| Flowers in Gods Garden
- Articles |
06/03/02
- Police must give up killer's letters
by Lindsay Jennings
Northern
Echo
CLEVELAND Chief Constable Barry Shaw has been ordered
to hand over letters written by one of the North-East's
most notorious child killers. Shaun Armstrong, who murdered
Hartlepool toddler Rosie Palmer, is using public funds
to sue author Bernard O'Mahoney.
Mr O'Mahoney, 41, of Peterborough, extracted a confession
from the killer of the three-year-old by writing to him
and striking up a relationship by masquerading as a woman,
Laurna Jane Stephens.
Armstrong then caused a storm of protest by launching
a legal action against Mr O'Mahoney, claiming he had breached
his confidentiality and stating he wanted profits from
any book that may be written.
But Mr O'Mahoney said Cleveland Police were jeopardising
his defence by refusing to hand over copies of the letters
he gave them to help convict Armstrong. He has now obtained
an order from the High Court, which means the copies will
have to be handed to him.
The case will be heard at the Royal Courts of Justice,
in London, and is due to take place between May and July.
Mr O'Mahoney said yesterday: "I'm relieved to be
getting the letters, because without them I wouldn't have
been able to mount a proper defence. "I still feel
really aggrieved over the case. I have no confidence in
the legal system in this country, otherwise Armstrong
would not be able to spend public money to pursue this."
Rosie Palmer was murdered in 1994 after being abducted
when she went to buy an ice lolly, yards from her home
in Henrietta Street, Hartlepool. Armstrong was jailed
for life at Leeds Crown Court in 1995 after he confessed
to killing her.
Cleveland Police said they would return the letters if
Mr O'Mahoney received a disclosure order from a judge,
and suggested he contact the national Sunday newspaper
which had the originals. |
| Contact : bernard.omahoney@bernardomahoney.com |
|
|
| Flowers in Gods Garden |
|
| Paul Pearson |
|
| Rosie Palmer |
|
| Sophie Hook |
|
| Sarah Payne |
|
| Victoria Climbie |
|
| Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman |
- Documents
- Audio
|
| The Yorkshire Ripper |
- Video
|
|
