??/??/?? - Statement of Michael Joseph BROWN

Witness Statement (CJ Act 1967 s.9; MC Act 1980 ss.5A, (3) (a) and 5B, MC Rules/981 r.70)

Statement of Michael Joseph BROWN
Age if under 18 Over 18 (if over 18 insert "over 18")
Occupation Retired Detective Constable

This statement (consisting of 1 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.

Signature
Date

Further to my previous statement made on 29th March 2004 I have been asked to clarify some points. When I worked as a Police Officer in Essex my collar number was 744. As far as I know I have never heard of or met a person called Caroline DAWNAY. I certainly have no knowledge Darren NICHOLLS visiting or meeting Caroline DAWNAY at any time whatsoever.

I have viewed copies of the custody record in relation to Darren NICHOLLS covering the dates of 30th July 1996 to 6th August 1996. There are no events recorded for 1st August 1996 at all. I can categorically say that every time I took Darren NICHOLLS out from the police station without fail an entry would have been made on the custody record.

I cannot recall what I was doing on 1st August 1996 but from referring to the custody record I can say that I did not see Darren NICHOLLS or that date. The custody record refers to Darren NICHOLLS being at Colchester Police Station.

I remember Darren was lodged in the female cell area at Colchester On the occasions I took Darren NICHOLLS out he was always under the control of myself and whoever the officer with me was. Darren was always transported by car and was regularly taken out.

I remember taking Darren to Suffolk and Southend and on one or two occasions to Temple in London where he met his barrister Anne RAFFERTY. The only meetings that Darren had out of my sight and hearing were those with his barrister in London.

On these occasions we drove to the chambers and sat outside the very office that the meetings with his barrister took place in. These meetings with Darren's legal team were the only trips to London that I made with Darren. I also have no knowledge of Darren signing any documentation or agreements with any members of or representatives of the media or press at any time whatsoever.

I have been asked to recall Police Officers from the Essex Police Diving Section being brought in to look after Darren's needs. I believe the main reason for this was financial and to allow myself and Detective Constable Chris WINSTONE to use our valuable time to assist in the murder investigation.

I do remember a briefing that I was present at for the benefit of the Diving Team. Also present were Detective Superintendent Brian STOREY, Police Sergeant Nigel DERMOTT of the Diving Team and possibly another Constable from the same team.

The responsibilities of the team in relation to Darren were outlined at this briefing including matters such as trips out and the need to keep Darren mentally alert. The Diving Team were told that there was only a finite amount of money available and that any problems should be referred to the murder investigation team. I cannot remember if we gave a written briefing to the Diving Team.

Other members of the Diving Team included PC Steve MILLBOURNE, I am not sure of the names of other team members. The Diving Team were only looking after Darren for a matter of a few weeks. I cannot remember if there was a specific operational name for the deployment of the Diving Team.

The duty times were at the discretion of the Diving Team and according to the needs of the job in hand. As I remember Detective Superintendent Brian STOREY decided to end the use of the Diving Team as they were not correctly fulfilling their role. During the time Darren was staying at police stations he did not have a mobile telephone for his use.

I remember that these were the early days of mobile telephones and I did have use of one during days out with Darren. I do not believe I ever sent or received a text message of any nature during my service as a Police Officer. Any expenditure that I made upon Darren was documented with receipts, other than for meals out where this would have drawn unnecessary attention upon ourselves.

I do not have any documentation in my possession in relation to the investigation or my dealings with Darren NICHOLLS.