Protected Witnesses

7.0 PROTECTED WITNESSES

From the information provided by the C.C.R.O, and as a result of further enquiries carried out at various H.M. Prison Service establishments, the investigation team were able to discover the identities of other Protected Witnesses who were in prison custody at the same time as NICHOLLS.

The names shown on their statements are the names chosen by each respective Protected Witness (in most cases the names are their original names before they entered the Witness Protection Programme). They are:

7.1a GEOFFREY COUZENS

For the sake of clarity all of COUZEN's statements are shown in full.

STATEMENT DATED 24™ SEPTEMBER 2003

My birth name is Geoffrey COUZENS but I am now known by another name as a result of my involvement on the Witness Protection Scheme."BLANKED OUT" As a result of my action I was placed on the 'Witness Protection Scheme'. In February 1995, I was sentenced to a term of "BLANKED OUT" imprisonment and remained in prison on the Witness Protection Scheme until January 2000.

During my imprisonment I kept a diary of events. I kept ongoing hand written 'trigger notes' about what had happened and then approximately twice a week I sat down at the computer on the unit and converted these notes onto an ongoing computerised diary. After the completion of each computer entry, I destroyed the handwritten 'trigger notes'. I retained the diary on my own 'floppy discs' as opposed to the computers hard-drive. I eventually converted my diary into a book. For confidentiality and safety reasons I am not prepared to release my full diary/ book but have provided a copy of pages 793 to 926 which are the entries that relate to the dates that Darren NICHOLLS was in custody with me. I exhibit this document as GMC 1. I also produce a 'floppy disc' that contains a computerised copy of GMC1 -1 produce this disc as GMC2 . I also produce 10 pages of extract from GMC1 that are entries that relate solely to Darren NICHOLLS - I produce this document as GMC 3. I have also produced a direct copy of my 'zip' files that contain all of the contents of my diary in separate 'folders'. Even though the folders are password protected to prevent access what they do show is the dates the file was last modified. They may also show the dates I created each file. I produce these files as my exhibit as GMC 4. From my diary I can say that the computer was delivered to HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta'on 15th January 1997. This means that from my arrival at "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta' in November 1996 until 15th January 1997 I was without a computer to use. However, when it did arrive I transferred all my 'trigger notes' into my ongoing computerised diary.

I can also confirm that periodically I cleaned up the hard drives on all of the computers, at each prison, because the hard drives were very small and would not hold very much information.

I first met Darren NICHOLLS on 24th October 1996, when he was introduced into the Witness Protection Scheme. At this time the Witness Protection Unit was based at HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha'. When a new person joins the Witness Protection Scheme there is a natural interest by other members of the unit to find out who they are, and the reason for their involvement in the scheme. Darren NICHOLLS was no exception as he readily spoke to members of the unit about his involvement in the Rettendon Range Rover Murders. The murders had been the subject of extensive publicity in the national press and I was certainly aware that they had been committed.

Darren was only on the Protected Witness Unit for a few days before he was returned to police custody. During this period, I recall that he was in general conversation with the inmates on the unit. He told them that while he had no prior knowledge of, or involvement in, the murders, he had taken two men in his car to the murder scene, four men arrived at the scene in the Range Rover and after the murders had been committed Darren took three men from the scene in his car. When he told his version of events, which was on an almost daily basis, he always laboured the point that he had no prior knowledge that the men were going to be shot. I formed the impression that he did know and he was lying. This impression was just my gut feeling based on the amount of times he kept denying his involvement, over and over again.

As I mentioned, Darren left the unit after a few days and I next met him after the unit had been transferred to HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta' in November 1996. He rejoined us there but again he only stayed for a relatively short period of time. He again spent the majority of his subsequent period of detention at that prison in police custody.

In HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta', Darren's story concerning the murders had changed dramatically. I recall overhearing Darren engaged in a conversation with the inmates on one occasion. He was talking about the murders and although I wasn't directly involved in the conversation, I was listening to him and heard what he said. On this occasion, he said that he had taken two men to the scene in his car and another three men had arrived in the Range Rover. He never said who had travelled in which vehicle, whether it was the gunmen or the deceased. I noticed the number of people in each account did not tally up.

Darren also said that he knew everybody's movements because they had traced their mobile phones to various transmitters or relay stations. I asked Darren if they could get an accurate triangulation fix on a mobile phone but he just gave me a blank look. From that I took it to mean that he didn't understand the technicalities of police methods or the word triangulation. Darren did say that he was aware that his statement had to fit the mobile phone evidence. Darren said that the police had said it was important the transmitter evidence and his own evidence matched. From my own experience I know that if any discrepancies arise when you are making your statement the police stop the interview and an 'off the record' discussion takes place regarding your discrepancy. I know Darren had several such "tea breaks" but I have no idea what was discussed between him and his police handlers. I have no clear recollection as to exactly how I became aware of this, because it was so long ago, but I presume it was because Darren told me at some point.

On one occasion while Darren and I were in the "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta' unit we held a conversation. This conversation took place in my cell as Darren asked my opinion on a matter associated with charges against him. He told me that he had been charged with involvement in the importation of cannabis, but the police had suggested that he admitted involvement in Class A drugs. Their logic was that if Darren admitted more serious offences, his credibility when he gave evidence would be higher in the eyes of the jury, but he would not be subject of a more severe sentence, when sentenced by the judge. I told Darren that such a proposition did not make sense to me. While it was necessary that he did admit all he had been involved in, otherwise the defence may be able to challenge his honesty, when he gave evidence there was no reason for him to admit things that he hadn't done. I also have a recollection during this conversation that Darren indicated, in an around about way, that his operational police wanted him to bend the truth during his evidence. My recollection is that the police wanted him to say that he had continued to import drugs with STEELE and WHOMES after the murders had taken place, whereas I can remember Darren specifically telling me that he had had nothing more to do with the two of them after the murders. I also have a recollection that there was an exhibit in the case that was a shotgun. Darren was told by the police to say that the shotgun had been obtained before the murders, where Darren assured me that it was obtained after the murders. I told Darren that I didn't want to know about such things and that if he told lies he had to be careful not to be 'caught out'. That is a very shortened version of a conversation that actually took place over about twenty minutes . However, after all this time that is all I can remember. Darren gave me the clear impression that the police had put certain pressures on him to admit things he hadn't done and give false evidence. Darren explained that the police had made promises and virtually waved a blank cheque in his face. He said that he wanted the new identity being offered and a fresh start and that if that meant admitting to offences he hadn't committed, and committing perjury, that was what he was willing to do so.

I do not know if Darren NICHOLLS did give false evidence at the trial of Mr STEELE and Mr WHOMES, all I know is that he said he intended do so.

These are the only conversations I can recall with Darren NICHOLLS concerning his evidence or accounts of the murder, but he did frequently talk about his role as a 'supergrass' and appeared almost boastful that he was the "top supergrass" on the witness protection unit.

Hearing Darren talking about how he was going to stand in the witness box and tell a story I knew wasn't true, and possibly pleading guilty to extra charges that were to add credibility to what amounted to a pack of lies, I just wanted to walk away. I chose to ignore what Darren had told me as I felt the accused would have their day in court, the evidence of a "supergrass" would be backed up with forensic evidence and a whole plethora of other evidence and additional witnesses. I felt it wasn't my problem. It was down to the defence barristers - it was their job to refute Darren NICHOLLS' lies and it would be the judge and jury's job to see that justice was done.

I have been asked if I was what could be called a 'father figure' whilst I was in the witness protection units. I would not call myself a father figure but I was one of the more mature, stable and sensible prisoners. Because of this I was often told things in confidence. In general I kept those conversations confidential. Occasionally they were about others on the unit, but mostly they were personal or private matters where my advice was being sought.

During my time on both units I saw approximately forty-seven prisoners pass through the system and I taught a lot of them how to use the computer. I can confirm that I spent some time teaching Darren how to use the computer. I saw Darren producing letters to his solicitors but I didn't see him producing anything about his case, detention or circumstances.

I subsequently heard reference to the trial of Mr STEELE and Mr WHOMES on the news and I knew it was also reported on in the press, but I didn't closely follow the accounts given. It was only after I read reports in the Daily Mail newspaper in 1999, which were written by Jo-Anne GOODWIN, that I realised that there was no other corroborating evidence, and the evidence of Darren NICHOLLS was the only evidence which convicted STEELE and WHOMES. On 5th August 1999, I saw a television programme called "Inside Story" which covered the same ground as the newspaper stories. At this stage I was still in prison and it was not practical to attempt to contact defence lawyers, as I was concerned that I would be identified in the prison system and at the Protected Witness Unit as a troublemaker. It was of course against all prison rules to have contact in any way with the media. All telephone calls where recorded and my mail would have been read by the prison staff. I also felt that if I had spoken out against a fellow supergrass and the police, there was a possibility that it could affect my relationship with my Witness Protection officers and my status on the Witness Protection Scheme.

Following my discharge from prison in January 2000, I felt that I was in a much better position to disclose what NICHOLLS' had said to me whilst we were in custody. For that reason, I then made contact with Jo-Anne GOODWIN of the Daily Mail and met with her on two occasions. Following my contact with Jo-Anne, I did prepare a form of unsigned and 'un-witnessed' statement and a letter dated 12th March 2000, addressed to another protected witness, Mike HODGSON, at "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta' prison. I gave both of these documents, and a letter to either Mrs STEELE or Mrs WHOMES, to Jo-Anne GOODWIN. The letter to the mother of the Mr STEELE or Mr WHOMES was asking them to forward my letter to Mike, with a covering letter from themselves. I asked them to forward the letter to Mike as soon as possible because I knew he was being released from prison very soon.

I believe Jo-Anne forwarded the documents to the family of either Mr STEELE or Mr WHOMES. I cannot remember which one. The letter to Mike was sent via the family because I felt it would give the letter more 'weight' if Mike received it from them.

[It should be noted that despite repeated requests, Jo-Anne GOODWIN refused to make a statement. This was on the advice of the Daily Mail Legal Department]

"BLANKED OUT" I prepared another 'statement', dated 23rd March 2001, which I signed and also had witnessed by a solicitor called Polly GLEDHILL. I sent the statement to the mother of either Mr STEELE or Mr WHOMES, the address of which had been supplied to me by Jo-Anne GOODWIN. I again cannot remember which family I sent it to.....

[please see Polly GLEDHILL's statement at Paragraph 11.1)

.......I was subsequently contacted by the Criminal Cases Review Commission whom interviewed me regarding my dealings with Darren NICHOLLS. I made three statements to them, one dated 20th June 2002 and two dated 25th September 2002. One of them, dated 25th September, simply authorised The Daily Mail newspaper to release any relevant records or information to the C.C.R.C.

I can confirm that at no time have I received any payment from Jo-Anne or her newspaper. On the first occasion I met her, she bought me lunch and on the second occasion I bought her lunch. I have not been offered any payment or financial reward. I told Jo-Anne of my information and since that time she has kept in contact with me. She has written two newspaper articles concerning my criminal background and involvement in the manufacture of drugs.

I have been asked if I have any knowledge of Darren NICHOLLS being in contact with members of the media whilst he was in custody. I can confirm that I am not aware of Darren having any contact with any journalist whilst he was in the Protected Witness Units. Darren did not say to me about having any contact with the media whilst he was on the units.

However, I am aware that other prisoners were visited by journalists whilst on either Witness Protection Units. Chris DANIELS was approached by a journalist from the Sun newspaper called Ian HEPBURN with the intention that he was going to write a story about "BLANKED OUT". I am also aware that there were other prisoners who had contact with journalists, one of which was Ralph. I cannot now remember who the other one was. I believe that the visits to the three of them was arranged by their solicitors."BLANKED OUT" I am very aware that any contact between prisoners and the media would not have been allowed by the prison authorities had they been aware of it. In fact whilst I was at HMP h block 'Alpha' all the protected witnesses were issued with a notice from the governor telling them that they were to have no contact with the media. This followed an incident where contact had been made with a journalist by a protected witness. I do not know which prisoner. I produce a copy of the notice from the Governor, which I retained when I left prison, as GMC5.

In HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta', there was an incident when Mike contacted the press by telephone and informed them of a fight that had taken place in the unit between Leon and Ali. Following this incident another notice was issued to all inmates. I did not retain a copy of this document.

Visitors to the Witness Protection Unit at h block 'Alpha' sat in an open area where all the other prisoners could see them. Prior to 1994, the vetting of the visitors to h block Alpha' was very lax "BLANKED OUT"

When the unit was subsequently transferred to "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta', the visiting rooms were in a separate adjoining area where you could not see them. It was therefore possible to receive a visitor without the other prisoners knowing who it was.

I can also confirm that I was never aware of a visit, or visits, to Darren NICHOLLS by a journalist called Tony THOMPSON. In fact I actually have no recollection of Darren having any visitors whilst he was in custody with me. He certainly did not, to my knowledge, have a black male visitor. "BLANKED OUT"

I have been asked if I am aware of Darren ever having a video camera in his possession whilst he was at either prison. I can confirm that I never saw a video camera in his or anybody else's possession and that Darren never mentioned a video camera to me in any context whatsoever.

I can confirm that during my fairly brief association with Darren NICHOLLS, I bore no animosity towards him, and there were no disputes or any other type of 'fall out' between him and myself.

Whilst in custody Darren's closest friends on the unit appeared to me to be Damon and Mike. During my period in prison I did become aware that my solicitor Mr Phil KELLY of Twitcher, Munster and Kelly was also representing either Mr STEELE or MR WHOMES. When he became aware that Darren was in the same unit as I was, he became concerned that there could be some sort of potential prejudice for his client but I was never asked or encouraged to make any sort or report. I did have a conversation with Darren about who my solicitor was.

I can confirm that at no time have I ever been approached by anybody with a request for me to approach Darren NICHOLLS about his evidence, his involvement in the trial of Mr STEELE and Mr WHOMES or with a request for me to persuade him to change his evidence or account.

My only motivation for contacting the CCRC through my contact with the Daily Mail was to make the commission aware that Darren NICHOLLS told me of his intention to give perjured evidence at the trial. As I have previously mentioned I do not know if he did give perjured evidence or the detail of any false evidence he may have given

My only contact with the Mr STEELE or Mr WHOMES is when I sent to their family my statement dated 23rd March 2001. As indicated above I am not sure which one I sent it to. I can confirm that I have had no other contact or association with them, their families or legal representatives.

I can also confirm that I have not been approached, at any time, by anybody asking me to fabricate the evidence I have given in relation to Darren NICHOLLS in this or any other of my previous statements or accounts.

STATEMENT DATED 24th SEPTEMBER 2003

This statement simply authorises Polly GLEDHILL, a solicitor, to provide the police with full details of her meeting with COUZENS on 23rd March 2001.

STATEMENT DATED 25th FEBRUARY 2004

"Further to my statement dated 24th September 2003.

On page 6 of my previous statement, I referred to a "a unsigned and 'un-witnessed' statement that I gave to Jo-Ann GOODWIN of the Daily Mail newspaper in March 2000. I have been shown a fax from Ms GOODWIN to Pam and John WHOMES dated 17th March 2000. I can confirm that the content of the fax replicates the contents of the 'statement' I had provided to her. I exhibit a copy of this fax as GMC/6.

Also on page 6 of my statement, I referred to a letter, dated 12th March 2000, that I addressed to another protected witness, Mike HODGSON. I exhibit a copy of this letter as GMC/7.

Also on page 6 of my statement, I referred to another 'statement', dated 23rd March 2001, which I signed in the presence of a solicitor called Polly GLEDHILL. I exhibit a copy of this 'statement' as GMC/8.

On page 7 of my statement, I referred to a number of statements I had made to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. I exhibit the statement made on 20th June 2002 as GMC/9. I exhibit one of my statements dated 25th September 2002 as GMC/10. I exhibit my other statement of the same date (simply authorising the Daily Mail newspaper to release any relevant records) as GMC/11.

In addition to the above documents, I would like to exhibit the following documents:

A) A notice entitled "Notice to PWU inmates" which was issued to me whilst I was at HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha' in November 1994. I exhibit this document as GMC/12.

B) A document entitled "Notice to inmates 14/96 - Facility List - Computer Discs" that was issued to the Protected

Witnesses at HMP "BLANKED OUT" Alpha' in June 1996. I exhibit this document as GMC/13.

C) A document entitled "visits bookings" issued to Protected Witnesses whilst I was in custody at HMP M 'Beta'. I exhibit this document as GMC/14."

7.1b "MIKE HODGSON"

Again, for the sake of clarity both of 'Mike's' statement's are shown in full:

STATEMENT DATED 22nd AUGUST 2003

"At the end of October/early November 1996 I was on the protected witness unit at HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha' in "BLANKED OUT" A day or so after my arrival I recall Darren NICHOLLS (BLOGGS 19) return to the unit having been out with his Police handlers. I think there were about 8 of us prisoners on the unit at that time. I remember meeting Darren on the day he returned. We chatted for some time and he quickly told me that his case was to do with the Range Rover killings in Essex. Darren also told me that before the killing he was a Police informant and that the Police Officer he had been working with in Essex had been nicked soon after he (Darren) had been arrested. I cannot remember the name of the Police Officer Darren was working with but I recall Darren saying he was nicked for drugs. Thinking back I can't remember exactly what Darren said about when this Police Officer was arrested, it may have been before Darren was.

Darren also told me that he intended to write a book and make a film about his case. He said the only reason for doing this was to make lots of money. I do remember that Darren was writing his story on computer in the unit. Geoff was quite good on computers and used to help Darren.

When we were at "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha' Darren seemed very wary of everyone except Geoff.

With regards to visitors at "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha', although visitors should have been vetted by the Police, in reality anyone who wanted to visit could do so. I never had any visitors whilst at "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha'. I'm not sure what visitors Darren had but I do remember that everyone on the unit knew that Darren was going to be visited by a journalist so they all wanted to say something. The meeting with the journalist and Darren did go ahead and the only other prisoner who spoke to the journalist was Pat. I can't remember much about the journalist but he was a white man about 5'10" (5ft1 Oins) tall and smartly dressed. I do not remember Darren ever being visited by any black males. I can remember that Geoff did have black male visitors on occasions.

Whilst at "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha' and "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta' I never saw Darren with a mobile phone or a video camera but I do remember at both units he was always using the phones on the unit.

I recall that sometime towards the 18th of November Darren went out with his handlers. The unit at "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha' moved to H.M.P. "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta' "BLANKED OUT" sometime towards the end of November 1996. Darren joined us on the P.W.U. at "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta' sometime in early December.

Darren and I became fairly close at "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta' and we often discussed our cases with each other. Darren started to open up to me about his case. I remember in particular sometime around Christmas 1996, we were in the exercise yard at "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta'. Darren was talking about his case. I told Darren that I'd read about his case. He told me that he was terrified that either the Police wouldn't protect him as they'd promised or that the baddies' would get to him. He did seem very frightened. I remember Darren telling me that the Police had told the 'baddies' that he (Darren) was an informant. Darren said that he had no choice but to go along with the Police. I remember Darren telling me that it was the Police who had concocted the story about his (Darren's) involvement in the Range Rover killings. Darren said that in interviews he was given a script from the Police Officers. I said to Darren 'What do you mean concocted' and he told me that the Police would slide a piece of paper across the table with what they wanted me to say. Darren told me that some of his answers were read from the sheet of paper given to him by the Police.

Darren continued to do his book on the computer at "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta'. I remember Darren had a visitor sometime in January, I think, and it was after this visit that Darren spoke to me in the exercise yard. He said to me 'That's my story sorted' and explained to me that his last visitor was from the media. I asked him if the story was about the P.W.U., but he said it wasn't, it was just about his case. The visitor was a white man but I can't remember much about him. I've got a feeling that Pat may have spoken to that visitor. Also thinking back I'm sure Troy had a visit from his woman at the same time as Darren's media man.

With regards to visits at "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta', the procedure was much tighter and I cannot recall any other visitors that Darren had. I do not recall Darren ever receiving a black male visitor.

I remember that after Darren's visit from the journalist, he spoke about learning to fly a Chinook helicopter and then

buying one for about 40 thousand pounds, an old used Army helicopter. He wanted to do helicopter taxis. I knew he asked a female education officer if he could do a course in learning to fly helicopters. He did also say to me that the Police had taken him in a helicopter in one of his trips out with the Police.

During my time at "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha' and "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta' P.W.U. I had numerous conversations with Darren about his case and other things. The discussions about matters involving his case may or may not have been true, who knows. I never knew Darren before "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha' and know little of his background.

Whilst at "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha', when Darren was there, we were accompanied by Damon, Troy, Leon, Geoff, Free, Ali, Chris and Pat. At "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta' we were joined by Ralph and possibly Jim (although Jim may have arrived after Darren had left)."

STATEMENT DATED 23rd SEPTEMBER 2003

"Further to my previous statement that I made on 22nd August 2003 I have today been visited by the Police. I was shown a copy of a letter addressed to "Mike" from "Geoff. Having read this copy it is obviously a copy of a letter sent to me by Geoff, a fellow prisoner I mentioned previously in the Protected Witness Unit. I never received the original version of this letter which was dated 12th March 2000. I was actually released from prison on "BLANKED OUT", since release I have never received any mail which has been sent on by the prison service.

Having read the content of the letter it is obviously referring to the numerous chats Geoff and I had in the computer room at HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta' about Darren. Myself and Geoff had both come to the conclusion that the two men imprisoned for the Rettendon murders were not guilty. We suspected that Essex Police may have committed these murders. I do not know why Geoff thought this but I thought it because of what Darren had told me about the police passing him notes on what to say had happened.

Geoff told me that Darren had admitted to him that he (Darren) had lied about the case but would not ever say what areas Darren had lied about. Geoff never told me about the notes passed to Darren by the police and I never told Geoff about the notes. It was obvious that Darren had confided in us both but about different areas of his case. Me and Geoff used to keep things about what Darren had said from each other, well I certainly did not tell Geoff about the notes. I had the feeling Geoff was holding things back from me.

I think Darren opened up to me more than Geoff perhaps because I was more down to earth than Geoff who was a very cagey type of person and had connections with big people in the criminal world.

In relation to the letter it does appear to be the handwriting of Geoff. I remember Geoff s handwriting from our days in prison together. I remember Geoff s weekly written food forms for food groups, I had been in Geoff s food group on numerous occasions."

7.1c Feridue OGANCIOGW

Mr OGANCIOGW was a protected witness at H.M.P "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha' when Darren NICHOLLS arrived on the unit. He states: "I knew that he was a witness in relation to a job involving shootings and drugs.......Darren and I got on well and he would often talk to me. He talked to me about his case telling me how drugs were brought into this country. I used to be the Chef on the unit and when I was cooking in the kitchen Darren would sometimes be cooking in there separately as he was doing diet food......

... I remember one of the occasions that we were in the kitchen together he told me that he was going to sell his story to the media. As I remember it he told me that he was trying to sell his story. I remember that he was trying to make contact with the media. He said he was going to be involved in writing a book about his story and make money from doing it. I cannot remember how much he was going to make from it.....I do not remember if he did make contact with the media.

I do not know if it was the newspaper or television that he was trying to contact. I do not know if his Police handlers knew about it and cannot remember if Darren ever mentioned that to me.....

.....I remember that Darren went out to the Police Station quite a lot and when he returned to prison he would talk about selling his story to the media.....In around November 1996 we all transferred to the Protected Witness Unit at "BLANKED OUT" Beta' Prison. Darren also transferred with us. "BLANKED OUT"

In relation to NICHOLLS' visitors he states: "The only visitors I remember visiting Darren were at "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha'. I remember that they were two white females and a male. I am not sure if Darren had a black male visitor but he may have. I do not remember any visitors to Darren at "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta' but this is because visitors went to a separate room and other prisoners would not have seen them."......

........I became close friends with Darren whilst we were at

"BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha'. We talked many times about his case and once we became close he told me that he had made up the story about the shootings to Police. He did not say that he had lied to the police but did say he had made the story up. My understanding of what he meant by the fact that he had made the story about the shootings up was that he had not told the truth to the Police......

......I do not remember a journalist ever visiting either of the units....I do not remember ever seeing a video camera on the unit....."

This statement was taken in the presence of Adem TURH an official interpreter in the Turkish language.) His statement is appended

7.1d 'ALI'

During 1996 and 1997 'Ali' was in custody in the Protected Witness Units of HMP "BLANKED OUT" Alpha' and HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta'. He states:

"I remember another protected witness called Darren NICHOLLS. Whilst we were at "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta' I remember Darren talking about the fact that he was going to make money by selling his story to the media. I never saw anybody from the media ever visit the Protected Witness Units.

Some of the other Protected Witnesses such as Geoff, Mike and Damon used to say that they didn't think that Darren was telling the truth in relation to the Rettendon murders. The three of them seemed to be obsessed with discussing Darren's involvement with the job. They never said to me that Darren had told them that he wasn't telling the truth or that the police had got him to make things up. Darren never discussed such matters with me.

Since I was released from custody I have been in contact with Geoff but he has not discussed Darren NICHOLLS with me".

7.1e RALPH SEHITOGLU

Ralph SEHITOGLU states that he "did not know Darren very well" but he does remember that "Darren used to say that he wanted to contact a journalist and write a story about his case.......I remember that Darren's visitors at the prison consisted of his wife and police officers [but] I do not ever remember a black man visiting Darren and I do not know a black man called Tony THOMPSON."

He goes on to say "Darren, I seem to remember, was closest to Free, Pat, Damon and maybe Geoff. These people spent time in their cell talking in private with the door closed .... I do not remember Darren having a mobile telephone or a video recorder in his possession, indeed none of the other prisoners did as far as I know".

7.1f PAT O'REILLY

STATEMENT DATED 8th JULY 2003

Pat O'REILLY served his sentence at HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha' until the unit was transferred to HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta' in November 1996. He states:

"Darren came to HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha' in July or August of 1996, I do remember a visitor to Darren on the unit who I believe was from Channel 4 or the BBC. Contact from prisoners to the media or journalists was definitely not allowed at the time. Darren explained to me that the man was a friend. Darren said at the time he was going to do a story about being a "supergrass".

Darren also possibly told me that he was writing a book, but I cannot remember why he was writing or getting involved with a journalist. The man from the television was slim and wore small round glasses and the more I think about it, was black. I do not know the man's name and I never knew a man called Tony THOMPSON. I may have seen this man on two or three occasions at HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha'. The units were made either in the television room or in a communal area of the unit, both in full view of the other prisoners.

The visitors at the unit at HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta' are taken to a room separate from the living area of the unit. This meant that the other prisoners generally could not see the others visitors. I never saw the visitors from the media at HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta' and have no knowledge of Darren being visited by the media there.

I do not remember Darren having any visitors at HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta', Darren was out with police regularly and I remember Darren threatening to kill himself at some stage. Darren then got bail and I have had no contact with him since. I believe Damon FAY may have had contact with Darren since Darren's release. Darren was closest to Damon and Geoff.

I do not remember Darren ever having a mobile telephone but I would not rule this out from happening. The same applies to Darren possibly having a video camera. I do not remember it happening but would not rule it out. Both of these items would not be allowed in a prison. At HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha' cell searches were carried out by officers but not on a regular basis. The unit did get stricter in general towards the end.

I do remember that Darren was also visited by a couple of females at HMP "BLANKED OUT" Alpha' who I believe were his sister or wife or wife's sister."

STATEMENT DATED 10™ SEPTEMBER 2003

In this statement O'REILLY states:

"In relation to Darren NICHOLLS, I do remember Geoff made comments indicating that he thought Darren NICHOLLS was dishonest. I cannot remember why Geoff thought this or how he explained his thoughts due to the passage of time. Geoff was another prisoner on the Witness Protection Unit.

I can confirm that I never heard Darren NICHOLLS say that his version of events in relation to the Rettendon murders was false.

Darren NICHOLLS never said to me that the police had concocted the story or passed him notes during interviews telling him what to say. None of the other prisoners on the unit suggested that Darren NICHOLLS was saying that his version was untrue or that the police had concocted the story in any way."

7.1g IAN WIMSEY (also known as Damien or Damon)

STATEMENT DATED 3rd JULY 2003

Ian WIMSEY served with NICHOLLS at both H.M.P. "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha' and H.M.P. "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta'. He states:

About two or three months before the unit closed at HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha' a new prisoner, who I had never met before, arrived at the unit. At that time the other prisoners on the unit were Andy TROY, Eton GREEN (Leon), Micky, Geoff, Ralph. This new prisoner was called Darren NICHOLLS a short time after Darren a prisoner called Jim came.

In the time that I was at HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha' as described I would describe the searching as more "lax" than later at HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta'. When I used to return to the unit after being out with my handlers (police) any property I came back with was searched very quickly and as a person I was not subject to a search. Later at HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta' I knew that the prisoners property was kept a lot longer before it was returned.....

....At HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha' visitors used to come on to the wing after being searched. Us prisoners used to see the visitor in the television room or around a table in an open area of the wing. There was no privacy for the visits, so other prisoners could quite clearly see the visitors. In fact other prisoners used to talk to other prisoners visitors. At HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta' the visits used to take place in a room out of [sight] of the other prisoners.

.....I got on well with Darren who spoke freely about his case, I would describe Darren as a bit of a bragger. Darren had a friend who knew a friend who knew someone in the media. Darren told me this when I explained that I was going through some difficulties with my handlers. Darren was suggesting that I could make some money out of my [story]. I remember Darren at some stage talking about figures of £25,000 for a newspaper story and more for a television documentary. Darren told me that the reporter was working for "Time Out" magazine. Darren told me all this within a week of arriving at HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha'. None of the other prisoners had talked to me about contact with journalists.

I remember a couple of weeks later I had a visit from my girlfriend, Michelle and my son. Darren had a simultaneous visit from a black man, obviously this was while we were still at HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha'. During these visits the black man kept looking towards me. At some point during the visits I met Darren in the toilet where he explained that the black man was the journalist and that he was looking at me as Darren was talking about me to the journalist. I was actually introduced to the black man by Darren. The black man gave his name as Tony THOMPSON I very briefly told Tony THOMPSON about my [story] as I was interested in the possibilities of selling my [story].

I believe I saw Tony THOMPSON between three and six more times at HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha'. I believe that Darren used to tell staff that THOMPSON was a friend as journalists would not be allowed to visit prisoners. Tony THOMPSON was a black man of Nigerian type of appearance, aged around 30 to 35 at the time. 5 feet 8 inches to 9 inches tall of a wiry build with short cropped black hair. THOMPSON spoke well and wore glasses.

On one of the occasions THOMPSON visited I also saw that Darren had two other visitors at the same time. These people were Darren's mother (a white female aged 50 to 60 years) and Darren's brother (a white male, a couple of years younger).

I remember that the Darren used to be taken out by the police on occasions for a few days at a time. I remember just before Christmas 1996 he went to police cells. Upon returning (by now we were at HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta') Darren told me that THOMPSON had visited him in his police cell and that he (THOMPSON) had made a video recording of Darren and his accommodation with a camcorder he (THOMPSON) had smuggled in.

Darren had always come across as a "big baby" and was now saying he was trying to get inducements from his police handlers. The only specific inducement I can remember Darren talking about was bail, he was desperate to get out of prison. Darren was saying that if he didn't get bail he would not give evidence.

At HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta' generally the procedures were more strict, the cells were searched more regularly, three times a week sometimes. At HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha' this may have been once a month on occasions. I am not sure why it was stricter at HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta'.

While we were at HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta' I am not sure if Darren was visited by THOMPSON because of the visiting rooms being out of sight. I cannot remember Darren talking of any such visits.

Darren was closest friends with myself, Pat and another prisoner called Chris DANIELS who I forgot to mention earlier in my statement. Darren was visited in the main by his mother, father and brother (apart from THOMPSON). I have no knowledge of Darren's wife visiting.

I have no knowledge of Darren or any other prisoner having a video camera in the protected witness units. Prison rules obviously would not have allowed this.

Darren finally got bail in early March 1997 and I finished my sentence on the 25th or 26th March 1997. About a week later Darren called me on the telephone and told me that he was doing a story with Tony THOMPSON about the unit and that THOMPSON wanted another person to back up Darren's account. I later spoke to THOMPSON but declined to get involved with him because he wanted to speak to members of my family about a possible TV programme. Neither has had contact with me ever since.

I understand that the Criminal Cases Review Commission is reviewing the cases of Michael STEELE and Jack WHOMES who Darren NICHOLLS gave evidence against. I have never met STEELE or WHOMES.

It is difficult to make a judgement on whether Darren was telling the truth in relation to the case. Darren was a story teller in general but I do remember that in relation to the murders Darren explained that he dropped off the two men for a meeting with their victims. Darren denied knowing what was going to happen. Darren explained he was elsewhere when the murders happened, he told me that he had been sent away for a drink at a pub but I also remember I believe he said he was near some farm gates when he heard the sound of gunfire. The other thing to bear in mind was that Darren seemed to tell stories as I said, but I would guess a lot of stories he told were to gain esteem on the unit. Darren never at any stage admitted any involvement in the murders other than unwittingly driving the offenders to near the scene."

STATEMENT DATED 25th SEPTEMBER 2003

In this further statement WIMSEY states:

"Further to my previous statement made on 3rd July 2003 I have been asked by the Police to clarify some matters. There was never any suggestion that Darren NICHOLLS lied or was planning to lie about the Rettendon murders either from Darren or anybody else on the unit. There was no suggestion that Darren NICHOLLS was given a story to tell by the Police about the same murders either from Darren or anybody else on the unit. There was no suggestion that Darren NICHOLLS was passed written hints during Police interviews when he had forgotten what to say."

7.1h CHRIS DANIEL

Chris DANIEL served with NICHOLLS at both H.M.P. "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha' and H.M.P. "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta'. He states:

"I remember that at both "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha' and "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta' the cells were searched on a regular basis, as often in fact as cell searches in mainstream prison. The search teams of prison officers seemed to search even more thoroughly than they did in mainstream prison wings. The only thing that was private on the unit were any papers about personal matters which the officers were not allowed to read, but nevertheless could search.

On occasions when I used to enter and leave the prison the search of myself and my property was very thorough and matched the searches in mainstream prison.

In relation to being visited by family and friends the only person who came to visit me during my time in the unit was my father."BLANKED OUT"

When I was on the unit at "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha' the visits would be made on the unit itself in full view of every other prisoner. Basically the prisoner and his visitor would pull up some chairs in the communal area and the other prisoners would keep their distance. A prison officer would position himself fairly nearby while this went on. At HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta' the visits used to take place in one of the visiting rooms which were out of [sight] of the unit and the other prisoners.

Shortly before the unit was transferred to HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta', a prisoner called Darren NICHOLLS arrived at HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Alpha'. Initially I did not take much notice of Darren until we moved to HMP "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta' where I became quite friendly with him. Darren was also quite friendly with other prisoners called Pat, Jim, Duncan HANRAHAN and Damien FAY especially.....

.....People in the unit did lose patience with Darren, he seemed to be unable to stop whinging and overplayed his part as a "victim" of the circumstances. Other prisoners in the unit were more accepting of their futures.

I have no knowledge of anybody from the media or any journalists visiting Darren or of Darren having any contact with the press. I do not know of a black man called Tony THOMPSON who was a journalist. I cannot remember any black men visiting Darren, in fact I don't remember Darren having any visitors at all whilst in the unit.

I know that the prison rules about the media were that no contact should be made by the prisoners. I have no knowledge of any prisoner on the unit contacting the media which would have been an unpopular move amongst the other prisoners who obviously wanted to keep their stories to themselves. Darren certainly never told me about any media contact. Having said all of that our telephone calls out from the unit were not monitored.

Video cameras were not an item prisoners would be allowed to keep. I do not remember any prisoner having access to a video camera and the likelihood of this happening was remote because of the searching of the cells and prisoners and visitors. I remember my father saying that he was searched very thoroughly upon his visits to me.

OFFICERS REPORT - DETECTIVE INSPECTOR FANTOM

On Tuesday 28th October 2003, Detective Inspector FANTOM spoke to Chris DANIELS on the telephone and asked him questions regarding the allegations that the police had 'concocted' NICHOLLS' evidence.

DANIEL confirmed that "NICHOLLS had never said anything of that kind to him and neither did Geoff or any other prisoner.....

....NICHOLLS was like Uncle Albert in Only Fools and Horses in as much that he kept going on and on about the same story ie his involvement in the murder. Because he did so,

various people started to pick holes in his story [ie saw inconsistencies]. They were Troy, Geoff and HANRAHAN." When Detective Inspector FANTOM stated that 'HANRAHAN' did not appear to be in custody at the same time as NICHOLLS, DANIEL said that he was sure that he was. He also stated that "he thought Geoff and HANRAHAN thought that NICHOLLS was a liar."

{research during the investigation indicates that HANRAHAN "BLANKED OUT" was not in custody at the same time as NICHOLLS]

7.1i STUART WARNE

Stuart WARNE was interviewed on two occasions.

STATEMENT DATED 30th JULY 2003

In his first statement, he explains that he never actually met Darren NICHOLLS because he had been granted bail from H.M.P. "BLANKED OUT" 'Beta' prior to his arrival.

However, he states that he remembers having conversations with Geoff [COUZENS] who "used to imply that he thought Darren was not telling the truth about his (Darren's) case.... I do not know why exactly Geoff thought Darren was lying other than I believe he and Darren were fairly close. Geoff did tell me that someone from the media did have contact with Darren while Darren was in prison."

STATEMENT DATED 8th OCTOBER 2003

In this statement, WARNE states: "I never heard anybody talking about notes being passed to Darren by his police interviewers during those interviews. As I have said before Geoff, another prisoner on the unit, on many occasions said that Darren was lying in the case he was giving evidence. Geoff had several conversations with myself, mainly at the time of the trial in which Darren was giving evidence, also at about the time of the release of Darren's book and television programme.......

..........I do remember Geoff specifically saying to me that Darren had confessed to him that he had been coached by the police and told what to say which was a concoction. Geoff said that when Darren used to leave prison for interviews with police he used to return and talk about things in relation to his case and show knowledge he didn't previously have, such as talking about the forensic evidence in the case. Geoff also said that Darren's story also changed slightly upon his return. Geoff was trying to say that the police had obviously briefed Darren on his outings.......

......I also remember that Geoff said that Darren was virtually in tears on occasions talking about his fear of giving the evidence that the police had told him to give........

.........Geoff was the only other prisoner who told me that he had heard Darren confess to lying about his evidence. Amongst the other prisoners the general rumour was that Darren was lying but no one ever (other than Geoff) said to me that Darren had confessed to these lies.....

.......I do remember another prisoner called Mike. Mike never said anything to me about Darren's case and never mentioned anything about the police passing notes to Darren in interviews.......Geoff was always talking about selling his story to a newspaper or writing a book."