Geoffrey Rivlin QC's opinion about the case

[BarefootDanC]

I have been told that Rivlin believed Bamber innocent, or at least believed he might have been.

Do we have any inkling what Rivlin's opinion was?

The defence case at trial (and until at least 2002) was that the blood in the silencer was a mixture of Nevill's and June's. Hayward said this was a possibility, albeit a "remote" one.

Did Rivlin personally believe this?

[David1819]

I have been told that Rivlin believed Bamber innocent, or at least believed he might have been.

Do we have any inkling what Rivlin's opinion was?

The defence case at trial (and until at least 2002) was that the blood in the silencer was a mixture of Nevill's and June's. Hayward said this was a possibility, albeit a "remote" one.

Did Rivlin personally believe this?

The only way to find out is to ask him.

Based on his cross examination of several witnesses. He tried to imply to the Jury that the relatives could have contaminated it.

[Adam]

The blood in the silencer being a mixture of June/Nevill's does support the defence theory that Nevill started ringing Bamber's AM after being shot 4 times 

The defence can say Sheila went downstairs & put the silencer on. Then went upstairs & opened fire on June and Nevill in bed.

[Adam]

The prosecution said Nevill would be too injured to speak after his 4 upstairs shots.

He would also not have the time to start ringing Bamber's AM.

[Adam]

The judge in his summing up did ask why Sheila would take the silencer off and put it back in it's box downstairs.

Whether she knew how to put it on is another question. Bamber said he left the rifle minus silencer.

There was also no blood on the rifle barrel. After Sheila had shot herself twice.

[Steve_uk]

The judge in his summing up did ask why Sheila would take the silencer off and put it back in it's box downstairs.

Whether she knew how to put it on is another question. Bamber said he left the rifle minus silencer.

There was also no blood on the rifle barrel. After Sheila had shot herself twice.

..and also minus sights. Surely the Bamberettes can't argue with a straight face that Sheila would fiddle about taking them off the murder weapon.

[BarefootDanC]

The blood in the silencer being a mixture of June/Nevill's does support the defence theory that Nevill started ringing Bamber's AM after being shot 4 times 

The defence can say Sheila went downstairs & put the silencer on. Then went upstairs & opened fire on June and Nevill in bed.

One problem with that is, why would someone do that in a psychotic episode, then put it back in the box after killing everyone but herself?

[Adam]

One problem with that is, why would someone do that in a psychotic episode, then put it back in the box after killing everyone but herself?

That is what the judge asked in his summing up.

[Adam]

..and also minus sights. Surely the Bamberettes can't argue with a straight face that Sheila would fiddle about taking them off the murder weapon.

A relative said the sights were on the rifle a few days earlier. Once on a rifle, the sights stay there.

Bamber took the sights off days, hours or minutes before the massacre.