Innocence Fraud Promoter & Groomer Michael Naughton, Russ Spring & Psychopathic Killer Warren Slaney
Gary Thompson (32) and John Weston (29) were shot and killed on the 10th of October 1990 in the front garden of the house Gary Thompson lived in with his wife and children in Oadby, Leicestershire.
Gary Thompson
John Weston
Gary Thompson ran a successful hot dog and burger van fast food business and his friend John Weston worked alongside him.
Psychopath Warren Slaney and Terence Burke stole up to £60,000 of bank holidays takings from Gary Thompson’s Bentley motor vehicle after shooting dead Gary Thompson and John Weston.
Innocence fraud killer Warren Slaney’s co-defendant Terence Burke attempted to pretend that victim Gary Thompson “was in on the raid” as part of an insurance scam.
However it was established Gary Thompson was uninsured.
In 2000 killer Warren Slaney made allegations here that staff at Woodhill prison had “attacked” him “atleastsixtimes” and in 2011 Private Eye magazine published an article headed The Hot Dog Hitin which it stated;
Slaney’s case has now been taken up by the University of Bristol Innocence Project where law students investigate claims of injustice
Excerpt from a Private Eye magazine article headed The Hot Dog Hit dated 11th September 2011
Another article on psychopathic innocence fraud killer Warren Slaney stated;
The campaign has the support of Dr Michael Naughton of The Innocence Project based at Bristol University who showed that miscarriages of justice were costing the public purse as much as £200m a year in 2002.
Someone called Russ Spring was also involved in the innocence fraud public relations spin campaign and was referred to in 2005 here as a “campaign support worker for the Miscarriages of Justice Organisation”.
Russ Spring from Mojo said: “We feel that the scale of the inquiry that is needed into his conviction really is beyond the scope of the Criminal Case Review Commission and they need to appoint an independent outside investigators.
Referring to just after killer Barry George was released from custody in 2008 following his retrial, his uncle Mike Burke stated;
It was now open season on Barry and the press set about destroying any hope of him settling into any kind of normal life in his home city of London.
I watched dispassionately as his reputation, such as it was, nosedived over the last days of 2008 under a welter of tabloid fantasy.
They ran stories on what he ate, what bookshops he visited, his temporary accommodation.
They claimed incorrectly that he was stalking a nurse, that Sky’s Kay Burley was frightened sick by him, that he was interested in Cheryl Cole of X Factor, that he was involved with the partner of a convicted killer etc.
To make things even better a ‘spokesman’ for him allegedly confirmed some of those manufactured stories.
Pat Reynolds said to me one day: ‘with friends like those who needs enemies?’
Excerpts from Mike Burke’s book Mike’s Story: The Battle to Clear Barry George of the Murder of Jill Dando first published in June 2011
The “spokesman” Mike Burke referred to was Surjit Singh Clair.
Read more on Surjit Singh Clair here, here and here.
Referring to Surjit Singh Clair and some of the various news stories regarding her psychopathic killer brother, Michelle Diskin Bates stated;
It was arranged that Barry would travel from London to Birmingham, where he would be met by volunteers from MOJO.
They would take him to a secret location and keep him safe.
In two days, he and a volunteer, Russ, would meet me in Leeds.
When Russ returned to his family, Surj would take over, taking Barry along to a meeting he was having at another hotel.
We really hoped that all of these precautions would mean Barry would not appear in any more disgraceful headlines, but no.
They were being followed everywhere, even camping outside of Russ’ home looking for Barry, though they were not there.
Russ’ wife and family felt intimidated by the media’s presence.
The only way they could have known about Russ was if our phones were being monitored.
Of course, this was all before the Leveson Inquiry and the News of the World’s well-earned downfall. Story upon story was published.
There was one story that alleged Barry had terrified a nurse in the hospital carpark, and that he was in an agitated state demanding drugs at the hospital.
The truth was that he was with Russ and they had gone to A&E to replace Barry’s epilepsy meds, as he’d had to abandon his supply at the flat when the police came.
Another story alleged that he was now obsessed with Cheryl Cole as well as Kay Burley, and that he was dating a convict’s wife, the person Surj went to a business meeting with!
Statements by Michelle Diskin Bates from her book Stand Against Injustice published in October 2018
Surjit Singh Clair accompanied Pam Wight, who had been groomed, conned and exploited by serial killer Steve Wight, during her February 2008 Sky news interview with Kay Burley.
It was during this interview where Kay Burley asked Pam Wright;
Do you think if you’d had a better sex life, he wouldn’t have done this?
Kay Burley – February 2008
A December 2008 media article stated of killer Barry George;
He is also reportedly besotted with Pam Wright, the fiancée of Suffolk Strangler Steve Wright.
Uncle Mike Burke, killer Barry George & Susan Young in the back of a London black cab, leaving the Old Bailey on the 1st August 2008 – courtesy of the DailyMail
Up To His Old Tricks
Surjit Singh Clair who was referred to in Part 16here was said to be the worse offender of the three men who faked a racial attack back in 2000.
Excerpts from a media article read;
The judge said Clair’s behaviour was worse because he tried to make a “significant personal profit” by selling the story.
The Express newspaper agreed to pay £6,000 to Clair for the tale of the attack, but the money was never handed over after police became suspicious of Cotter’s claims.
The story of extreme racial prejudice appalled the country.
But it was not true.
Cotter had set up the assault himself in a bizarre plan to revive the couple’s relationship.
The plot backfired when a jury at Birmingham crown court found him and his co-defendants, Craig Wynn and Surjit Singh Clair, guilty of conspiring to pervert the course of justice.
Not only did he waste weeks of police time, but he made the woman he hoped to marry fear for her life.
Surjit Singh Clair was involved with killer Barry George’s innocence fraud spin campaign for over 4 years. He was described as a “freelance journalist who was enlisted by MOJO to promote George’s cause”.
Surjit Singh Clair was sat next to uncle Mike Burke inside the Old Bailey on the 1st August 2008, which was the day the jury delivered their not guilty verdict following Barry George’s retrial.
Mike Burke, Barry George, Susan Young and David Wacks, who was Barry George’s new solicitor (and a colleague of solicitor Jeremy Moore’s), got a black cab from the Old Bailey to a nearby hotel.
Excerpts from Mike Burke’s book read;
Uncle Mike Burke, killer Barry George & Susan Young leaving the Old Bailey on 1st August 2008 – courtesy of the DailyMail
A photograph later published by the Daily Mail shows the tension etched on all our faces, we looked bloody awful.
The unknown taxi driver did a brilliant job and asked no questions.
Many months later when I viewed Sky News footage I was amused that at the very moment when Michelle was expressing her heartfelt thanks to MOJO whose members were there with her on camera Susan Young, Mr Wacks and I were whisking Barry away in the dramatic dash to freedom, and no MOJO.
…………………………………………………….. The relaxed happy mood soon changed as Serj began engaging intensely with Mr Wacks.
Mr Wacks had understood that he would be discussing media plans with Barry only in an unhurried relaxed manner over a few days but now Serj was saying that as it was Friday there was pressure to get something out for the Sunday papers.
Mr Wacks was very annoyed at Serj’s unexpected intrusion and expressed his unhappiness to me.
Eventually a frustrated looking Serj said that all contracts were lost apart from one with the News of the World.
That did not come as any surprise to me as I had been told by a contact some time earlier that just such a contract had been lined up and so I felt that these negotiations were just a smokescreen.
The deal was done and it was just a matter of getting Barry to sign.
I was dismayed to watch as his happy mood was replaced by a confused puzzled demeanour as he tried to make sense of the intense change which had come over all of us.
I knew that things were now falling apart.
I found it hard to believe that they were again involving the News of the World after what had happened in 2001, like did they not learn anything from that?
I protested to Serj that we did not want that paper and told him about their 2001 headline ‘The Imp Who Grew into a Devil’, but he said that it was all that was left.
I then took Barry to one side and said that I didn’t mind what he did as long as it was his free choice.
Susan Young then intervened and tried to reassure me that everything would be OK but I was not at all convinced, feeling that history was repeating itself.
I was beat and could only hope that Mr Wacks would ensure that Barry’s interests were looked after.
Michelle, Serj and Mr Wacks then went to another part of the hotel where further negotiations took place; while I remained for a short time with Barry.
……………………………………………………..
The headlines hit me like a slap in the face.
The News of the World article was prefaced with the warnings, OUR LAWYERS ARE WATCHING’.
They described Barry as a ‘BUG-EYED ODD-BALL.’
They claimed he confessed: ‘’I didn’t kill Jill Dando-because I was stalking ANOTHER woman.’’
He was shown posing with the horrible prison issue plastic bag which I had concealed when entering the hotel.
In their ‘World Exclusive’ he was quoted as saying ‘After leaving HAFAD I bumped into a woman who was later a prosecution witness and said I was stalking her…That was at 12.33pm…’
That was obviously a reference to Julia Moorhouse who he had always denied meeting.
Excerpts from uncle Mike Burke’s book Mike’s Story: The Battle to Clear Barry George of the Murder of Jill Dando first published in June 2011
Barry George’s Admissions, Lies, Gaslighting & Lack Of Remorse
Not only did killer Barry George admit to seeing Julia Moorhouse on the day of his murder, he also lied to the Sunday Mirror about the “gunpowder” found in his coat pocket.
Excerpts from a BBC article read;
Mr George told the Sunday Mirror he believed the residue came from armed police entering his flat – but in response, Scotland Yard said no such officers were involved in searches at the address.
“They’re responsible for the gunpowder,” Mr George told the Sunday Mirror.
“I’ve got pictures of police going in my flat with guns – that’s how it got there.”
Scotland Yard said it was not aware of any complaint about officers’ conduct but would investigate should one be made.
A spokesman said: “At the first trial it was suggested that armed officers were at the address, [but] there was no authorisation for armed officers, there was no record of armed officers attending and we strongly refute the suggestion that armed officers were present.”
Surjit Singh Clair put out statements via the Express, the same newspaper he had previously attempted to sell his fake story to, claiming psychopath Barry George was “reformed;”
Barry George is a reformed character who poses no danger to some, it was claimed
Police moves to monitor his behaviour and protect the public will not be necessary, his spokesman said.
Surjit Singh Clair said Mr George, 48, acquitted last week of murdering TV presenter Jill Dando, now realised his past stalking and pestering of women was wrong.
He said: “It was inappropriate. He was lonely at the time and that was the only way he knew to communicate. But he said he has learnt from that and he won’t be doing that kind of thing again. It’s a case of self-policing for Barry. He now realises it is wrong.”
Mr Clair was speaking after it emerged officials want to keep a close eye on Mr George amid fears over his former lifestyle. Police, prison and probation staff are discussing whether they can put in place special supervision arrangements.
The set of arrangements, known as Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements, involves agencies sharing information on how they can best manage violent and sexual offenders.
But sources said several legal hurdles remain as Mr George has not been convicted of an offence for more than 20 years. Officials believe Mr George could be made subject to the same terms because of his admissions and police evidence of his disturbing past behaviour.
Referring to the first few days after Barry George’s August 2008 retrial, Michelle Diskin Bates stated in 2018;
Back on the Isle of Wight, we were still battling to get the newspaper to pay Barry for his exclusive interview.
Barry’s new solicitor, Mr Wacks, wanted him to take a lesser amount.
He had spoken with the paper’s representatives and they said they would pay a sixth of the fee, or a bit more if Barry would submit to a lie detector test.
I was utterly outraged that his solicitor would even think this was acceptable!
I turned it down flat, but later ran the idea by Dr Young, who emphatically agreed with me.
……………………………………………………..
The News of the World had relented and decided they would pay Barry his full fee, thanks to the Trojan efforts of Surj Singh Clair.
Barry’s own solicitor had been unable to do anything to help Barry, though he still received his fifteen percent.
Surj, of course, did not earn a penny from Barry for his efforts, because he was representing MOJO and not himself.
By October 2008 Surjit Singh Claire was telling the media that Barry George was apparently meeting up with a woman, stating;
I can tell you there is somebody new, though.
I think there have been three or four meetings.
She’s about the same age as Barry – and he’s very excited about it.
But I’m always cautious of these people because she obviously knows who Barry is and that he’s going to get a lot of money.
He’s been advised to be careful and keep himself in check.
We don’t want him in some kind of trap.
Surjit Singh Clair via David Jones for the Daily Mail article headed Obsessed with visiting Jill Dando’s grave and acting more erratically than ever, Barry George is a man on the edge dated 10th October 2008
Mr Singh Clair also revealed producers are in talks with misfit Barry George, who was cleared of the murder of TV presenter Jill Dando, over a possible role in the movie.
Did Michelle Diskin Bates Really “Reach Out” To Killer Raphael Rowe Like He Claimed?
During Part 3 of the Who Killed Jill Dando? docu series, innocence fraud killer Raphael Rowe stated (at around 38:23);
A few years after Barry George was convicted his sister reached out to me
She was asking if I could help highlight the fact that her brother was wrongly in prison
I was at BBC Panorama at the time
But when I was 20 years old I was wrongly convicted of murder and a series of robberies
I spent the next 12 years in maximum security prisons
And Michelle was convincing, you know she sounded like my sister did when my sister was saying ‘help my brother’
Statements by Raphael Rowe via Part 3 of Who Killed Jill Dando?
Scammer Michelle Diskin Bates has made no mention over the years of having reached out to Raphael Rowe.
Why Did Raphael Rowe Omit To Mention Scott Lomax & Uncle Mike Burke?
However Michelle’s and killer Barry George’s uncle Mike Burke (also spelt Bourke) told a different story to the one told by Raphael Rowe.
Mike Burke made the following statements in a book, which detailed his involvement with “Justice4Barry” and Raphael Rowe;
2004 On September 5th I read an e-mail from Scott Lomax telling me about a BBC reporter, Raphael Rowe, who hoped to make a programme about Barry.
I made some discreet enquiries and I was told that ‘He is a good guy, genuine’.
I was happy with that recommendation and decided to contact him.
I phoned him the next day and we had a good long chat.
He was quite up to speed having looked at the websites and appeal court links.
I agreed to contact Barry and his solicitor to see if they might cooperate with a TV programme.
I later spoke to Pat Reynolds who was very enthusiastic when I mentioned Panorama, saying that Panorama could be seen as a turning point, the beginning of the end.
I next visited Barry on Friday October 8th.
I was suffering from a heavy cold, and family tensions were again running high, otherwise the visit went ok.
I got fish and chips and had quiet a miserable evening. ‘Why the hell am I doing this?’ I wondered, not for the first time.
The next day I went to a National Miscarriage of Justice meeting at Conway Hall in Red Lion Square.
When I arrived there were a number of people waiting outside.
I was a little early and waited some distance from them.
A good looking young woman approached me and struck up a conversation.
She quickly guessed that I was connected to Barry, which made me suspect that she was a reporter.
She told me that her husband was in prison for murder but that he was innocent.
To make it better she said that he allegedly had eaten the body of the victim.
I didn’t quite know what to make of her.
I met Hazel from MOJO and we chatted awhile.
The Hall opened and we went in.
I got a cup of tea and then I met Raphael Rowe.
Scott Lomax texted me to say that he had arrived.
He brought along copies of his book on Barry.
It was interesting to meet Scott and Raphael and I hoped meeting Raphael would help to maintain his interest in the case.
2005 I drove to London on Monday the 31st.
I had hoped to visit Barry on Tuesday and Margaret had promised that she would book it in good time.
But she waited until Monday before phoning to book the visit.
She then discovered that there were no visits allowed on Tuesdays.
I was going to a public meeting in the House of Commons on Wednesday and so I had to wait until Thursday to visit him which lost me another precious day’s holiday.
It was a short visit as his solicitor was also due to visit.
Barry was somewhat stressed out as a result.
He was concerned again that some of us would speak to the press.
He got agitated when I told him that Raphael Rowe was interested in the Cutting Edge video, which I had in fact already loaned to Raphael along with a video of the trial reconstruction.
He threatened to sue anybody who might use the Cutting Edge video.
I e-mailed Raphael Rowe asking about news on a documentary.
He replied that Barry and his solicitor had made demands that Raphael could not comply with.
Supporting Barry was often a struggle against the odds, as he seemed to see problems with everything we did or tried to do for him.
I felt that a good opportunity was in danger of being lost and I decided to keep in touch with Raphael in the hope of some development.
July 8th 2006
I recently had to have the hard drive replaced on my computer which cost me 205 Euro.
David James Smith is due to visit Barry early this month if all goes well.
Raphael Rowe is in America researching for a BBC documentary on Barry. He is consulting experts with regard to the single particle.
He phoned me up last week seeking Michelle’s details which he had mislaid.
On July 20 Andy Gardner phoned me. He told me he was now a freelance reporter.
Later Margaret phoned to say that the VO had arrived.
The next day I got a call from a Mail on Sunday reporter, Mr Rice who asked if he came to Ireland would I speak to him.
I agreed and he said he would be over the next day.
I then became a little concerned as I was due to visit Barry and wondered if speaking to the reporter would cause another row.
Fortunately he had also called to Michelle which I thought might take the flak off me.
The report appeared on Sunday and referred to the Panorama programme which was being made by Raphael Rowe.
It mentioned two jurors who were having doubts and who apparently were willing to appear on the programme.
It also mentioned that FBI agents criticised the Met Polices handling of the single particle evidence.
On Monday Raphael asked me not to discuss the programme with MOJO.
I replied that I had fallen out with them in 2001 due to the News of the World article.
But I feared that a last minute hitch might have negative consequences and so I texted Michelle asking her to urge discretion on MOJO.
She replied that they hadn’t known about the programme.
On Thursday August 3rd I again went to London.
It was a good trip, uneventful except for a poor man who finally cracked after over three hours in the ‘quiet’ coach listening to a hyperactive loud child.
On Friday I went to Mario’s café for breakfast.
Later Raphael Rowe phoned Margaret and I spoke to him.
Unknown to us on September 4th a Forensic Science Service report prepared for the CCRC dismissed the FDR evidence which dammed Barry as inconclusive.
In their opinion it provided no support for the prosecutions case that Barry had killed Jill Dando.
It would be another year before we became aware of that.
Raphael Rowe phoned me to say that the Panorama-George programme would be broadcast on September 5th.
I took a day’s holiday to watch it because as luck would have it I was on a late shift and I feared I would not get to see it.
At 21.00 I settled down to watch Panorama.
It began with Raphael saying to Barry over Margaret’s telephone ‘so you didn’t kill Jill?’ …’course not, replied a surprised Barry.
Then the photo of Barry which I got taken at Whitemoor was shown alongside the prison envelope in which it was returned to me after the prison refused to allow Barry to have it.
CCTV footage of Jill Dando on her last journey and a clip of 29 Gowan Avenue was shown, and Helen Doble’s 999 phone call was played.
Mike Burke – Uncle of killer Barry George & Michelle Diskin Bates
PS;
Raphael Rowe did NOT “clear” his name nor has he ever proved he was not responsible for the violent crimes for which he was originally convicted of committing! Read more here
Michael Naughton & Bristol University Innocence Project
Michael Naughton who is referred to in previous Parts of this blog series and who is also mentioned on page 11 of the criminal cases review commissions statement of reasons here (Under the title of UoBIP = university of Bristol innocence project), works at Bristol university and he became involved with actual, factual guilty killer Simon Hall’s innocence fraud spin campaign early on.
…his work, which specialises on the problem of ‘miscarriages of justice’, with a particular focus on the wrongful conviction and/or imprisonment of factually innocent victims.
The innocence project, referred to by some people as the innocence ‘fraudject’ due to the high number of guilty killers and rapists it helps free from prison, was based on the American version of the innocence project, co-founded by American lawyers Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld in 1992.
It is not known exactly when Stephanie Bon first made contact with Michael Naughton and if Stephanie, or manipulative killer Simon Hall, wrote to Michael after hearing about the launch of Bristol university’s innocence project.
However a 2005 media story indicated Michael Naughton had been contacted by many killers, including the killer of Jill Dando; serial stalker, rapist and predatory sex offender Barry George, as well as “the family” of sadistic serial killer and psychopath Michael Stone.
Both killers were referred to in Part 17d, which can be read by tapping on the button below;
Excerpts from the 2005 media story which centred on Michael Naughton and his “frustrations” with the criminal cases review commission (Referred to in Part 15 here) read;
The shelf above Mike Naughton’s desk in Bristol University’s law school is heaving with files of letters from prisoners who claim they were wrongly convicted and want help.
“It shows just how desperate so many people are”
says Naughton, a lecturer in criminal law.
“They have got nobody else to turn to so they are prepared to put their futures in the hands of a project led by university students. It really is quite disturbing”
Naughton’s office has become the bustling nerve centre of the University of Bristol’s Innocence Project which aims to provide free assistance to the victims of miscarriages of justice languishing in prison.
Students have been giving up their free time to sort through the mountain of correspondence.
“They should be out drinking or chasing the opposite sex but they are here getting stuck in” says Naughton
Barry George, the man convicted of killing the television presenter Jill Dando, has written to the project.
Naughton has also had contact with the family of Michael Stone, who has twice been convicted of murdering Lin and Megan Russell and whose latest appeal failed in January.
Many other notorious figures – Naughton will not name names – have been in touch.
Over the coming months and years undergraduates will work with local criminal lawyers, who are giving their time for free, on five cases which they believe stand a chance of being referred to the appeal court.
Naughton hopes that the six-month-old Bristol project will be the first of many to be launched at universities across the UK to create an “innocence network” of students working to free prisoners they believe have been wrongly convicted.
“It’s still very early days but we think there is a gap in the present system which needs to be filled”, he says.
Innocence projects are active in the US, Canada and Australia.
The best known was co-founded in 1992 by Barry Scheck, one of the lawyers who represented OJ Simpson at his trial.
Excerpts by Steven Morris for the Guardian from his article headed Students to the rescuedated the 14th July 2005
Jill Dando’s Killer Barry George & His Confession To His Murder
Like killers Simon Hall and Michael Stone, Barry George used numerous aliases, including the alias Barry Bulsara.
Killer Simon Hall had used the name JamesShiperlee, which was noted on his prison files;
Screenshot of Simon Hall’s HMP Wayland prison ’patient’ records
Like killer Simon Hall, killer Barry George was reported to have gone on to admit to his guilt to his murder of Jill Dando, as was reported here and here.
Also like killer Simon Hall’s immediate family members (Lynne, Phil and Shaun Hall) and others, killer Barry George’s uncle Mike Burke and his sister Michelle Diskin Bates chose to deny killer Barry George’s murderous crime and instead made excuses for him, his personality and his behaviours.
Excerpt’s from a 2002 Mirror newspaper story here reported some of killer Barry George’s uncle Mike Burke’s excuses;
Mike Burke (left) photographed alongside fraudster and con artist Surjit Singh Clair
Uncle Mike Bourke (sic) said:
“He was warned people might try and tape his conversations or put words into his mouth.
“I just don’t think Barry would say anything like this. It is complete fiction. He has been on his guard.”
Mike, of Co Limerick, Ireland, added:
“He has been a bit depressed lately because he knows a lot hinges on it. But he has done nothing to make his family doubt he is innocent”
However Mike Burke stated in the book he went on to write and publish;
On Sunday April 7th I heard on BBC Radio 4 news that the News of the World had a cassette tape of Barry allegedly confessing to the murder.
I bought the paper and read the story which I found difficult to believe.
It alleged that Barry said to other prisoners
’…because I was the man who committed the murder’.
I phoned the number given and listened to the tape recording which sounded like Barry though the sound quality was very poor.
I had warned him that something like that could happen.
The source of the tape was a by then deported Polish thief who claimed he used his tape recorder to record fellow prisoners’ music
In 2002 a Scottish organisation, which was set up by one* of the six IRA terrorists who was convicted for the murders of twenty one people, and injuring 182 people, following two pub bombings, published Barry George’s sister Michelle Diskin’s excuse for her killer brother Barry George having admitted to his murder of Jill Dando.
A screenshot of Michelle Diskin’s published excuse is reproduced below;
Screenshot of ‘Justice for Barry George’ propaganda (The original can be found here)
*Three of the six men who were convicted of the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings admitted to being members of the IRA and also admitted to having planted the bombs. In 1987 all six men had their murder convictions deemed “unsafe and unsatisfactory” by the court of appeal, but to date all six men have been unsuccessful in proving their innocence.
Similarly to killers Simon Hall and Michael Stone, Mike Burke wrote about a suicide attempt his nephew Barry George had made a couple of months after he was found guilty for his murder of Jill Dando.
On the 16th of September 2001 there was a story published in the Mail on Sunday, and according to Mike Burke here, a prisoner by the name of Daniel Reece had saved killer Barry George from an “alleged hanging attempt”.
An investigation was launched last night after a Suffolk police officer allegedly posted a message of support on a website set up to help free convicted murderer Simon Hall.
The email appears on a website which was created by family and friends of 27-year-old Hall in a bid to get his conviction for killing Capel St Mary pensioner Joan Albert overturned.
Suffolk Constabulary admitted last night it was launching an investigation into the message, which purports to be from a serving member of Suffolk police whose name cannot be published for legal reasons.
A police spokesman said: “We have been made aware of the website comment attributed to a police officer and are making initial inquiries.
“The views expressed do not reflect Suffolk Constabulary’s position on this matter”
The alleged police officer’s message also refers to the case of Suffolk police officer Michael Cheong, who was recently found guilty of the manslaughter of Brian Spencer in Guyana 23 years ago.
It said:
“His trial started in July and finished the other day. The verdict: guilty. We’re all shocked and devastated”
And, in a comment directed at the Halls, it adds:
“Our thoughts and prayers go to you and your family… I know the injustice of it all.
“Shamefully, I am also a police officer in Suffolk. Why is this happening?”
It is not known what action the police officer will face if the email is deemed genuine.
Phillip Smith, secretary of the Suffolk Police Federation, said there were a number of charges under misconduct regulations, including an offence of bringing the police force into disrepute.
He said if the message was legitimate, a professional standards department might investigate and bring forward a tribunal.
“We have not seen something like this before. The officer could just receive some strong words of advice,” he said.
“I’m sure they will investigate those comments and draw a conclusion and submit their findings”
Last night Hall’s mother Lynne said of the alleged police officer comment:
“It was a big boost.
“To be honest when the investigation was going on we did speak to a few officers who felt the end result was not justified.
“It’s nice to see it on paper. I hope it is legitimate but on the other hand I would hate anybody to lose their job over it. It would be a shame.
“There’s going to be those who do not believe in the war but they have to go to war because they are soldiers.
“You will always get that in the police force as well”
Further excerpts from the same media article read;
Earlier this year, Hall posted his own message on the website describing his ordeal since conviction and warning the public the pensioner’s killer was still at large.
The former East Bergholt High School pupil said:
“From a psychological point of view it must be a relief for the public when they learn from whatever media source that a man has been charged with murder and it must be an even bigger relief when that man is convicted of the crime.
“I obviously appreciate the necessity of putting whoever is responsible behind bars as soon as possible but I am not the man responsible for this crime and that gives me the unfortunate task of telling you that there is a loony still out there”
The campaigning website has now launched a nationwide mailing campaign targeting as many MPs in the country as possible.
Hall’s family and friends have written more than 200 letters to contacts asking them to lobby their local MP.
The website also asks visitors to download its generic letter and fill in their details before sending it to their MP.
The letter says:
“Having consulted Mr Hall, and having studied the details of the case, we have real concerns about the safety of his conviction.
“We would like to share our concerns with you in the hope that the case can be resolved, with justice prevailing”
Forensic expert Professor Peter Bull, based at Oxford University, is presently undertaking his own experiments using some of the evidence in Hall’s case.
John Hatton Allegedly Specialised in “Miscarriages Of Justice”
It is not known who the investigative journalist Michael Naughton said he could “vouch for his integrity” was, referred to in Part 17a which can be read by tapping on the button below;
But John Hatton (who Stephanie Bon had also sent a copy of her 25th of September 2006 email to regarding Simon Hall apparently “suffering with his teeth”) wrote an article for the Big Issuemagazine, which was published in September 2004 headed Innocence network attacks appeals system and included an interview with Michael Naughton.
A couple of years later however the Stroud News and Journal reported under the header Journalist walks out of ‘kangaroo court that John Hatton had been convicted for domestic violence;
Journalist John Hatton sensationally walked out of his own domestic violence trial – claiming he would never get justice from a ‘kangaroo court’.
Hatton, aged 59, of Bridgeside, Cainscross, was conducting his own defence before a judge at Stroud Magistrates’ Court.
He was accused of a common assault on his ex-partner, Stella Hender.
But after deputy district judge William Thomas rejected a series of Hatton’s legal submissions the freelancer – who specialises in miscarriages of justice – took the rare step of quitting his own trial on Monday.
Hatton said he wanted to prove that Ms Hender was an unreliable witness and suffered from a mental illness.
“My case is simply that there was domestic violence in this relationship – but it was her violence towards me”
he said.
“The reality is that for years she has been suffering from an untreatable personality disorder”
But prosecutor Maxine Bown said there was no evidence to suggest Ms Hender had mental health issues.
Hatton said he wished to call a witness who had a conviction for a sex offence – but wanted the court to protect the man’s identity from the press to prevent reprisals.
When Judge Thomas said he would deal with that application when the time arose, Hatton demanded an instant answer.
Judge Thomas refused and Hatton announced he was walking out.
The judge said the trial would continue in Hatton’s absence and bailed him to return after lunch to hear the result.
After hearing Ms Hender’s evidence the judge said he had heard enough to convict.
Hatton was found guilty of the assault on July 7 last year.
Ms Hender told the court she had been with Hatton for four years but that the relationship had ended that evening when he pulled out some of her hair in a drunken rage.
When Hatton returned to court he announced his intention to appeal.
He was bailed to return on April 21 for sentencing.
A year after John Hatton’s conviction for domestic violence, Stephanie Bon published a message from killer Simon Hall.
The message included John Hatton’s name, thanking him and others for all their “hard work” and “faith” in the killer;
Message from Simon – 5 April 07 Hello…It’s been a long time since I wrote anything for this website, probably too long but with the airing of the BBC Rough Justice – The Innocent Brief in mind and the massive rise in the profile of this case I thought I should attempt some kind of message.
Here goes…
This year is proving to be a good year.
The campaign for freedom gathers pace with the appointment of a CCRC Case Manager and our attempts to raise awareness of my situation reaching levels I never thought could be realised.
What started as just a little website giving information to the public and helping me by making me feel that people were working hard for me and I wasn’t forgotten, has grown into one of the leading miscarriages of justice websites on the internet today.
It has proven to be such a valuable tool from which we have managed to gain help and support from so many people all over the world including Barristers, Solicitors, Law Students, Politicians, Journalists, film makers, Authors, Doctors, Scientists and even serving police officers, but that was obviously denied!!
All things considered I am okay, if just a little tired and underweight. I’ve more wrinkles and grey hair but apart from that there is nothing to report. I’m healthy so I mustn’t grumble.
My family and friends are still there for me and although some with whom I was once very close seem to have drifted away, others from old have come along for the ride plus new people who have never met me but still send messages and letters of support.
There is nothing better than family and friends; knowing that you are loved and cared about.
Can anything else be more important?
Here’s hoping to see you all on the other side of the wall.
Mum, Dad & Shaun – I love you, Steffie – You’re amazing, Oli – you legend!
To Campbell Malone, Michael Naughton, Gabe, Made, Jo, Amanda, Jess, Keir Starmer, Peter Bull, Allan Jamieson, Cathy & Josie, Innocent & MOJO, John Hatton, thank you for all your hard work and faith in me,
Last but not least, thank you to all the people out there for your support!
Simon,
A November 2009 forum called Nailsworth.com included a post which said John Hatton had supported killer Simon Hall’s innocence fraud campaign;
John has more ability than just writing articles for a free village magazine.
His investigative journalism is very professional and competent.
For the past 8 years, he has continued to help our family fight a Miscarriage of Justice, and his reports regarding our cause have been published in Private Eye, Big Issue and the Newcastle Evening Chronicle.
He has also managed to highlight some very disturbing failures in the investigation of the case.
Apart from helping us, he has given a tremendous amount of support to others who have been wrongfully convicted, some of the prominent cases being Simon Hall and Ian & Angela Gay.
Forum post from nailsworth.com here dated the 16th November 2009
Death of 3 Year Old Christian Blewitt
Angela and Ian Gay were convicted of killing three year old Christian Blewitt.
A couple killed a three-year-old boy they were hoping to adopt by poisoning him with salt, a court was told yesterday.
Ian and Angela Gay, from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, were accused of feeding Christian Blewitt up to four teaspoons of salt after he failed to meet their expectations.
Christian and his younger brother and sister were placed with the defendants as prospective parents in November 2002.
3 year old Christian Blewitt
Julie Macur QC, for the prosecution, told Worcester Crown Court that the boy was admitted to hospital in a critical condition less than two months later.
She said tests revealed excess levels of sodium and chlorine in his blood, equivalent to 40g of salt, and that he had suffered a brain haemorrhage.
He died four days later.
She told the court:
“Mr Gay told police when interviewed that Christian was a liability and not too bright.
This is an indication that the children had to fit their lifestyle and Christian did not come up to proof”
3 year old Christian (left) Angela and Ian Gay (right)
Ian Gay, 37, and Angela Gay, 38, deny murder, manslaughter and cruelty to a child.
They are accused of causing Christian to collapse by feeding him poisonous levels of salt and by shaking him or hitting his head on a firm surface.
Miss Macur said that a post-mortem examination revealed 11 areas of bruising to the top of Christian’s head, which were not apparent externally.
Excerpts from article by James Sturcke for the Independent dated the 20th of November 2004
An excerpt from a media article about killer and innocence fraudster Nicholas (Nick) Rose, which outlined a report by the prison and probation ombudsman (Which can be read in full here) read;
Mr Rose told his offender supervisor (probation officer in prison) that he had been very low at the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018 because he had learned that Inside Justice (a charity that investigates possible miscarriages of justice) were not going to pursue an appeal against his conviction.
John Hatton also met with and wrote about one of the killers of Angus Sibbett, who was murdered in January 1967 and in September 2012, which can be read here.
John Hatton made an interesting post via his facebook social media page in September 2012;
It was reported here that John Hatton passed away on the 1st February 2020
INNOCENCE FRAUD WATCH 