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12/01/02 - Policeman lied to
inquiry into Climbie killing, says colleague
Terri Judd
Independent
THE VICTORIA Climbie inquiry descended into further
acrimony yesterday when a senior police officer accused
a former colleague of lying.
The inquiry into the child abuse case has been marked
by repeated accusations of blunders between and within
authorities that failed to rescue the eight- year-old
from her abusive great aunt, Marie Therese Kouao and her
partner, Carl Manning.
Yesterday, Chief Superintendent Susan Akers accused
Detective Chief Inspector Philip Wheeler of lying because
he had given evidence stating he had a "purely
administrative role" over the "totally unacceptable"
child protection services.
Ch Supt Akers told the inquiry that he had operational
line management responsibility for the teams, which
he had condemned in a report as "bereft" of
proper organisation.
Det Ch Insp Wheeler had led an internal police investigation
within weeks of Victoria's death nearly two years ago.
The inquiry found there was virtually no system for
managing or allocating cases, no proper supervision,
and a team whose members turnedup for work at whatever
hour suited them.
Yesterday, Ch Supt Akers, his former boss, contradicted
his claim that a senior officer had told him his job
with the teams was strictly administrative. Neil
Garnham QC, counsel to the inquiry, asked Ch Supt Akers:
"Hearing that evidence now, you must be deeply
concerned because it means the man who was your deputy
and who had operational line management responsibilities
for these teams was taking the viewhis job was purely
administrative."
The lawyer added: "It would mean ... Mr Wheeler
is simply lying when he says that is what he was told."
Ch Supt Akers said: "Yes, I am afraid it does."
Lauretta Okocha, 32, of South Lambeth, London, is due
to appear in court on Tuesday charged with assault occasioning
actual bodily harm, criminal damage and possession of
cannabis after black paint was thrown over a witness at
the inquiry on Thursday. |
| Contact : bernard.omahoney@bernardomahoney.com |
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