Prepared Statement By John Whomes: 22/05/00

I am John Dennis Whomes. I am aged 38 and i live in Suffolk. I am the younger brother of Jack Arthur Whomes who on 20th January 1998 was wrongly convicted of the Rettendon Murders.

It is ironic that I have been brought to this Police Station, as it was here on Friday 17th May 1996 that Jack was charged with the Rettendon Murders. I have sat in my cell and wondered what my brother must have been going through 4 years ago last Friday.

I have followed my brother's case very carefully from the outset and I have had the opportunity of watching the law in action. Unfortunately, what i have witnessed is the system failing innocent people.

My brother Jack is currently serving a life sentence for three murders he did not commit His wrongful conviction has not only left Jack serving a life sentence but his family and friends too.

The same goes for my brother's co-defendant Michael John Steele and his friends and family. To date, my brother and his co-defendant have had their 2 applications lor leave to appeal their convictions refused.

What they are seeking is an appeal before the Court Of Appeal (Criminal Division).My frustration with the legal system in this country has led me to campaign on behalf of Jack and Michael.

Today, I woke at 4 a.m. at my home in Suffolk and travelled down to the M25 where I carried out a peaceful protest in support of the campaign to free Jack and Michael.

My only intention was to campaign to free my brother. It was always my intention to be co-operative with the authorities and never my intention to damage any property or to harm any person.

This protest has achieved its aims successfully. I am a fully qualified parascender and therefore safety is always paramount in what i do, hence the reason I was wearing a fluorescent jacket.

I also chose the particular gantry with care some time ago. It has spare space above the hard shoulder and as the banners used today did not obscure any road signs so the safety of motorists was guaranteed.

Today in Chelmsford a Police Disciplinary Hearing was due to begin featuring 2 police officers, DC Wolfgang Bird and DS Philip Stimpson. who were directly relevant to my brother's case. At my brother's trial, the Prosecution disclosed material involving these 2 officers.

One of those officers was the informant handler of the principal prosecution witness at my brother's trial, the witness formerly known as Darren Nicholls. Both police officers have had every opportunity to attend court hearings involving my brother.

Indeed on one occasion their legal representatives participated in the murder trial on behalf of their clients. My brother's legal representative made an application to be present at the Police Disciplinary Hearing of these 2 Police Officers did not consent to this application.

The Chief Constable Of Bedfordshire was not even able to exercise his discretion to consider this application. Four years on from my brother's arrest an inequality within the legal system continues.

Today I decided to exercise my right to freedom of expression and my right to peaceful protest. I felt driven to do what I did today because the law has failed my family.

I had no intention to interfere with traffic equipment. I'd hardly want to set back my brother's case by causing an accident therefore I gave very careful consideration to what was doing.

The last thing I'd want to do is to cause any danger to anyone else or myself.