Statement of Ann Eaton 8th - 13th September 1985

[Bridget]

In all fairness though the clock had been put back an hour upon S. Jones checking the clock at the flat of SB's

Plus when Julie gave her first statement regarding the time, she told police it was 3:30 but then had it verified by Sue B it was 3:15.  Then come November after Jones made his visit it became 3:00

If SB stated the time was 3:15 why did Stan J. go to the flat to prove her wrong? What was his purpose of that? Was he persuasive to a point where she suddenly recalled that she set her clock 10 minutes fast.....The truth of the matter is, is that she said it was 3:15 at the onset....now did she remove 10 minutes from that time already which means that the call was 3:20 lolol 

Good question!

I do think that if the purpose of the police checks was to establish whether or not SB was in the habit of setting her clock 10 minutes fast (as opposed to establishing the fact that she had actually done so) then it doesn't matter that the clocks had been changed twice in the interim period. In fact it strengthens their case in that she had set it fast a further two times, just as she said she was in the habit of doing. But then she would, wouldn't she.

[Jane]

Good question!

I do think that if the purpose of the police checks was to establish whether or not SB was in the habit of setting her clock 10 minutes fast (as opposed to establishing the fact that she had actually done so) then it doesn't matter that the clocks had been changed twice in the interim period. In fact it strengthens their case in that she had set it fast a further two times, just as she said she was in the habit of doing. But then she would, wouldn't she.

So what have we got, re timings if calls? Jeremy, EPHQ, Julie, SB, and Stanly. I would be HIGHLY surprised if Jeremy got the timing accurate. Having been in a similar situation, I know I didn't. The same could be said for Julie & co, woken from drug hazed sleep. Which leaves us with EP suggesting/encouraging/tweaking/coercing. Is it any wonder that we cannot agree on timings?

[Patti]

Good question!

I do think that if the purpose of the police checks was to establish whether or not SB was in the habit of setting her clock 10 minutes fast (as opposed to establishing the fact that she had actually done so) then it doesn't matter that the clocks had been changed twice in the interim period. In fact it strengthens their case in that she had set it fast a further two times, just as she said she was in the habit of doing. But then she would, wouldn't she.

You mean they suddenly thought...she would set her clock 10 minutes fast after 4 months? I don't think SB could remember anything much. She could not even remember if she informed her bank about the cheque book and card.  She could not remember if Julie had gone to the police or not after she gave her initial statement....yet she remembers the time of Jeremy's call....4 months later.... Maybe she forgot to say that when she gave the time of 3:15 she had already deducted 10 minutes from the call then deducted a further 10 minutes giving the time of 3:05.... :D :D :D :D :D

For if she had a habit of setting her clock 10 minutes fast, then surely she would have the habit of deducting 10 minutes when she noted the time....

[Bridget]

You mean they suddenly thought...she would set her clock 10 minutes fast after 4 months? I don't think SB could remember anything much. She could not even remember if she informed her bank about the cheque book and card.  She could not remember if Julie had gone to the police or not after she gave her initial statement....yet she remembers the time of Jeremy's call....4 months later.... Maybe she forgot to say that when she gave the time of 3:15 she had already deducted 10 minutes from the call then deducted a further 10 minutes giving the time of 3:05.... :D :D :D :D :D

For if she had a habit of setting her clock 10 minutes fast, then surely she would have the habit of deducting 10 minutes when she noted the time....

Well if her memory is that terrible it supports the assertion that she was in the habit of setting her clock 10 minutes fast, as opposed to remembering that she had said that in her statement and continuing to do it for that reason. Maybe she forgot she was in the habit of doing it

Where does the 4 months bit come in, when did she give her statement re the time of the call?

[Jane]

Well if her memory is that terrible it supports the assertion that she was in the habit of setting her clock 10 minutes fast, as opposed to remembering that she had said that in her statement and continuing to do it for that reason. Maybe she forgot she was in the habit of doing it

Where does the 4 months bit come in, when did she give her statement re the time of the call?

   I REST MY CASE!!!!!

[Bridget]

   I REST MY CASE!!!!!

Ahem....what was your case again?

[Caroline R]

My case isn't resting - I'm confused! 

[Jane]

My case isn't resting - I'm confused! 

By the sounds of it Caroline, so were they

[lookout]

By the sounds of it Caroline, so were they

Except that we're not in court having to fathom out the confusion surrounding certain " evidence ".
How can anyone work round that and come up with a fair verdict.?

[Caroline R]

The pills plan had passed off without incident and Julie must have been praying that the "now or never" remark in the first telephone call would also prove to be a false alarm. But she knew on the occasion of the second telephone call that Jeremy had been deadly serious,and the charade which followed in the next few hours only Julie and Jeremy knew. Of course to bring this back to the subject of this thread the relatives had their suspicions and let's face it,it didn't take a genius to work out Macavity had been and gone.

Was he ever interviewed? 

[Jane]

Except that we're not in court having to fathom out the confusion surrounding certain " evidence ".
How can anyone work round that and come up with a fair verdict.?

Well, by the sounds of it, we're certainly doing a job AS intelligent, if not more so, than was done at the time.

[Patti]

Well if her memory is that terrible it supports the assertion that she was in the habit of setting her clock 10 minutes fast, as opposed to remembering that she had said that in her statement and continuing to do it for that reason. Maybe she forgot she was in the habit of doing it

Where does the 4 months bit come in, when did she give her statement re the time of the call?

Or maybe she forgot that she had already deducted 10 minutes from the time when Julie asked her to confirm the time she received the call from Jeremy which could have been 3:25 thus causing her to say 3:15....it is possible that she could have consciously done this if she is in the habit of putting her clock 10 minutes fast....

But, when re-questioned about this time, she tells the police she was in the habit of putting her clock 10 minutes forward so therefore it now becomes 3:05.....but in fact she has deducted a further 5 minutes because in court it suddenly became 3:00....

[Jane]

Or maybe she forgot that she had already deducted 10 minutes from the time when Julie asked her to confirm the time she received the call from Jeremy which could have been 3:25 thus causing her to say 3:15....it is possible that she could have consciously done this if she is in the habit of putting her clock 10 minutes fast....

But, when re-questioned about this time, she tells the police she was in the habit of putting her clock 10 minutes forward so therefore it now becomes 3:05.....but in fact she has deducted a further 5 minutes because in court it suddenly became 3:00....

And maybe the reason she didn't know for certain in the first place was because her brain was fugged up with marijuana.

[Steve_uk]

I haven't learned very much so far this afternoon except that there was a feather at White House Farm,somebody set their clock ten minutes fast and lookout is a half-caste..

[Patti]

And maybe the reason she didn't know for certain in the first place was because her brain was fugged up with marijuana.

She couldn't remember if she informed her bank about the cheque book and card, she could not remember if Julie had been to the police about Jeremy. Yet, we are expected to believe she could remember the exact time Jeremy had called Julie...when she was half asleep. She had already confirmed the time at being 3:15 yet waits till being re-questioned by the police weeks later and tells them she puts her clock amazingly 10 minutes fast...Bu joves I bet Jones was jumping for joy......but, what they did not realise is that the time was indeed incorrect and no matter how you look at it, the time had to fit in at 3:00.....and it clearly does not....plus the clock itself had been put back an hour in October 85 then put forward again in spring 86... To say that you only change the hours is ludicrous because the 2nd time Jones makes his visite the clock was only some 7 minutes fast and not 10......

April....does taking that stuff distort the mind?