Nevill's cordless/portable phone:

[Adam]

Would like to obtain as much information as possible on this.
Julie did say Bamber planned to use it.

Suspect the only function it had was 'last number dialled', which is the reason he wanted to use it.

Doubtful the memory displayed 'time of call' or 'call duration'. If it did that it would have given him time restrictions.

There is also an issue of whether these phones could cover more than a few hundred yards. If so & Bamber used it, he would be making a fatal mistake.

[Adam]

AI -

No, cordless phones in 1985 would not have had the capability to display call duration.

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[Adam]

AI -

No, portable phones in 1985, like the Motorola DynaTAC 8000x, could not display the time of call.

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[Adam]

AI -

In 1985, portable phones, specifically cordless phones, were designed to cover a limited distance from their base station, typically within the same building or a short distance away. The operational range was usually restricted to a few hundred meters, with indoor ranges often being less than 50 meters and outdoor ranges up to 300 meters, assuming a clear line of sight.

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So lucky he did not use the portable phone.

[Adam]

AI -

Yes, some portable phones in 1985 could display the last number dialled.

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So Julie's WS still has a 'ring of truth'.

[ILB]

Which is why he had to end June instead of going after Nevill straight away and going downstairs after him.

[ILB]

Don't personally see the phone as an issue either way given that calls can't be traced one way or another.

[Adam]

Going by AI -

He did tell Julie he planned to use the portable phone. As it had a 'last number dialled' display.

Phoning GH from WHF on the portable phone would not have given him time restrictions. As the phone did not display 'time of call' or 'call duration'.

It is very doubtful Nevill's portable phone would reach GH. Even if he had the most expensive one available.

It is unclear whether Bamber had done further investigation on this phone after speaking to Julie & prior to the 7/8/85 & was aware of it's limited radius.

[ILB]

Can't recall having a portable phone at the time.

Just used call boxes and the landline.

[ILB]

Where could the portable phone reach if it couldn't reach Goldhanger then really what purpose did it serve?

[Adam]

Bamber using the portable phone to back up his 'Nevill phoned me' narrative would have been fatal.

Seems he got lucky that the phone was not available & that BT could not track calls.

[ILB]

What was the purpose in the portable phone if it couldn't reach Goldhanger which is just three miles away?

[ILB]

Seems he got lucky that the phone was not available & that BT could not track calls.

Wouldn't say he got lucky.

Without knowing the range of the phone can't properly make an judgement. Only thing to say in regards to it is it's pretty pointless having a phone with range no further than GH in any event.

Him bringing telecom up in his interview shows he possibly wanted to secure an alibi by it " I thought telecom could check "

Or maybe he was just winging it. We will never know.

16 minute minimum gap to explain between WHF - GH GH to Chelmsford. Already looks suspicious. Phonecalls could never really aid him either way

[ILB]

His best bet would have been to have had Julie spend the night in GH with him and he not have been home alone.

She may have been more reluctant to go to the police on him for fear or being roped in. For Bamber though it would have been a strong alibi.

[Adam]

Wouldn't say he got lucky.

Without knowing the range of the phone can't properly make an judgement. Only thing to say in regards to it is it's pretty pointless having a phone with range no further than GH in any event.

Him bringing telecom up in his interview shows he possibly wanted to secure an alibi by it " I thought telecom could check "

Or maybe he was just winging it. We will never know.

16 minute minimum gap to explain between WHF - GH GH to Chelmsford. Already looks suspicious. Phonecalls could never really aid him either way

I have posted the range of these phones in 1985.

No way any portable phone would make 3+ miles.