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12/12/01 - The interview tapes
by Simon Freeman
Roy Whiting maintained a stony silence when questioned
by police desperate for information to help trace missing
Sarah. He was interviewed over three days in the week
following the schoolgirl's disappearance. Despite pleas
for help from Detective Inspector Jeff Riley, Whiting
answered every question in a staccato, sing-song voice:
"No comment".
The Argus has obtained a video of the police interviews,
and we transcribe the dialogue here:
Det Insp Riley: "I know it's difficult questions
I'm asking. I know it's a very serious matter that I'm
asking questions about but it's for a very specific
reason because we want to find Sarah.
"If it wasn't you, that you weren't involved and
we're speaking to the wrong person, then please tell
me because I don't want to be speaking to the wrong
person. "I want to find Sarah. I want to help find
her, that's what my job is. Can you understand what
I'm saying?"
Whiting: "Yeah. No comment."
Det Insp Riley: "You can't help me with that at
all? If I'm pointing in the wrong direction please tell
me. I'll be honest with you. If I'm wrong say, 'Sorry,
but you're wrong, it's not me'.
Whiting: "No comment".
Det Insp Riley: "Am I making sense with what I'm
saying?"
Whiting: "Can I...hold back a minute...I want me
solicitor".
The interview continues after a short break.
Det Insp Riley: "How far away from her in your
vehicle were you when you first saw her?"
Whiting: "No, comment".
Det Insp Riley: "What side of the road was she
walking on?"
Whiting: "No, comment".
Det Insp Riley: "At what stage did you decide you
were going to take her?"
Whiting: "No, comment".
Det Insp Riley: "I mean, was it a planned thing
or was it an instantaneous act? What was it, Roy?"
Whiting: "No, comment".
Det Insp Riley: "You've been interviewed on a number
of occasions. I've put the scenario to you and I've
taken you through it. Some of it I've assumed you've
done because you've not given me any indication and
you're not answering my questions. What I would say
before I continue is, is there anything that I've not
covered in the past few days that you feel you want
to bring out in this interview?"
Whiting: "No".
Det Insp Riley: "Is there anything you don't understand
about what I've asked you?"
Whiting: "No".
Det Insp Riley: "You had been working at Golden
Avenue, which is in Kingston Gorse, hadn't you?"
Whiting: "No, comment".
Det Insp Riley: "Why didn't you tell me that before?"
Whiting: "No, comment".
Det Insp Riley: "Were you trying to hide this fact
from me?"
Whiting: "No, comment".
And so the interviews continued for a total of five
hours, stretched over nine days, until Whiting was charged
on February 6. Detective Sergeant Amanda Hinchliffe
read out the caution and formally charged him. In response
he looked up, rubbed his left eye and said nothing.
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