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- Police threats alleged at trial
THE girlfriend of a drugs baron shot dead in a brutal,
triple gangland killing was allegedly threatened by undercover
detectives investigating the murders. Sarah Saunders was
followed by murder squad officers and received phone calls
aimed at terrifying her, a jury at the Old Bailey was
told yesterday.
Miss Saunders had been the lover of 37 year-old Pat Tate
who was blasted to death with a pump action shotgun along
with associates Tony Tucker aged 38, and 26-year-old Craig
Roife as they sat in their Range Rover in a deserted country
lane in the Essex village of Rettendon on December 6,
1995.
Graham Parkin QC defending barrister added that the officers
masquerading as members of a Irish underworld gang had
also threatened to kill 54-year-old Michael Steele who
is jointly charged with the murders along with 36-year-old
Jack Whomes.
Tate, Tucker and Roife had been lured to the remote Workhouse
Lane on the promise of a large cocaine deal unaware that
an ambush had been laid for them. The trio had earlier
been outraged by poor quality cannabis supplied by Steele
of Aingers Green, Great Bentley, Essex, which led to a
rift between the men.
Steele and Whomes of Main Road, Brockford, Suffolk, were
allegedly driven away from the murder scene by supergrass
Darren Nicholls.
Retired Essex police officer Detective Superintendent
Ralph Barrington told the court police had set up an undercover
investigation codenamed Century, to monitor the movements
of Steele and Saunders.
Mr Parkin asked Mr Barrington: "Was any officer authorised
to threaten the life of Mr Steele?" Mr Barrington
replied: "No Sir, It would have been inappropriate
and contrary to any brief that would have been given".
Mr Parking added: "Were phone calls made to Mr Steele
from Belfast?" Mr Barrington replied: "Yes Sir".
The court heard that calls had been made from two detectives
calling themselves Billy and John who were masquerading
as members of an Irish underworld gang.
Mr Parkin asked Mr Barrington: "the same ploy was
used for Sarah Saunders?" Mr Barrington replied:
"She was contacted from Ireland." Mr Parkin
added: "The purpose of those calls was to terrify
that woman." Mr Barrington said: "That would
not have been part of their brief."
Mr Parkin said: "To terrify her by threats so she
could assist in finding the killers of Pat Tate?"
Mr Barrington replied: "Certainly not". The
court heard that Darren Nicholls who is the main prosecution
witness had been monitored by detectives even before the
murders occurred.
And following the triple killings a number of addresses
were raided and weapons seized. A shotgun was also recovered
from the home of Tate, said Mr Parkin. Earlier Nicholls
completed his third week on the witness stand giving evidence.
He told the court in his parting statement that he would
have jumped through hoops of fire for Mr Steele.
And when asked why, Nicholls replied: "I remembered
whathe had done and I didn't want it happening to me."
Nicholls then left the courtroom giving a sign of relief
as he passed the dock being watched by Whomes and Steele.
The trial continues. |
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