There were witnesses of a figure near the scene of the crime

bac

There were witnesses of a figure near the scene of the crime, and Ms Dando, like many other well-known figures, had received threatening letters and phone calls some time before her death. The police were determined to follow these leads up. However, as the months passed, it began to emerge these clues were leading nowhere; until finally, the case went completely cold. Almost a year after her death, the police were no closer to finding the culprit. The situation seemed hopeless, until police began to re-examine the evidence, and came up with something new.

这段英语的理解难点：
There were witnesses of a figure near the scene of the crime...
..., it began to emerge these clues were leading nowhere...
..., the police were no closer to finding the culprit.

说说 no + 比较级：
  Any / No with Comparatives
We can use "any" and "no" with comparative adjectives and comparative adverbs. Let's look at some examples with "no + comparative". These have the same meaning as "not + comparative".

• It is no bigger than I thought.
  (=It is not bigger than I thought.)
• This shirt is better than that shirt and it is no more expensive.
  (=This shirt is better than that shirt and it is not more expensive.)
  

"Any" is usually only used with questions and negative sentences.

In comparative sentences, "any" emphasizes that the things are not different.

• He does not work any harder than me.
  (=We both work equally hard.)
• She is not any taller than me.
  (=We are the same height)
  

For questions, "any" is just used to compare. It does not add extra meaning.

• Is it any warmer today than yesterday?
  (=Is it warmer today than yesterday?)
• Does she dance any better than you?
  (=Does she dance better than you?)
• Will you stay any longer than last time?
  (=Will you stay longer than last time?)
  

【上述参考：https://www.talkenglish.com/speaking/lessondetails.aspx?ALID=4215】

编者觉得，这个no +比较级，可能是美式英语，受到了西班牙语影响。

另外，参考
no closer to 更多用法：
[...] influenza were rampant throughout the world, children were no closer to gaining their basic rights than they were during that earlier period.
unicef.org

While the situation on the ground has changed, we are in many ways no closer to a solution now than we were when the issue was first taken up by this body.
daccess-ods.un.org
   
[...] some of the most brutal atrocities, is a one-off judicial arrangement that brings Colombia no closer to a lasting peace.
crisisgroup.org
   
Moldavia is the poorest country in Europe and is still no closer to resolving its conflict with the rebel region of Transdnistria.
europarl.europa.eu
   
Regrettably, however, it appeared that Member States were no closer than in previous years to achieving a consensus decision on the matter.
daccess-ods.un.org

[...] investment and this decision, this choice that was made in Essen, is still no closer to being taken, six years down the line.
europarl.europa.eu
   
Today, we are no closer to that modest assistance target, which was first mooted in 1969, before the challenges of climate
[...]
daccess-ods.un.org

Daun actually brought 40,000 men within 12 miles of the battle, but came no closer.

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donzhtm

英语原文还有：
After three months, however, the police were still no nearer to finding Dando's killer.Four years later, despite his efforts, King was no nearer solving the case.