Since we now know that the rifle was photographed resting against the bedroom window (photo' No. 23), before 'it' was photographed on Sheila Caffells body (photo No.' 26 to 32 consecutively), the following exert from Ron Cooks sworn trial transcript becomes relevant:-
Q - At that stage, did you and Mr Bird confer together, and did Mr Bird commence taking photographs? A - Yes, I gave Mr Bird a rough outline of the scene as I had shown to Detective Inspector Jones, and I asked him to start taking a series of photographs before any further examination of the premises took place. Q - to your knowledge, at that stage had the gun, resting on Sheila Caffells, been examined to see whether it was still loaded? A - The gun on Sheila Caffells, when I entered the bedroom, was as it was as it was when it was photographed by Detective Constable Bird before anything - further examination took place. Q - was it examined in your presence to see whether it was loaded or not? A - it was, Sir. Q - by whom? A - it was, I recall, on arrival at the scene and I believe Inspector Montgomery was also at the scene, as were other uniform officers, and one of the main concerns for our safety was whether the gun was still loaded, and I believe I informed him that when I got around to this particular part of the examination, before anything is moved, I would notify him to carry out a safety check on the weapon before it was moved...
MR JUSTICE DRAKE - You went off to begin with, and was a photograph taken before anyone, to your knowledge, touched the gun? A - when I arrived at the scene, I was a pair with Detective Inspector Jones, and in accordance with the normal police instructions in these circumstances, I became in charge of recording that scene before anything was moved or touched, so as to preserve the integrity of it for the information of any subsequent court....
MR MUNDAY - That was your responsibility. A - initially, Sir, yes. Q - it did not matter that others were other officers of superior rank there, you were acting in charge of that scene? A - could I clarify that before I answer? Although I was in charge of the scene, I would have been working under the directive of a senior officer and in this particular case it would have been Detective Inspector Jones, who unfortunately is not with us, but this was the position. Q - if one looks, for instance, at the bundle of photographs -- which I would ask you to look at -- particularly photographs 26 to 31, please -- behind the green divider -- the first one --- A - 26? Q -- and 31. A - 31. Q - does either of those photographs differ from the scene that you saw when you first arrived? A - No, Sir, no Sir. Q - I want you to look at photographs 29 and 30, please. It would appear that the hand and arm have been moved. Who was responsible for that? A - I was, Sir. Q - for what purpose,? A - to demonstrate the blood marks which were not readily visible under the wrist. When we began the initial examination of the body, there was obviously something underneath the wrist. I just moved it to one side and photographed that before any further examination took place. Q - when that photograph was taken, had the gun been examined to see whether it was still loaded? A - no, Sir. Q - it had not? A - no, Sir. Q - turn to photograph 23 if you would, again in the same bundle. We can see in photograph 23 what appears to be a gun leaning against the window frame. What gun is that? A - it is a rifle which we have just looked at in the previous photographs. Q - can you explain how it got there? A - when we commenced work, I instructed Detective Constable Bird to commence taking a series of photographs. Again, this is normal procedure. Before anything was moved in the main bedroom, I asked him to photograph it first, and then to continue to photograph the remaining parts of the house. This photograph would have been taken after he had taken his original photographs of the main bedroom. Q - who moved the gun to that position? Do you know? A - I did. Q - would that be before or after it had been checked by a firearms officer? A - it was checked as we removed it from the body and then stood there, having been given a safety check...
