarmouth.Camden Place.Picture: James Bass (Image: (C) Archant Norfolk 2013)

'We want to focus on the here and now, working with Tony Miller to get some closure and justice for Peter Miller,' she said. 'We're completely committed to completing this investigation, following lines of inquiry.

'To do that I would appeal to people within the Great Yarmouth community to come forward if they have any information they haven't shared with us to date.

'I'm fairly sure that the answers lie in the community.'

Tony Miller, a 54-year-old plumber who lives in Gorleston, handed out leaflets to appeal for information about the unsolved case today, outside Yarmouth police station.

'Justice has been stolen from Peter,' he said. 'That's the way I look at it.

'Evidence has gone missing that can never be replaced and I believe it's cut our chances down of getting a conviction.'

He said he wanted closure for the family, including their mother Sylvia, 80.

'I'm angry, frustrated and closure is my goal,' he added. 'If I'm totally honest with myself I think we've lost any chance of closure, but that's not going to stop me looking and asking.'

He said he believed that the absence of the evidence made the prospect of any forensic breakthroughs unlikely.

Peter Miller was found stabbed at the family home in Camden Place, having last been seen by a neighbour in the afternoon.

Investigations led to a number of other arrests, but no-one was ever charged, and the case remains unsolved 31 years on.

Jonathon Childs, Norfolk county councillor for East Flegg division, said he had known the Miller family for a long time and that Tony Miller had conducted himself with 'dignity' in his quest for justice for his late brother.

'Someone out there must know who killed this young man,' he said. 'In those days everyone knew everyone.

'It's beyond me that the case has not been solved.

'I ask that we all pray that the killer has a conscience and comes forward and talks to the local authorities.'