This was Simon Kelly's take on it:
Having now listened to all of the New Yorker podcast, here’s my thoughts on it. Let’s look at what was said first.
- Barbara Wilson confirmed Nevill and June were discussing foster care for the twins. Ainsley wrote in his report to the DPP, that the “only suggestion of foster care” had come from Jeremy Bamber. He also said Jeremy was spreading “misinformation” about this subject. It was described as a “cynical fabrication”. Wilson stated that Jeremy was 100% correct
- Neil Davidson described the handling of crime scene as a “shambles.” That nothing was preserved at all. He confirmed DI Ron Cook had handled the Bible and flicked through the pages before the photos had been taken. He also suggested Cook had moved the gun. He described Cook as a “nightmare.” He also stated that Cook didn’t hold himself to high standards. He also seemed surprised that Cook hadn’t signed the property log for the sound moderator for the 17 days he had it in his possession. Saying this compromised the integrity of the exhibit as no records of it’s whereabouts were made.
- PC Milbank stated that he took a 999 call through the 999 call system at 06.09
He said it was procedure to monitor the line if nobody speaks. He referred to this as if it was an “abandoned call.”
He said a police officer had picked up the phone and told him they were in the house, and that’s when he cut off the call
Gave Heidi Blake 8 reasons why the statement made in his name in 2002 wasn’t genuine
2 statements exist given after the NY article - Both taken by Essex Police. One states Milbank had never spoken to the NY - This is clearly false as Heidi Blake clearly states who she is as she opens the interview
There is some doubt about one of the statements being genuine as Milbank is spelt wrong, and 1 of the ls is crossed out
David Boutflour stated the police took away his and his fathers sound moderaters “within days” of the original blood test on the sound moderator
He said they kept them for “months and months”
He described how he thought he was never going to get them back
He stated he had 2 sound moderators - Its unclear if the police took 2 from him or 1
He clearly stated that his “prints” would have been all over the sound moderator
He admitted trying to unscrew the end nut with significant force
Said his DNA could be in the sound moderator
He said it took him “10 minutes” to realise what he had found
There’s more to cover but I will keep it at that for now. All in all, a brilliant podcast series. HB captures great audio including from Jeremy. He gets very emotional at points during the interviews and that’s a side many won’t have heard.
From an evidence POV - It highlights the flaws in the case, from the fact nothing was preserved to the tampering of the crime scene.
It raises serious questions about why Milbank was scrubbed from the case and why his statement in 2002 was forged
It shows how EP made false statements regarding Jeremy’s story to the DPP - Especially about the foster care issue
David Boutflour’s admissions show EP did have at least 3 sound moderator’s in their possession - Something they have always denied. They also had them in their possession for months and months
This shows how flawed the whole investigation was.
I don’t think Heidi is quite done with this one yet! J4J
