According to Steele, the reason for an illegal shotgun being found on his property was because some crazy old man left it there.
"He was asked about question 9 on page 7 where he was told he was going to be arrested for possession of a shotgun found in his house. He told you he had known the previous owner of the house who was an aging gentleman who had gone senile and could not help himself. He remembered a similar situation in 1970 when he had found premises for another person. That person had purchased the premises and in the renovation people came across a very old gun in the loft.
Steele thought it could be a similar situation here when the shotgun was put to him in May. Therefore he was of the opinion that the gun was obviously not connected with the Rettendon killings in 1995. He did not know where they said the shotgun was found but he knew it was found under a board. He had also done an extension to part of the property that had a flat roof. He thought there was no way the gun would have been found in any part of the building that he had renovated. He did not ask where the gun had been found or tell his solicitor to ask the police where it had been found. He said the old gentleman could have hidden the gun."
Then we have Steele making phone calls to a complete stranger via Nicholls mobile.
"We have the contrast there of course between Nicholls' evidence that he had his mobile with him whenever he was at work and Steele's evidence that that call was made but the person he spoke to was not Nicholls but a total stranger"
Then we have Steele's solicitor manipulating witnesses in order to create a bogus alibi.
"The prosecution alleges the killings took place between 6.45pm and 7pm on December 6.
However, Mrs Stambrook testified that Steele was at his home in St Mary's Road, Great Bentley, Essex, at 7.30pm that night. She told the court she was considering buying his bungalow. Steele had invited them to look around it. She added: "When we arrived they were having a celebration. They had signed a contract that day for a new property and we had champagne.''
But Andrew Munday, QC, prosecuting, revealed Steele's defence team did not ask Mrs Stambrook to give evidence until March this year. And in a police statement she made this month, Mrs Stambrook stated it was Steele's solicitor who told her the night of her visit was December 6.
He continued: "Let's say he spoke to you on March 1. If I had asked you on February 28 on what date you went round to see Mr Steele what would you have said?" Mrs Stambrook replied: "I would have said I can't recall.""
Its about as believable as a shark on water skis.