15/12/95 - STATEMENT of ANDREW JOSEPH KOWALENSKI

NAME: ANDREW JOSEPH KOWALENSKI
AGE / DATE OF BIRTH: 41 02041954

Who states:- This statement consisting of 008 pages, each signed by me, is true to the best of my knowledge and belief and I make it knowing that if it is tendered in evidence I shall be liable to prosecution if I have wilfully stated in it anything which I know to be false or do not believe to be true.

DATED: 151295
A J KOWALENSKI (SIGNED)

I am employed by the Dental Practice Board as a Dental Reference Officer. My work involves a great deal of travelling around the Essex area. In the course of my work I examine various patients at different clinics in Essex. I basically examine the work carried out by dental practitioners.

I drive a white Peugeot 405 saloon index M820JPJ. On Tuesday 051295 I travelled to Stowmarket, to the Health Clinic situated at Violet Hill Road. I was with my partner Norma AINSWORTH. We worked there until lunch time and then we drove back to a temporary residence at STONE FARM, LITTLE CORNARD, SUDBURY.

We then stayed at the farm to about 1730 hours then we drove to the Holiday Inn at KINGS CROSS LONDON where we booked in and stayed the night. We had not intended to stay at Kings Cross, it was just that the weather was bad, it was snowing and the roads were icy.

I was concerned that I would not be able to reach my destination at St Christopher House, a government building at Southwark Road the following morning, I knew if I left in the morning my journey would have been very difficult. On Weds 061295 from around 0900 hours to 1700 hours we stayed at St Christopher House.

It was our intention then to travel back to Sudbury. Having left there we approached the Brentwood area, some time later I would think about 1800 hours to 1815 hours the weather was worsening, and because I know I had a work session at Basildon Gt Oaks Clinic we decided to obtain overnight accommodation at the Travellodge on the A127 at East Horndon.

They had no vacancies so we went and ate in the Little Chef next to it. We were still looking for accommodation at that time and left about 1930 hours. I paid for our meal with my Nat West Switch Card. We left and drove to the Watermill Travel Lodge in Basildon. On route there we saw another place the Camponile Hotel.

We stopped there tried to obtain accommodation but they were full. We continued to the Watermill Travel Lodge. Again they were full up. We made the decision to go back to Sudbury and stay overnight. On the way back we travelled through Wickford heading in the general direction of Chelmsford.

Somewhere along that road we stopped at a TOBY INN, I don't know the name of the place. But I would describe it as a large building set back from the road with a large driveway and car park, they were also full. The time now was around 2000 hours and it was still snowing. We then decided to carry on to Sudbury.

As I recall we drove up to the A130 and followed the signs to Chelmsford. We were now travelling along at a speed of around 20 - 25 mph due to the bad weather. I had my headlamps on and my windscreen wipers working, the snow was falling and settling and I had to take care driving.

At the time I was wearing spectacles which I always do when I am driving. I am mildly short sighted. Norma was seated in the front passenger seat. As we drove along the A130 I am not sure at the time of making this statement at exactly what point along the road but I saw a man who I will describe further on.

I think I had been travelling around ten or fifteen minutes from our last stop at the Toby Inn. The first I saw of the man was some movement from my right hand side. I had been basically looking ahead I remember seeing the man to my front and over to my right side.

Looking back I think I may have travelling on a left hand bend I cannot be certain. I know I only saw the man very briefly, about a second or two and I had passed by him very quickly. I am certain he had come off a field close to the road. I saw him at a point where he had stopped running and had just started walking.

He was now walking at right angles towards the road, from the field. It was still snowing. At that point I did not see him again. I do not know where he went. There were other cars in the area, but traffic was fairly light. I did not see any persons or vehicles in particular. My initial reaction having seen the man was that I thought it was strange.

I wondered why he had come from that direction (the field). When I noticed what he was wearing I thought about saying something to Norma, as I thought this strange also. But I felt that I wouldn't because I thought she would react by saying that's not unusual seeing someone dressed like that on a cold winter night.

I would describe the man as being not noticably large or small. I would say around 5'8 to 6'. He wore a dark balaclava, but I think he was white as there was a definite contrast of colour between the balaclava and his face. The balaclava could have been any dark colour, it covered all of his head apart from his eyes nose and mouth.

I can only say that his clothing may been a short jacket, I got the impression that it may have been padded or something. I think he was of medium build. I could not see if he was carrying anything. I didn't notice his footwear, I seem to recall seeing his swinging his arm along side him in a position where his body and posture was indicative of him just having stopped running and slowing down to a walk.

I cannot describe the colour of his clothes. I cannot remember anything distinctive about him. I would estimate he was in my view for a second or two, at a distance of around twenty feet. My view was restricted obviously due to the snow. As far as I recall there was no streetling on the stretch of road.

Where I saw him I also remember the road was bendy. In relation to the man my impression was that he was a young adult. His posture was certainly not that of a child or elderly person. Since that night I have heard about the murders at Rettendon.

The following day Thursday 071295 Norma and I travelled back on the A130 to Basildon we then saw a lot of police activity on the roadside near Rettendon. I assumed there had been a car crash. We continued to Basildon it was later in the day that we heard on the radio about people being killed.

I remember Norma spoke to me telling me some men had been shot in Chelmsford. It was then that I mentioned what I had seen to Norma. We discussed over the next few days as to whether I should contact the police or not. I was not certain as to how much use it would be because I didn't see much detail but eventually reported the matter.

I am willing to give evidence at court if required. Further to the above I remember I had been listening to football on the radio in the car it was a Blackburn in a European Cup match and at the time I passed through the road where I saw the man it was near the end of the first half of the match.

A J KOWALENSKI SIGNED
STATEMENT TAKEN PLACE:
TIME:
DATE: 151295
WITNESS TO SIGNATURE:
OFFICERS SIGNATURE: DS1721 SANDFORD