07/12/95 - STATEMENT of PAUL WILLIAM BETTS

NAME: PAUL WILLIAM BETTS
AGE / DATE OF BIRTH: 49
27031946

Who states:- This statement consisting of 005 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: 071295
P W BETTS (SIGNED)

I am the above described person and I reside at the address shown overleaf. I am the father of Leah BETTS who died on the 161195 as a result of taking an Esctasy tablet at her eighteenth birthday party. I have today been visited by A/Ds 842 SHAKESPEARE of Chelmsford CID in relation to a shooting that has occurred in Rettendon near Chelmsford, involving three males who have been found murdered in a Range Rover motor vehicle, with gunshot wounds. I have been asked to account for my movements before Wednesday 061295 and Thursday 071295. I am happy to co-operate with the police in this matter.

At 0800 on 061295 I arose from my sleep at home, and at 0840 I took my son William to School, returning home at 0930. I remained at home with Janet, leaving at 1230 approximately to visit my boat in Maldon. I went alone leaving Janet at home. I returned home at 1430. In between those times I quickly visited the Queens Head at Hythe Quay, Maldon at 1330 and went to Mundon Solid Fuels in Mundon to collect some coal at 1400. I returned home at 1430.

I met Janet at home. At 1545 I left home and travelled to collect William from school in Maldon. I was on my own. Janet stayed at home. At 1630 I returned home with William and then did an interview with Anglia T.V. at home. I remained at home with Janet and William for that evening. We finished the T.V. interview at about 1800. I would also like to add that my step daughter Emily was at our home all day on 061295, because she was ill. Emily lives usually in Dagenham during term time, but she had been staying with us since either Sunday 031295 or Monday 041295 because she is unwell.

Emily is aged 19 years. William is 11 years old. Between 1800 061295 and 2200 I remained at home with Janet, Emily and William. We had dinner together. At 2130 I watched a T.V. programme called 'Keeping Up Appearances' on BBC1, which finished at 2000. At the conclusion of that programme I left home with my step daughter Emily and I drove her to her sister's address in Chelmsford. Her sister who lives at that address is Wendy LAMBERT, who lives at 42 Bruce Grove, Chelmsford. Wendy is also my step daughter, she is aged 22 years. Emily and I travelled to Chelmsford in my maroon coloured Lada Cossack motor vehicle M69XTW. We arrived at Chelmsford at 2230 - 2245 and I stayed at that house with Wendy, her partner Norman and Emily for about five minutes leaving at about 2250.

I drove directly back home via Danbury Lakes to Bicknacre via a back road to Cock Clarks, to Purleigh and home to Latchingdon. The reason I went on this back road route was because I wanted to test out the four wheel drive on my car as the roads very icy and slushy. It was snowing at the time. I arrived home between 2330 and 2345. Janet was still up and in the kitchen. William was asleep in bed. Janet had remained home to look after William. The reason why I had to take Emily to Chelmsford was because she was leaving Chelmsford at 1000 on 071295 with Wendy to travel to London to appear on a T.V. show to do with Leah's death. Having arrived home at between 2330 and 2345 061295, Janet retired to bed at about twelve midnight.

I fed our animals and I retired to bed at sometime between 0030 and 0100 on 071295. I remained asleep at home in bed with Janet until 0800 071295 when I awoke to take William to school. Between 1050 and 1130 to 1145 on 061295 when I was alone travelling back to Latchingdon from Chelmsford I did not travel near the Rettendon area. I do not know anything of the circumstances of the deaths of the three men in the Range Rover in a lane at Rettendon. I have been asked if I know anyone by the name of TATE, ROLFE or TUCKER. The only name I have ever heard of before amongst those names is TUCKER. I have heard of the name Tony TUCKER for the following reasons; all in connection with the work I have been undertaking with the media following my daughter's death.

I have received information recently that a Tony TUCKER, whose address I do not know, was a drugs dealer. I have passed this information previously to the police, most recently when I visited the Police Enquiry Incident Office at South Woodham Ferrers Police Station on Monday 271195. This is the only name that I have ever heard of before. I am the holder of a shotgun certificate number 0070713, valid 170695 to 160600. I was a Metropolitan Police Officer for 28 years, during which time I shot for the Metropolitan Police in competition. I currently have the following shotguns in my possession. 6 x 12 bore shotgun, 1 x 20 bore 2 x 9mm shotgun, 3 x.410 inches shotgun. Therefore the total number of shotguns in my possession is 13. I do not have any access to any Section 1 firearms.

I do not hold a Section 1 Firearms Certificate. In addition to the above my wife is also the holder of a Firearm Certificate. She has access to all the above shotguns and also a side by side 'Mark Carlo' shotgun (which is included in the 13 total). The last time any of these weapons were fired was about four weeks ago. I can be certain of this because I have not been involving in any shooting of game etc since Leah collapsed at her party which was on the 111195. I am happy for the police to take any of my shotguns and shotgun cartridges for examination.

I would estimate that I have some 250 cartridges mostly of 12 bore, some 20 bore, some 9mm and a small amount of .410mm I am happy to assist the police in their investigation. My clothing that I was wearing all day 061295 was as follows. A patterned jumper, patterned shirt, green trousers, maroon plimsolls. I have given these to the Police.