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03/06/99
- Re: MURDER OF ALISON SHAUGHNESSY
Re: MURDER OF ALISON SHAUGHNESSY - 3.6.91
Police investigation into the above murder was carried out
from an incident room at Earlsfield Police Station.This
concluded on 8.8.91 with two sisters. Michelle and Lisa
TAYLOR. being jointly charged with this crime.On 24th July
1992 the two defendants were unanimously convicted at the
Central Criminal Court and both sentenced to life imprisonment.
Both prisoners appealed against conviction and on 11th June
1993 at the Criminal Court of Appeal the conviction was
set aside As a result of remarks made during the judgement
at the Appeal Court and allegations made by the TAYLOR family.
a number of complaints were recorded against the investigating
officers. A full investigation into the complaints has been
carried out by Commander (Crime) William GRIFFITHS and his
report is at present with the Police Complaints Authority.
I have been directed to carry out a review of the murder
investigation restricted purely to the investigative and
evidential aspects. The object is to see whether. in the
light of the release of the TAYLOR sisters. and the assertion
by their family that they are innocent. there is a need
for the case to be re-opened and fresh enquiries made with
a view to discovering an alternative suspect.
It is unusual to carry out such a review after the main
suspects have been charged and convicted at Court (albeit
subsequently released on Appeal) and therefore in order
to remain objective I have initially excluded the TAYLOR
sisters from the equation and sought to find another area
which could possibly have led to this crime being committed.
I have grouped these under six headings and researched all
available evidence appropriate to each one. Following this
I have then looked again at the evidence relating purely
to Michelle and Lisa TAYLOR. at the end of which I have
reached my conclusion.
1. SOMEBODY ELSE IN ALISON's LIFE WITH A MOTIVE TO MURDER
HER.
Virtually impossible to accept this as a possibility. Her
background was fully researched with family. friends and
work colleagues and nothing emerged to cause suspicion that
she was or had been involved with any other person. She
was unanimously described as shy and reserved and had no
previous boyfriend before meeting John SHAUGHNESSY at the
age of 16.
They had been together since then and to all intents and
purposes were happily married. She had also worked continuously
at the same branch of Barclays Bank since leaving school
and led an orderly and relatively uneventful life.
2. SOMEBODY ELSE IN JOHN SHAUGHNESSY's LIFE WITH A MOTIVE
TO
Again the lifestyle and background of this subject was extensively
researched. Although he is not perhaps as predictable as
his wife there is again nothing to indicate that the murder
could have come from this direction. Several past girlfriends
were discovered but since meeting Alison. the only other
woman of any importance in his life was Michelle TAYLOR.
3. ALISON MURDERED BY A BURGLAR / INTRUDER
Considerable weight was given to this possibility by the
investigation team and all local crimes were researched
particularly where any suspect had been armed with a knife
or used violence. No credible suspect was identified.
A number of features of the case tell against this theory.
(a) The level of violence used on the victim is in itself
very unusual in such circumstances.
(b) The flat had not been ransacked and no drawers. cupboards
or other items disturbed.
(c) The victim's handbag was also intact.
(d) No sign of any forced entry.
(e) John SHAUGHNESSY is adamant that the windows had been
locked
(f) Full forensic examination of the premises including
possible points of access such as drainpipes. windowsills
and frames failed to produce the slightest evidence of entry
by an intruder.
(g) The situation of the flat on the second and third floors
of the building would have made any attempted entry from
the rear hazardous in the extreme and would inevitably have
left some signs of such activity.
It is accepted that SHAUGHNESSY reports the loss of two
relatively low value gold chains. the most disturbing being
the one he believed Alison wore on her wrist. There is no
explanation for the loss of this item. but any suggestion
that it was stolen from her after being attacked can be
countered by the fact that a bigger more visible gold chain
around her neck was untouched.
4. FOLLOWED OR FORCED IN BY SEX ATTACKER / STALKER
Study of the murder scene and the circumstances of the victim's
last movements tend strongly to refute this suggestion and
I personally do not accept such an attack could have taken
place. Apart from failure to double-lock the front door.
there is nothing to show that Alison did not follow her
normal habits in a relaxed and undisturbed manner.
In order to launch such an attack the first movement would
have to take place at the front door and then continue inside
the hallway and up the stairs. All available evidence shows
that the victim was acting perfectly normally after entering
the premises.
(a) She opened and closed the door to her own flat.
(b) She picked up the mail from the communal hallway and
carried it upstairs.
(c) She carried her keys upstairs in her hand.
(d) Her coat was carried over her arm.
(e) Her handbag also carried upstairs.
(f) No evidence of clothes disturbed or sexual interference.
(g) No screams or other sounds of distress heard by neighbours.
(h) Every indication that the attack occurred after she
reached the landing and was about to enter the kitchen.
If these circumstances are compared with those in the case
of Alexandra SPRENGER in which a lot of work was carried
out. the difference is obvious. In that case the victim
was pushed violently from behind as she opened her front
door. The suspect then attempted to drag her into the hallway.
she screamed and he ran off.
5 MURDERED FOLLOWING NEIGHBOUR / INTER-FAMILY DISPUTE
Both other tenants at 41 VARDENS ROAD are elderly and infirm
:-
Michael CASEY (age 61) and Christina WRIGHT (age 72).
They describe having a good relationship with the SHAUGHNESSYS'
who were described as a happy couple not given to loud parties
or other nuisances. Similar feedback came from other neighbours.
There is nothing to indicate any animosity towards Alison
from any other member of the SHAUGHNESSYS' family. The general
opinion being that she was well liked and popular.
6. OTHER
A number of avenues were explored under this heading. Although
John SHAUGHNESSY is alibied for the time of the murder.
consideration must be given to whether he employed a third
party to carry out the killing. Exploration of this theory
finds nothing to support it. The SHAUGHNESSYS' had no financial
problems. No life policy or other insurance had been taken
out on Alison.
John SHAUGHNESSY does stand to benefit from her bank pension
fund. but there is no evidence he was aware of this possibility
prior to the murder. Many other lines of enquiry feature
in this type of murder investigation either generated from
the initiative of police officers or as a result of assistance
being sought from the general public.
Albeit some such leads will never be fully resolved (the
Alexandra SPRENGER attack and Clare PATTERSON 'pesterer'
on Wandsworth Common are examples in point). I found that
all credible information was fully researched and every
effort made to reach a successful conclusion.
I note that the matters surrounding David WYLIE have been
finally resolved following the subject's location during
the course of the complaint enquiry and his elimination
as a suspect. Having dealt with those matters at some length
and being satisfied that there was no suspect or other line
of enquiry worthy of further Police investigation. I then
looked in depth at the evidence on which the charges against
the TAYLOR sisters were based.
(a) MOTIVE
Firmly established as possessive jealousy. It was clear
that Michelle was obsessed with John SHAUGHNESSY and Alison
clearly was an obstacle in her way. They had and still were
at the time of the murder carrying out a physical sexual
relationship. Entries in a diary displayed the depth of
hatred she had for Alison. particularly one in October 1990
when she recorded:-
"My dream solution would be for Alison to disappear
as if she had never existed and then maybe I could . give
everything I want to the man I love". Pressure to carry
out such a drastic crime may well have surfaced when she
became aware that:-
(i) John SHAUGHNESSY has mentioned he was giving up the
Monday evening flower arranging to spend more time with
his wife; The importance of this is that it was on Monday
evenings after the flower distribution that sexual intercourse
normally took place between John and Michelle.
(ii) John was planning to start a family.
(iii) John spoke of returning with Alison to live permanently
in Ireland.
(b) The savage nature of the attack suggests a personal
motive rather than a criminal attack by a stranger.
(c) The mortice lock on the front door was unlocked which
was contrary to Alison's daily habit pointing to her having
let somebody in she knew and who she expected to leave shortly
afterwards.
(d) The position of the body and property carried by the
victim together with the nature of knife wounds points to
her having been attacked from behind as she reached to top
of the stairs and was about to enter the kitchen.
(e) In initial Police interviews Michelle deliberately hid
the depth of her sexual relationship with SHAUGHNESSY.
(f) Lisa denied ever having visited the flat at 41 VARDENS
ROAD. a fact confirmed by Michelle yet her fingerprints
were found on the inside of the flats front door in such
a position that was consistent with her having been the
last one in and to have pushed the door shut. If this scenario
is correct Michelle would have been the person immediately
behind Alison as she climbed the stairs and in the perfect
position to carry out the knife attack.
(g) It was the opinion of Senior Identification Officer
Eric MILNE that the fingermarks were relatively fresh and
most probably deposited on the door between 1st and 4th
June.
(h) The sighting of Dr UNSWORTH-WHITE who saw two girls.
both fitting the descriptions of the sisters. running away
from the front door of number 41 or 43 VARDENS ROAD at about
5.45pm on the day of the murder. Irrespective of the controversy
to later surround this evidence it cannot be discounted
and is still an important feature in the case. An important
aspect of this is that he thought they were carrying a bag
which contained items of clothing. This could have been
blood stained clothing changed after the murder whilst still
inside the premises and possibly the. murder weapon.
(i) The sighting by James HEWITT of a white estate car.
thought to be a Ford Sierra stationary in VARDENS ROAD at
about 5.35pm on the day of the murder. (Tallies in colour.
model and make with a car which at that time was owned.
and regularly driven by Michelle).
THE FALSE ALIBI
(j) It has been suggested that the most compelling evidence
against the TAYLOR sisters is their concerted efforts to
arrange a false alibi for the time of the murder. I do not
argue with that. Michelle and Lisa have consistently stated
that between 3pm and 5.15pm they had been shopping in Bromley
returning to the clinic at the latter time when they then
saw Jeanette TAPP.
This would effectively rule out the possibility of them
being involved in the murder as the victim did not leave
work that day until 5pm and would have arrived home at about
5.45pm. It must be said that if the evidence of Jeanette
TAPP is accepted as an accurate account of what actually
took place. then there is the strongest indication of all
that the two sisters were guilty.
The plain fact is that they would have been actively conspiring
together to create a false alibi for a crime which would
not even have been discovered for at least another 2 and
half hours. They have never said that the alibi was in respect
of any other matter which they were trying to cover up but
was a true account of their movements before. during and
after the murder. It is their contention that TAPP is lying.
Jeanette TAPP contends that she did not return to her room
at the clinic that evening until at least 7.15pm and it
was after that time that she first saw the sisters. From
then and over the course of the next few days Michelle pressurised
her into telling the Police that she had returned at 5pm
and shortly afterwards had met both of them. TAPP's evidence
is fairly strongly supported by her mother Jeanette Ellen
TAPP and sisters Marianne TAPP and Julie POWELL.
all of whom she claimed to have seen at her mother's address
between 5pm and 7pm that day after making a number of purchases
from a nearby supermarket in preparation for a birthday
party. It is not in dispute that TAPP's Speedlink card was
used to withdraw £50 from a branch of National Westminster
Bank adjacent to the supermarket in Kennington Park Road
at 3.44pm on 3rd June 1991.
This transaction becomes of considerable importance and
will be referred to again later in this report. All of the
material concerning Jeanette TAPP needs to be carefully
studied. I have already pointed out that in my opinion it
has a crucial bearing on this case. The members of the jury
clearly felt the same as during their deliberations they
twice sent out notes seeking further directions on this
part of the evidence.
(k) Another item of evidence which tends to throw doubt
on the Bromley alibi is the use of Michelle's own Speedlink
Card at the Lambeth North branch of the National Westminster
Bank (This bank is in Westminster Bridge Road and close
to the clinic. but a considerable distance from Bromley)
at 3.20pm on 3rd June. Michelle had stated in interview
that she had taken her Speedlink Card with her and she had
not used it.
Michelle response to this is that Jeanette TAPP must have
stolen the card and usedher pin number to obtain the cash.
The importance of TAPP's use of her own Speedlink Card at
3.44pm that day now becomes apparent as that physically
places her some distance from Lambeth North with just 24
minutes between the transactions and supports her denial
of Michelle's allegation.
(l) Nurse Carol HEALY saw Michelle TAYLOR driving out of
the clinic car park in her white Ford Estate car just after
4pm. A passenger in the car fitted the description of Lisa.
HEALY had worked at the clinic since 1989 and therefore
at the time of this incident would have known Michelle for
some 2 years. HEALY is certain of the time as she was leaving
the clinic at the end of her normal duty period.
This is an important sighting as not only does it throw
further doubt on the Bromley alibi. but the direction of
the car would have taken it towards the River Thames and
possibly on to Battersea and VARDENS ROAD. Valerie McDONALD
has also worked at the clinic since 1989 and would have
known Michelle and Lisa by sight. She states that at about
6pm on 3rd June she saw the sisters returning to the clinic
in Michelle's car and they had exchanged waves.
Again she is sure of the time as it is the normal time she
finishes duty and leaves the clinic. This evidence fits
in with the approximate time the sisters would have reached
the clinic if they had returned after committing the murder
and supports the evidence of Jeanette TAPP who says that
she could not have seen them at the clinic just after 5pm.
SUPPORT FOR THE ALIBI
During their purported trip into Bromley the sisters made
no purchases nor were they involved in any other transactions
which would have provided substantive evidence of their
presence in that area. The position was also the same in
respect of Michelle's motor vehicle which had been left
on a parking meter in a side street. Three persons are available
to offer support for the Bromley shopping trip.
Tessa JORDAN a close friend of Lisa has stated that she
had intended to visit Bromley with the sisters during the
afternoon of the 3rd June. but had been prevented from doing
so by her mother. She further stated that Lisa had telephoned
her. she believed from Michelle's room at the Clinic. at
approximately 5.30pm that day. Her mother.
Mrs Christine JORDAN. a close friend of the TAYLOR family.
confirmed that Tessa had sought her permission to go to
Bromley that afternoon with Michelle and Lisa and also that
Tessa had received a telephone call from Lisa at about 5.30pm.
Both Michelle and Lisa had said that whilst in Bromley they
had seen and spoken to a coloured youth they knew only as
Philip. He transpired to be Philip BEESON who was not finally
located until some 12 months later.
He was a long standing friend of Lisa and Tesa Jordan. He
confirmed having a brief accidental meeting with the sisters
outside MacDonalds. but was not able to assist with the
month. day. or time. The weight of available evidence. in
my opinion. points powerfully towards this alibi having
been concocted by the suspects in order to cover a crime
which they knew would not in the normal course of events
have been discovered for some hours to come.
If this is the case then the evidence of the JORDAN'S and
BEESON is either deliberately false or they are mistaken.
Anyone would expect all of the evidence surrounding this
part of the case was vigorously tested during the trial.
CONCLUSION
I found this to have been a highly professional. painstakingly
thorough investigation during the course of which a wide
ranging number of lines of enquiry were explored. A study
of the 936 actions carried out during this investigation
gives a much fuller picture of the scope of work undertaken.
All of the most. compelling evidence discovered during the
course of this enquiry points towards this crime having
been carried out by the TAYLOR sisters.
I found no other credible suspect or line of enquiry which
would be worthy of further exploration. No new information
has come to light.
RECOMMENDATION
There is no justification in re-opening this investigation
or carrying out further enquiries into it.
William HATFULL
Detective Chief Superintendent |
| Contact : bernard.omahoney@bernardomahoney.com |
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