Crown Prosecution Service

8.0 CROWN PROSECUTION SERVICE

The investigation team interviewed a number of members of the C.P.S. who had been involved in the prosecution of STEELE and WHOMES.

8.1a CHARLES INGHAM

Charles INGHAM is currently the Chief Crown Prosecutor at St Albans.

During the prosecution of Michael STEELE and Jack WHOMES he was employed as the Assistant Chief Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, Anglia region.

Mr INGHAM's first involvement in the Rettendon case was when he met officers from Essex Police and gave them advice about the case. He states:

"At the time of giving this advice STEELE, WHOMES and a Darren NICHOLLS were in custody in relation to the murders. Very briefly I gave advi[c]e that STEELE and WHOMES should be prosecuted for the murder and that NICHOLLS should not be so prosecuted. Having said that I gave advi[c]e that NICHOLLS should be prosecuted for drugs offences. I did not give NICHOLLS any immunity from any prosecution.....

.....I was not aware that NICHOLLS had any contact with any member of the media or journalist or indeed entered into any agreement with any such persons prior to the commencement of the trial. I am not aware of any filming of NICHOLLS by the media taking place prior to the trial. It follows that I am not aware of any other person involved in any part of the prosecution having any such knowledge prior to the trial".

8.1b PATRICK FIELDS

Patrick Fields is currently a Special Casework Lawyer with the Crown Prosecution Service at St Albans. He states:

"I do remember the triple murder case at Rettendon, Essex in 1995 and the subsequent prosecution of Michael STEELE and Jack WHOMES for those offences. Three lawyers from the Crown Prosecution Service were successively involved in the management of the case. The initial decisions were made by Charles INGHAM the then Assistant Chief Prosecutor for Crown Prosecution Service Anglia. Day to day conduct thereafter was assumed by Brian WORTHINGTON the then Special Casework Lawyer for Essex. It was upon his retirement that I assumed responsibility for the case by which time preparations for trial were well advanced.

I was not aware (if it is in fact the case) that a witness called Darren NICHOLLS had contact with any journalist or member of the media or indeed entered into any agreement with such persons prior to the commencement of the trial. It follows that I was not aware of any filming taking place (if it did) prior to trial. I am not aware of any other person involved in any part of the prosecution having any such knowledge of media or journalistic contact with NICHOLLS prior to trial".

8.1c BRIAN WORTHINGTON

Brian WORTHINGTON is now retired. He states:

"I used to work as a Special Case Work Lawyer for the Crown Prosecution Service within the Anglian area. I worked in this position covering the prosecution of STEELE and WHOMES for the Rettendon murders. I handed the case over after the committal on my retirement. I would like to say that I had no knowledge at all of the protected witness Darren NICHOLLS having any involvement with the media prior to the trial."

8.1d JOHN MCGUINNESS QC

John McGUINNESS was the Junior Prosecuting Counsel in relation to the trial of STEELE and WHOMES.

He states that he "had no knowledge of NICHOLLS having access to the media prior to the trial. The first time I heard a suggestion of media involvement was when I received a letter from the Crown Prosecution Service which included a letter from the defence concerning the media. I received this letter approximately eighteen months ago"