13/12/95 - Statement of RAYMOND ALFRED WRIGHT

NAME: RAYMOND ALFRED WRIGHT
AGE / DATE OF BIRTH: 46 14021949

Who states:- This statement consisting of 004 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: 131295
R A WRIGHT (SIGNED)

I am the owner of Ford Escort Estate motor vehicle index L1270JN colour red. On Wednesday 061295, my wife and myself attended a funeral and as such we had left our young son at my mothers house in Pitsea. The funeral we attended was in Riegate and I had to drop my wife and mother in law off in Hornchurch. After this I carried onto Pitsea where I picked my Ron up.

The route that I would travel from Pitsea to Tolleshunt Darcy includes the A130 from the Sadlers Farm Roundabout to the East Hanningfield turn off. I do not know exactly what time it was that I picked my son up but I am aware that I arrived home in Tolleshunt Darcy about 1920 - 1925 hours that evening. As I was travelling along the A130 I went through the Rettendon Turnpike in the direction of Chelmsford, when you come through the Ret tendon Village and into a derestricted road area.

The road then goes into a series of bends on a decline on the road. Because I am a regular user of the road I am aware that on these bends there is situated a farm shop and a gun club on the right handside of the road; and I am aware that there could be vehicles waiting to turn right. As I entered this decline I became aware that the vehicles in front of me had slowed down, this would have been about 250ft earlier then I would have anticipated stopping.

I slowly caught up with the vehicles in front but I had to brake quite heavily in the end because I had anticipated that any vehicle would be turning into the farm. I then stopped in the line of traffic and I believe I was either 2 or 3 cars from the front of the line. I believe I was stationary for approximately 10 seconds when an oncoming vehicle left a gap for the vehicle that was turning right to cut across the traffic.

As it did I could see that the vehicle was a 4x4 vehicle and because of the shape of the rear of the vehicle and a grille over the rear lights my immediate reaction was that it was a Range Rover. I believed that the vehicle was dark in colour and I think it was possibly green. I don't know why but I think there was at least 3 people in the vehicle and I think there may have been 4.

I was aware there was a driver of the vehicle who was in the dark and a person who was sitting in the rear of the vehicle behind the drivers seat. This person who I believe to be a man because of his size appeared to be bigger than the driver. He was wearing a light/fawn coloured upper garment. As the vehicle started to turn I got the impression that the person in the back looked over his shoulder in the direction of the Rettendon Turnpike.

The vehicle then went into a farm track that I did not know exsisted. I then continued my journey along the A130 and because I wasn't aware of the farm track I looked down the track and I could see the rear of the vehicle that had turned into the track, but I do not remember seeing the reflectors of any vehicles in front of it. I then continued my journey home.

I believe the time that this incident occurred would have been between 1850 hours and 1900 hours because it normally takes me about 30 minutes to travel home from there. I don't believe I was more then 2 cars behind the Range Rover so when it turned I would have been no more then 30ft from the vehicle. I had a clear and unobstructed view of the vehicle for a period of approx 2 seconds whilst it crossed in front of me.

Although that area of the road is not lit there was lighting from vehicles coming from the opposite direction. At the time I saw this the traffic was quite heavy especially traffic travelling towards Southend. I do wear glasses but this is not necessary when driving. The man in the fawn coloured garment in the rear of the vehicle appeared to be sat tight against the window and was even leaning with his right shoulder against the window.
R A WRIGHT SIGNED

STATEMENT TAKEN PLACE:
TIME:
DATE: 131295
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