Statement of Ann Eaton 8th - 13th September 1985

[tyler]

Was the 50 acres of land that AE believes Neville had purchased,but was actually purchased by June and given to Jeremy,the same piece of land that was purchased from John Eaton? The same piece of land that the Eaton's wanted to purchase from Neville when they had the funds to do so? And here was Jeremy telling Ann that he intended to sell it! And intended to purchase,possibly along with his parents - Vaulty Manor Farm - which Ann was hoping to occupy.
Why on earth did the defence not make more of this?

[Jane]

OK, this here is what I find the strangest in the whole (half - have only read half so far  ) is this, as I wrote earlier, but here it is again, transscribed:

"I was keenly listened in (sic) what Jeremy was saying to the police. I made some notes about what Jeremy was saying to the police. When I arrived home later that day I wrote out on a card what Jeremy had been saying from the notes made earlier."

Now, WHO would do such a thing?!
Was she taking notes right undeer Jeremy´s nose, or was she lurking and eagerly scribbling outside whatever room Jeremy and police officers were in? Where did she get pen and paper, did she bring that too, or did she grab some at Jeremy´s place?
She sure is a woman who wastes NO time!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Another thing. She claims that it would take two or three minutes, maybe more, to get from Jeremy´s bedroom to his telephone down the stairs. I have one word: BS!

I find it odd that she feels the necessity to go into such lengthy explanation about why she did what she did and how she did it.

[Jane]

Was the 50 acres of land that AE believes Neville had purchased,but was actually purchased by June and given to Jeremy,the same piece of land that was purchased from John Eaton? The same piece of land that the Eaton's wanted to purchase from Neville when they had the funds to do so? And here was Jeremy telling Ann that he intended to sell it! And intended to purchase,possibly along with his parents - Vaulty Manor Farm - which Ann was hoping to occupy.
Why on earth did the defence not make more of this?

After what seems to have been a lengthy financial struggle and at last seeing light at the end of the tunnel, that information must have gone down like a lead balloon.

[Alias]

Was the 50 acres of land that AE believes Neville had purchased,but was actually purchased by June and given to Jeremy,the same piece of land that was purchased from John Eaton? The same piece of land that the Eaton's wanted to purchase from Neville when they had the funds to do so? And here was Jeremy telling Ann that he intended to sell it! And intended to purchase,possibly along with his parents - Vaulty Manor Farm - which Ann was hoping to occupy.
Why on earth did the defence not make more of this?

Jeremy obviously had inadequate counsel - and no family to help him..... au contraire!
He was so right when he said to Ann Eaton over the phone: "I have no family." She was so wrong when she said: "Yes you do, I´m coming over..." - And over she came with milk and cookies - and took notes....

[tyler]

The desperation for him to be guilty and out of the way makes so much more sense now! Squabbling over farms and farmland appears to have started WAY before the murders !

[Caroline R]

OK, this here is what I find the strangest in the whole (half - have only read half so far  ) is this, as I wrote earlier, but here it is again, transscribed:

"I was keenly listened in (sic) what Jeremy was saying to the police. I made some notes about what Jeremy was saying to the police. When I arrived home later that day I wrote out on a card what Jeremy had been saying from the notes made earlier."

Now, WHO would do such a thing?!
Was she taking notes right undeer Jeremy´s nose, or was she lurking and eagerly scribbling outside whatever room Jeremy and police officers were in? Where did she get pen and paper, did she bring that too, or did she grab some at Jeremy´s place?
She sure is a woman who wastes NO time!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Another thing. She claims that it would take two or three minutes, maybe more, to get from Jeremy´s bedroom to his telephone down the stairs. I have one word: BS!

Yeah, this amazed me!! Unless he lived in Castle Howard, it;s not going to take more than say 30 seconds!!

[Caroline R]

Jeremy obviously had inadequate counsel - and no family to help him..... au contraire!
He was so right when he said to Ann Eaton over the phone: "I have no family." She was so wrong when she said: "Yes you do, I´m coming over..." - And over she came with milk and cookies - and took notes....

And used the notes to ....

[Caroline R]

The desperation for him to be guilty and out of the way makes so much more sense now! Squabbling over farms and farmland appears to have started WAY before the murders !

Strange take on things, given that it was implied they were a 'close' family. It doesn't read that way at all - the whole statement seems to me to be cold.

[lookout]

Strange take on things, given that it was implied they were a 'close' family. It doesn't read that way at all - the whole statement seems to me to be cold.

That's how I saw it too,Caroline. I wasn't fooled by it at all.

[Alias]

And used the notes to ....

I cannot get over this. Why the heck would she take notes of what Jeremy said on the morning/afternoon after the murders? Wasn´t she in shock and griefstricken, her relatives had been slaughtered? No, she was taking notes. WHY WOULD SHE DO THAT? I wish I could ask her what made her take those notes on that day.

[mertol22]

The desperation for him to be guilty and out of the way makes so much more sense now! Squabbling over farms and farmland appears to have started WAY before the murders !

Quite common issues over land , many a neighbour has died with his rival going to battle over land not all acres but inches.in this case those issues could not be resolved so other means were needed.

[lookout]

Either she was told to,,or she was frightened of missing something.

[Caroline R]

I cannot get over this. Why the heck would she take notes of what Jeremy said on the morning/afternoon after the murders? Wasn´t she in shock and griefstricken, her relatives had been slaughtered? No, she was taking notes. WHY WOULD SHE DO THAT? I wish I could ask her what made her take those notes on that day.
[/quote

I agree Alias, it's an ODD thing to do!

[Bridget]

I cannot get over this. Why the heck would she take notes of what Jeremy said on the morning/afternoon after the murders? Wasn´t she in shock and griefstricken, her relatives had been slaughtered? No, she was taking notes. WHY WOULD SHE DO THAT? I wish I could ask her what made her take those notes on that day.

Because her relatives had been slaughtered.

I don't know Ann, but I don't think it's possible to judge her character from police or witness statements. The contents of those statements tend to be limited to matters relevant to the crime and any suspects, and don't dwell on matters such as the witness's own emotions. For that reason such statements can of course seem cold.

It seems obvious to me that right from the off Ann was suspicious of Jeremy, mainly because his account of his relationship with his family (among other things) didn't tie in with what her perception of what it was. Of course to counter this argument supporters will say that the families weren't close, and cite the frequency of the caravan park meetings, the fact that it is said somewhere that Ann and Peter hadn't visited since Christmas, and the fact that Ann didn't see Sheila or Jeremy in their youth. Surely if they take the blinkers off supporters can see that this is not how families work? I see my sister a lot less often than the Eaton's and Boutflours saw the Bambers, but I defy any of you to tell me I don't know her. Relationships in families can be complex, and no amount of 27-years-after-the-fact analysis is ever going to get anywhere close.

[Caroline R]

Because her relatives had been slaughtered.

I don't know Ann, but I don't think it's possible to judge her character from police or witness statements. The contents of those statements tend to be limited to matters relevant to the crime and any suspects, and don't dwell on matters such as the witness's own emotions. For that reason such statements can of course seem cold.

It seems obvious to me that right from the off Ann was suspicious of Jeremy, mainly because his account of his relationship with his family (among other things) didn't tie in with what her perception of what it was. Of course to counter this argument supporters will say that the families weren't close, and cite the frequency of the caravan park meetings, the fact that it is said somewhere that Ann and Peter hadn't visited since Christmas, and the fact that Ann didn't see Sheila or Jeremy in their youth. Surely if they take the blinkers off supporters can see that this is not how families work? I see my sister a lot less often than the Eaton's and Boutflours saw the Bambers, but I defy any of you to tell me I don't know her. Relationships in families can be complex, and no amount of 27-years-after-the-fact analysis is ever going to get anywhere close.

I see what you're saying Bridget but I don't think the relationship between direct family members such as a sister can be compared to that of a cousin. Especially as Ann doesn't seem to have been close to either Jeremy or Sheila (or like either of them particularly). I have lots of cousins, that I'm quite close to but I really couldn't tell you anything in regard to their family dynamics. I'd be guessing. I don't wear blinkers, I like to see the wood so as not to hit the trees!!