Session 14. Tuesday Afternoon, May 1, 2012

SESSION 14. Tuesday Afternoon, May 1, 2012
12:39@skynewsgathererInquest into death of Gareth Williams resumes after lunch break. Not surprisingly Supt Michael Broster is back
WITNESS: Michael Broster
12:42@skynewsgathererSupt led search at MI6 building. He says he didn't search himself but when cabinet was opened iPhone was 'immediately obvious'
12:44@skynewsgathererSupt Broster confirms he seized iPhone from cabinet on Gareth's office at MI6
12:48@skynewsgathererSupt Broster says he can't remember if cabinet was sealed on his first visit to Gareth's office on 26th
12:50@skynewsgathererSupt Broster says he played no part in search. That was done by earlier witness DC Hall
12:52@skynewsgathereriPhone seized by Supt Broster was not put in exhibits bag until it was back at Scotland Yard
12:54@skynewsgathererCoroner: "Did you tell DC Hall you had seized it so it could be noted in log?" Broster: "I can't recall, it maybe that I neglected do that,"
12:57@skynewsgathererThe cabinet was used by Gareth and his colleagues. Gareth's possessions were mainly found on 2nd shelf
12:59@skynewsgathererSupt Broster says he was only told of the black bag after he had returned NSY. He didn't notice it during search of office
13:01@skynewsgathererSupt Broster confirms that no inventory made of Gareth's possessions at office. He says only relevant items should be seized
13:02@skynewsgathererCoroner asking how DC Hall should identify "relevant" items
13:03@skynewsgathererSupt being asked about 9 memory sticks - which murder squad not told about
13:04@skynewsgathererSupt Broster says memory cards were not brought to his attention at time of first search
13:06@skynewsgathererSupt Broster says they were first identified in an inventory created by SIS in Sept 2011
13:07@skynewsgathererA second inventory had list of 30 different sorts of things from Gareth's box folder. One just says misc items
13:08@skynewsgathererSupt Broster admits these inventories were not shared with senior investigating officer. He did not know what misc items were
13:09@skynewsgathererSupt Broster says had he given these to murder squad team it wouldn't have helped investigation
13:12@skynewsgathererCoroner reminds Supt Broster that he had previously given evidence that investigation was not hampered by SO15's involvement
13:13@skynewsgathererCoroner asking why items were not seized when Supt Broster was told about them in 2011
13:14@skynewsgathererSupt says he could not attribute items as having been used by Gareth. Despite inventory listed as "content of Gareth's tray"
13:16@skynewsgatherer"If this had been given to you by any other type of agency you would have seized it," asks coroner
13:17@skynewsgatherer"I am suggesting that you are not being completely impartial in this case" says Coroner. "I am completely impartial" says Broster
13:18@skynewsgatherer"In hindsight it's something that SO15 could have done," says Broster when asked if SO15 should have examined memory sticks
13:19@skynewsgatherer"It seems DCI Sebire has been relying on communications with the agencies on you," says Coroner
13:19@skynewsgathererSupt Broster says that he passed all relevant information on to murder squad team
13:22@skynewsgathererSupt Broster, of Met's counter terror team, says he is impartial despite allowing MI6 to examine memory sticks
13:34@skynewsgathererSupt Broster: "I am not saying a member of SIS isn't involved. I don't know. It might have been SIS, or someone unconnected"
13:40@skynewsgathererSupt Broster says keys found were for the office - he was told this by SIS. He didn't check
13:40@stone_skynewsMore curious evidence this pm from Gareth Williams inquest. Too much to tweet it all but interesting observation now from Police witness..
13:40@stone_skynewsDiscussing why certain items of evidence at MI6 weren't seized, Police officer says Met can't just walk into MI6 & do what they want
13:42@skynewsgathererFamily lawyer:" So if person who killed Gareth is a member if SIS, you don't investigate because SIS is trustworthy?"
13:42@stone_skynewsPolice officer admits that MI6 were left to examine memory sticks to see what was on them. Police never seized the sticks. Gareth Williams
13:46@stone_skynewsCoroner suggests to police witness that he is not an impartial investigator. "an impartial investigator would have seized items themselves"
13:46@skynewsgathererLawyer for SIS says a receipt for hotel bill from Las Vegas was also seized but both Supt Broster and DC Hall had no knowledge of this
13:52@stone_skynewsFamily lawyer asks cop: "so if the person who killed Gareth Williams was a member of SIS (MI6) you would do nothing to investigate because.
13:52@stone_skynews... you believed that organisation to be trustworthy?" Cop says don't put words into my mouth. He insists MI6 have been fully cooperative
13:54@skynewsgathererRT @Stone_SkyNews: Family lawyer asks cop: "so if the person who killed Gareth Williams was a member of SIS (MI6) you would do nothing t ..
13:55@skynewsgathererRT @Stone_SkyNews: ... you believed that organisation to be trustworthy?" Cop says don't put words into my mouth. He insists MI6 have be ..
13:58@skynewsgathererInquest adjourned for screens to be put up in court to shield identity of next witness
14:02@skynewsgathererAnonymous witness is being described a SIS D - no further details of who it is yet
14:20@skynewsgathererInquest resumes SIS D is the manager of Gareth's line manager (witness G)
WITNESS: Witness D
14:22@skynewsgathererSIS D's signature was on Gareth's annual leave card. Witness says he would do this if line manager was away
14:24@skynewsgathererWitness D says other than the card there we no other records of leave booked
14:25@skynewsgathererWitness knew Gareth had not been in work and was told that HR had been informed
14:28@skynewsgathererWitness D says he was not passed any specific information as to how to secure Gareth's possessions - but more tape and a note put on cabinet
14:29@skynewsgathererWitnesses D and G were present during police search of cabinet on aug 26 2010
14:30@skynewsgathererWitness, or his colleague, would have opened cabinet for SO15 officers Broster and Hall, inquest told
14:32@skynewsgathererWitness cannot remember if anything was seized from cabinet - he can't remember if iPhone was taken from shelf
14:34@skynewsgathererWitness can't remember if Supt Broster was in room for whole of 55 minute search
14:35@skynewsgathererWitness cannot remember the black bag shown to the court earlier
14:37@skynewsgathererWitness was also at subsequent search on 27th
14:43@skynewsgathererFamily lawyer now asking questions. Witness says cabinet was locked on Aug 26 but didn't have any additional seals on it
14:44@skynewsgathererFamily lawyer asking whether items from other colleagues were removed. They were not
14:46@skynewsgathererWitness says it's possible cabinet could have been opened by SIS when police were not present
14:48@skynewsgathererMet police lawyer now asking questions. Witness says no notes were taken at time and has only just been asked to recall events
14:49@skynewsgathererWitness was only asked for his account of events yesterday and admits his recollection is "hazy"
14:51@skynewsgathererScreens now being removed. Coroner still expects to complete all evidence today
15:08@skynewsgathererPolice have requested that exhibits presented before coroner are not released to the media as DCI has only just seen them
15:09@skynewsgathererStatement now from GCHQ team leader, who was point of contact for SO15
STATEMENT: GCHQ team leader
15:15@skynewsgathererDCI Jackie Sebire, now recalled. She is the SIO for the murder enquiry into death of Gareth Williams
WITNESS: Jackie Sebire
15:17@skynewsgathererDCI asked if any of Gareth's footprints were found on tiles in bathroom after watching expert witness try to get into bag in bath
15:17@skynewsgathererNo footprints were found other than on the floor, inquest told
15:18@skynewsgatherer2 detectives from SO15 went to Las Vegas to trace Gareth's last movements. Nothing was raised with enquiry team
15:20@skynewsgathererDCI confirms that Gareth's finances were key line of enquiry but no unusual entries to his four accounts
15:20@skynewsgathererReceipts and bank statements showed purchase of expensive women's clothes but no unusual deposits or withdrawals
15:22@skynewsgathererCoroner asks Gareth's sister or shoe size. It is 6.5. (similar to shoes found in Gareth's flat)
15:25@skynewsgathererWhen asked about phone found in Gareth's flat - DCI says no calls were made on phone before Gareth's death
15:25@skynewsgathererThis phone had been restored to factory settings - no data was found with the network provider
15:27@skynewsgathererDCI says in an ideal world she would have liked to have had 'primary access to' all the material gathered from Gareth's work
15:28@skynewsgathererDCI says investigation has never been classified as a murder enquiry - it's a suspicious death
15:29@skynewsgathererDCI says all lines of enquiry will be relooked at following new information which has come out during inquest
15:29@skynewsgathererDCI Sebire says after hearing all the evidence she still regards Gareth Williams' death as suspicious
15:30@skynewsgathererDCI says enquiries are still ongoing and won't stop until answers found
15:32@skynewsgathererDCI looked into how someone could covertly enter Gareth's flat without keys - says someone could put arm through letter box
15:32@skynewsgathererDCI says two bag experts used by police were independent of each other and only met at court last week
15:36@skynewsgathererDCI says SIS officers we always interviewed with a lawyer or HR manager present
15:40@skynewsgathererDCI says she got witness statements from some people but not anonymous witnesses - she thought this was policy decision made by Supt Broster
15:42@skynewsgathererDCI confirms that over a 2 year period there were only 4 days when Gareth looked up bondage sites
15:44@skynewsgathererThere appears to be coincidence of use of bondage sites with application for secondment and course, says family lawyer
15:45@skynewsgathererDCI says she looked at coincidence and asked Supt Broster to look into whether courses included methods of escape
15:46@skynewsgathererDCI couldn't establish if Gareth had visited gay bars in Vauxhall
15:48@skynewsgathererDCI says she has seen first hand distress caused to family and team about leaks of information to media
15:49@skynewsgathererInformation appeared in press that DCI Sebire's team didn't even know about, she tells inquest
15:50@skynewsgathererDCI says her team felt very strongly that they didn't want enquiry prejudiced in any way
15:50@skynewsgathererDCI says practically every line of enquiry from public was followed up
15:52@skynewsgathererDCI says that while exhibits officers were at flat the boiler kicked in 3 times to turn the heating and water on (in August)
15:53@skynewsgathererFamily lawyer asking if heating could have speeded decomposition of body
15:55@skynewsgathererDCI says she can't answer question about whether previous tenants in Gareth's flat did the same work
15:56@skynewsgathererDCI also says she can't say how many employees of GCHQ/SIS have given DNA samples to investigating team
15:57@skynewsgathererDCI: "We have a lot more telephone and computer work, all evidence from inquest will be looked at.. Plus info from work colleagues"
15:58@skynewsgathererDCI says it's a decision for her boss as to whether she will continue to be the SIO on the case
15:59@skynewsgathererDCI says had SIS reported Gareth missing earlier in the day it would have made a difference as more resources available
16:03@skynewsgathererDCI says she strongly believes 3rd party was involved in Gareth's death and urges people to "search their consciences"
16:07@skynewsgathererAll evidence now concluded in inquest into Gareth Williams death. Coroner will deliver verdict tomorrow after legal submissions
END OF SESSION 14. Tuesday Afternoon, May 1, 2012

Link to source of May 1 coverage
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