Session 12. Monday Afternoon, April 30, 2012

SESSION 12. Monday Afternoon, April 30, 2012
13:37	@skynewsgatherer	Forensic scientist Ros Hammond now giving evidence
WITNESS: Ros Hammond
13:39	@skynewsgatherer	Ms Hammond is explaining that DNA on Gareth's hand was actually from fellow scientist. Error was only discovered on Feb 8 2012
13:48	@skynewsgatherer	Ms Hammond says it is first time she has come across this sort of error - it was mistake in manually inputting data into system
13:51	@skynewsgatherer	Scientist got a 3 and 5 mixed up. There are now automatic computer checks in place to prevent it happening again, inquest told
13:59	@skynewsgatherer	There's evidence from at least 2 other unaccounted for people in Gareth's flat, says scientist
14:00	@skynewsgatherer	However Ms Hammond says DNA can last for weeks, even years
14:01	@skynewsgatherer	Blood stain on bag and carpet came from Gareth, scientist tells inquest
14:02	@skynewsgatherer	All other DNA stains tested gave a profile which matched Gareth's inquest told
14:03	@skynewsgatherer	There was DNA on bag handles which was not Gareth's but no clear profile found, inquest told
14:13	@skynewsgatherer	Witness says DNA tests on a towel are still ongoing which could prove helpful in a future criminal trial
14:14	@skynewsgatherer	Tests on towel will be concluded "within weeks" says Ms Hammond
14:18	@skynewsgatherer	Witness says that if someone else locked the padlock, she would not necessarily expect to find their DNA
14:20	@skynewsgatherer	DNA is transferred at a different level depending on circumstances, eg: whether hands had been recently washed and type of surface
14:22	@skynewsgatherer	Steve Allen, who is responsible for running LGC forensics division, is now giving evidence
WITNESS: Steve Allen
14:24	@skynewsgatherer	Coroner says the mistake in inputting data was an "error waiting to happen" and asks why safe guards were not in place
14:29	@skynewsgatherer	Gary Pugh, head of Met Police forensics, now up. He says DNA presented to court can be relied upon
WITNESS: Gary Pugh
14:33	@skynewsgatherer	Evidence in Gareth Williams inquest now finished for today. Coroner says she hopes to give her verdict Wednesday
END OF SESSION 12. Monday Afternoon, April 30, 2012

Link to source of April 30 coverage

Session 11. Monday Morning, April 30, 2012

SESSION 11. Monday Morning, April 30, 2012
9:04	@skynewsgatherer	Gareth's body was removed from the bottom of the bag - not via the zipped opening
9:05	@skynewsgatherer	Two hairs were found on Gareth's thumb
9:08	@skynewsgatherer	Dr Swift says that if someone was already dead when moved there would be no bruising
WITNESS: Benjamin Swift
9:09	@skynewsgatherer	Dr Swift says that in cases of smothering there are often no marks left
9:11	@skynewsgatherer	Dr Swift found a 0.6cm bruise to left forearm, graze to left elbow and 0.7 graze to right elbow, and inner left eye socket
9:12	@skynewsgatherer	Dr Swift says injuries likely to have been caused after death due to position in the bag
9:14	@skynewsgatherer	No injuries in Gareth's neck, or head, there were 3 internal bruises to loin, elbow and right chest wall. No bruising around wrists
9:17	@skynewsgatherer	Dr Swift says injuries could have been caused accidentally. No signs of obvious poisoning
9:18	@skynewsgatherer	No obvious signs of natural disease
9:19	@skynewsgatherer	Pathologist: No significant traumatic injury, no injuries of offensive or defence nature, no sexual assault
9:20	@skynewsgatherer	Pathologist Dr Swift could not confirm cause of death
9:21	@skynewsgatherer	Pathologist tells coroner there we no signs from Gareth's finger tips that he tried to get out the bag
9:23	@skynewsgatherer	Cause of death could not be ascertained due to decomposition of Gareth's body, pathologist says
9:26	@skynewsgatherer	Family lawyer now asking questions about how decomposition affected results of PM. Inquest hears how the heating was on in August
9:27	@skynewsgatherer	Dr Swift refuses to speculate on what might have caused Gareth's death
9:29	@skynewsgatherer	When pushed Dr says asphyxiation and poison were two 'foremost contenders' to be most likely cause of death
9:33	@skynewsgatherer	Experienced pathologist Dr Ian Calder performed 2nd PM
WITNESS: Ian Calder
9:35	@skynewsgatherer	Dr Calder says he agrees with Dr Swift that if Gareth had been moved after death he wouldn't have sustained bruises
9:36	@skynewsgatherer	Dr Calder agrees that cause of death was 'unascertained'
9:40	@skynewsgatherer	Dr Calder explains that it's not so much the lack of oxygen in bag - but the build up of carbon dioxide
9:42	@skynewsgatherer	CO2 makes people confused which would make someone 'fade away with no pain and increasing lack of awareness of environment' says witness
9:46	@skynewsgatherer	Dr Calder says 'very likely' cause of death was hypercapnia (too much carbon dioxide in blood)
9:54	@skynewsgatherer	Dr Richard Shepherd, acting for the coroner, now giving evidence. He agrees with other 2 pathologists
WITNESS: Richard Shepherd
9:55	@skynewsgatherer	Dr Shepherd found no patterns of injuries and no restraining injuries
9:56	@skynewsgatherer	Dr Shepherd says it would have been 'extremely difficult' to place a newly dead body into the bag
9:57	@skynewsgatherer	Dr Shepherd says a person 'playing dead' is not same as an actual dead body. His experience is that it would be 'very difficult process'
9:58	@skynewsgatherer	Dr says that if Gareth was alive going in bag he would have expected some 'gripping injuries'
9:59	@skynewsgatherer	Dr says it's more likely that Gareth was alive when he entered the bag than dead
10:01	@skynewsgatherer	Dr agrees 'mode of dying' was most likely carbon dioxide
10:03	@skynewsgatherer	Dr says two possibilities of cause of death were suffocation or poisoning
10:05	@skynewsgatherer	Inquest hears that although cause of death is unascertained Gareth's death is 'unnatural'
10:09	@stone_skynews	Pathologist says in his opinion Gareth Williams death was unnatural and caused either by poisoning or suffocation because of too much CO2
10:09	@skynewsgatherer	Dr Shepherd says it is possible that Gareth voluntarily got into the bag
10:11	@skynewsgatherer	Dr: Gareth would probably have been aware oxygen was running out but not known at what stage this would happen
10:13	@skynewsgatherer	Pathologist suggesting Gareth would have known air was running out but he may already have been too affected by Co2 to do anything about it
10:16	@skynewsgatherer	To sum up - on balance of probability Gareth was alive getting into bag and would have had some awareness, says witness
10:17	@skynewsgatherer	On balance of probability the mode of dying was hypercapnia but cause of death unascertained
10:25	@skynewsgatherer	Pathologists says the youngest & fittest can survive hypercapnia the longest
10:26	@skynewsgatherer	Inquest taking short break. Then will hear from forensic scientists on DNA evidence
10:58	@skynewsgatherer	Inquest resumes with evidence from coroner officer's Barry May
WITNESS: Barry May
10:59	@skynewsgatherer	Mr May was asked to investigate by previous coroner after family raised concerns about 2nd PM examination
11:02	@skynewsgatherer	Request for 2nd independent PM didn't follow protocol due to inexperience of a worker the coroner's office
11:07	@skynewsgatherer	Police, family and first pathologist weren't told of 2nd examination when they should have been
11:12	@skynewsgatherer	Inquest told of 'communication breakdown' in the former coroner's office in regard to 2nd PM examination
11:16	@skynewsgatherer	Statement now from Tony Larkin, a scientist from forensic firm LGC. He looked of bloodstains, DNA and hairs
WITNESS: Tony Larkin
11:19	@skynewsgatherer	Mr Larkin found a spot of blood near lights switch and an 'aged' spot of blood on the floor
11:23	@skynewsgatherer	Mr Larkin says possible bloodstain on bag - but very weak result
11:24	@skynewsgatherer	Also weak blood spot on the padlock
11:26	@skynewsgatherer	Mr Larkin actually works for Met Police - witness list was incorrect
11:36	@skynewsgatherer	Inquest hears that an error in logging DNA means that Gareth's family thought there was evidence of 3rd party
11:37	@skynewsgatherer	DNA was actually from another scientist - error was only found when case was reviewed
11:41	@skynewsgatherer	Inquest now adjourned until 2pm
END OF SESSION 11. Monday Morning, April 30, 2012

Link to source of April 30 coverage

Session 10. Friday Afternoon, April 27, 2012

SESSION 10. Friday Afternoon, April 27, 2012
14:41	@tomskynews	Inquest hears laptop belonging to Gareth Williams accessed Wikipedia page about bondage and had stored electronic images of a drag queen
14:50	@skynewsgatherer	Back at inquest. Witness is DC Robert Burrows who examined Gareth's phones
WITNESS: Robert Burrows
14:55	@skynewsgatherer	There were no signs phone had been called on 17th Aug. (MI6 said they had tried to contact Gareth when he failed to show for work)
14:56	@skynewsgatherer	Phone most used by Gareth was discovered in cabinet in living room. Again no calls made to it on 17+20 Aug
14:58	@skynewsgatherer	Witness corrects himself and says 3 calls made to that number - all from intelligence services on 20th. None on 17th
15:04	@skynewsgatherer	Gareth accessed fetish clothing websites on one of his iPhones on Sept 15 2009
15:05	@skynewsgatherer	A couple of days later he looked up a different fetish clothing website
15:06	@skynewsgatherer	Gareth only looked at a few fetish pages which made up 2% of browsing history. He mostly looked at cycling, weather, IT and fashion
15:08	@skynewsgatherer	In Oct 2009 there were multiple hits on 'self bondage' and fetish clothing websites on Gareth's phone
15:09	@skynewsgatherer	Deleted data from a different phone shows Gareth looked up a different self bondage website
15:10	@skynewsgatherer	Browsing on Gareth's main phone shows that on aug 13 2010 a fetish clothing website was accessed
15:12	@skynewsgatherer	On work iPhone there was a link to a photo of model wrapped in plastic with vacuum cleaner sucking air out of plastic
15:12	@skynewsgatherer	Expert says that there were no photos involving bags, but one of someone tied to bed
15:15	@skynewsgatherer	Image found on one phone of someone who appears to be Gareth naked apart from pair of leather boots
15:17	@skynewsgatherer	Expert says the browsing of bondage and fetish sites is inconsistent. The last sites accessed were from a cycling club
15:19	@skynewsgatherer	One iPhone found had been restored to factory settings, the phone was backed up on Aug 15. Can't say when wiped
15:21	@skynewsgatherer	Family lawyer asking if any correlation between Gareth looking at fetish sites and when Gareth was on SIS course
15:22	@skynewsgatherer	Expert admits access to fetish sites are 'out of character' when compared to general browsing
15:25	@skynewsgatherer	Witness on phone evidence has now finished. Statement now from Gareth's line manager at GCHQ
WITNESS: Gareth's line manager at GCHQ
15:28	@skynewsgatherer	Line manager says Gareth seemed happy the last time he spoke with him
15:31	@skynewsgatherer	Inquest told that pathologists will give evidence on Monday
15:33	@skynewsgatherer	Inquest into death of Gareth Williams adjourned until 0930 Monday
15:37	@tomskynews	Inquest into death of MI6 officer Gareth Williams over now til Monday - report coming up on @skynews
15:39	@skynewsgatherer	Coroner says verdict in Gareth Williams inquest expected on Wednesday
END OF SESSION 10. Friday Afternoon, April 27, 2012

Link to source of April 27 coverage

Session 9. Friday Morning, April 27, 2012

SESSION 9. Friday Morning, April 27, 2012
9:34	@rachyoungersky	Morning. Covering inquest into death of MI6 officer Gareth Williams. Expecting demo of whether possible he locked himself inside bag
9:34	@rachyoungersky	Coroner calls William MacKay who says nature of his work to investigate unusual occurrences in confined spaces
WITNESS: William MacKay
9:34	@rachyoungersky	MacKay says v flexible young man who carried out reconstruction managed to get in to bag without help or instruction at first attempt
9:34	@rachyoungersky	inquest shown film of how man did so - mackay explains how poss to lock bag first then manually make space to allow person to enter
9:34	@rachyoungersky	MacKay then explains how found it to be impossible when attempted to lock bag after getting in
9:34	@rachyoungersky	MacKay says unless individual manages to get into locked bag at very first attempt, pen used to manipulate zip would damage it
9:35	@skynewsgatherer	First witness is William MacKay, who was asked by police to try and reconstruct getting into a bag
9:36	@skynewsgatherer	Mr MacKay, who has military background, also asked to investigate how well someone could breathe in closed bag
9:36	@skynewsgatherer	Inquest now watching DVD of someone in a bag like the one Gareth Williams was found in
9:36	@skynewsgatherer	It shows fingers pulling zip closed from the inside
9:36	@skynewsgatherer	Next clip shows the bag locked from the outside before anyone gets in and then the zip forced open with a pen
9:36	@skynewsgatherer	The man then gets in and tries to close the zip behind him
9:36	@skynewsgatherer	The 3rd experiment was to try and lock the zip whilst inside the bag - it couldn't be done
9:36	@skynewsgatherer	Experts says that if someone had got in after forcing the zip open - the zip was damaged when it was closed
9:39	@skynewsgatherer	Expert says he tried experiments on the bag more than a 100 times
9:43	@rachyoungersky	MacKay says only way to train for this would be with assistant or taking knife into bag with you. Coroner points out £700 bag to cut
9:44	@skynewsgatherer	Expert essentially saying that to lock the bag from the inside the person would have needed 3 hands
9:46	@skynewsgatherer	Experts found that due to lack of oxygen after a few mins they had to rest, the lock then dropped and they had to start it all again
9:47	@rachyoungersky	MacKay showing court picture of lock and zip to show how 3 Actions needed: hold zip together, hold lock, lock bar but only 2 hands
9:50	@skynewsgatherer	One cord attached to the zipper was also in usual position - which the expert says would have made locking the bag even harder
9:50	@rachyoungersky	MacKay says when they tried both he+assistant lost dexterity in fingers, had to rest momentarily, meant starting locking process anew
9:53	@rachyoungersky	MacKay says Williams prowess as rock climber would mean tremendous power developed in his fingers which would have aided his ability
9:56	@skynewsgatherer	Inquest hears at times experts got reasonably close to locking bag - but thinks without a lot of training it couldn't be done
9:57	@skynewsgatherer	'There are people around that can do amazing things,' expert tells inquest
9:58	@rachyoungersky	MacKay refuses to rule out possibility that Williams could have locked himself in to bag as found at scene using this scenario
10:00	@skynewsgatherer	Expert has refused to rule out the possibility that Gareth Williams locked himself in the bag
10:05	@skynewsgatherer	Expert says that if someone wanted to get out of the locked bag, 'with adrenaline running', they would find a way
10:06	@skynewsgatherer	'There would be an option of saving yourself,' says expert
10:06	@rachyoungersky	MacKay showing video illustrating how possible once locked in to open zip small amount to greatly increase flow of oxygen
10:08	@rachyoungersky	MacKay: We found it difficult to pull much further than this - I would offer if adrenalin kicked in you would find way to do it
10:11	@skynewsgatherer	Expert says someone of Gareth Williams size would have had no problem getting into the bag
10:12	@rachyoungersky	MacKay shows still of best position to be in bag to get out, points out on side ideal. "This was not the position he was found in"
10:16	@skynewsgatherer	Expert says he has lost sleep trying to work out why the zip cord was in unusual position
10:22	@rachyoungersky	inquest shown still of experts elbow area with red patches - if enough attempts made "should be red area on skin"
10:27	@skynewsgatherer	Expert tested whether he could breathe in the bag by getting in it in a swimming pool
10:32	@skynewsgatherer	Mr MacKay now answering questions from family lawyer. Expert confirms he never managed to lock himself in bag unaided
10:34	@rachyoungersky	under questioning from family lawyer MacKay clarifies neither he nor assistant ever managed to lock themselves in to bag
10:38	@skynewsgatherer	Mr MacKay saying that if someone wanted to survive they could have opened bag from the inside
10:47	@rachyoungersky	MacKay says if you were an escapologist you would pull it (the bag) open, grab the key and everyone would be amazed
10:55	@tomskynews	The footage of the tests to see if it was possible for a person to lock themselves into a holdall coming up shortly on @skynews
10:57	@tomskynews	Conclusion of first "bag expert" is that is was very very difficult for someone to lock themselves into holdall but couldn't rule it out
11:08	@skynewsgatherer	Second bag expert now giving evidence. It's Peter Faulding, who is similar size to Gareth Williams
11:09	@rachyoungersky	next bag expert Peter Faulding (apt name!) now describing how he climbed into a similar bag
WITNESS: Peter Faulding
11:10	@skynewsgatherer	Mr Faulding, placed a bag similar to the one found a flat, in a bath and tried to get in it
11:11	@skynewsgatherer	DVD shows Mr Faulding lying on his back, on the bag, and trying to manoeuvre himself in
11:12	@skynewsgatherer	DVD shows Mr Faulding struggling to get in, he touches bath, tiles and rests feet on the taps in process
11:13	@skynewsgatherer	Mr Faulding says he wants to make it clear that it would dangerous to attempt to 'try this at home'
11:15	@rachyoungersky	Peter Faulding, expert whose name you couldnt make up, shows DVD contorting himself into bag. Tells press to warn public not to try it
11:17	@rachyoungersky	you can see footage inquest has been watching on sky news now as coroner has released it to media
11:18	@skynewsgatherer	Expert says that being in a bath made the bag harder to get into. Once in, temperature rose fast
11:21	@skynewsgatherer	Mr Faulding says he can't say it's impossible to lock the bag from the inside but 'even Houdini would struggle with this one'
11:23	@skynewsgatherer	When pushed Mr Faulding says it would have been impossible for Gareth to get into the bag, in the bath, unaided without leaving any marks
11:26	@skynewsgatherer	Mr Faulding says that one person could have easily lifted the bag with Gareth's body into the bath without leaving marks
11:27	@skynewsgatherer	Mr Faulding says that it would have been very, very easy to put Gareth into the bag if he was unconscious or dead
11:29	@skynewsgatherer	Mr Faulding says that if the key had just dropped from the padlock it would be unlikely to have ended up where it did
11:32	@skynewsgatherer	Experiment on oxygen levels in the bag showed that amount of oxygen decreased rapidly after 5 mins
11:33	@skynewsgatherer	Oxygen level dropped to just 17%
11:34	@skynewsgatherer	Mr Faulding thinks that Gareth could have survived a maximum of 30 mins in the bag
11:35	@skynewsgatherer	Mr Faulding says it would be impossible to get into bag in scenario Gareth found in
11:36	@skynewsgatherer	Expert: 'Why would you climb into bag in the bath?.... I believe he was placed in the bag by a 3rd party'
11:38	@skynewsgatherer	Expert tells Gareth Williams inquest that he believes Gareth was placed in bag by 3rd party
11:40	@skynewsgatherer	Inquest adjourned while officers prepare 999 call tape for the court. Back at 2pm
END OF SESSION 9. Friday Morning, April 27, 2012

Link to source of April 27 coverage

Session 8. Thursday Afternoon, April 26, 2012

SESSION 8. Thursday Afternoon, April 26, 2012
13:13	@skynewsgatherer	Coroner is dealing with a couple of other inquests before continuing with investigation into death of Gareth Williams
13:17	@skynewsgatherer	Stephen Gale now called to give evidence in Gareth Williams inquest
WITNESS: Stephen Gale
13:18	@skynewsgatherer	Mr Gale is retired GCHQ officer. He was director of strategy who liaised with Whitehall and looked after HR and personal security
13:20	@skynewsgatherer	Mr Gale says he had no personal connection to Gareth and is here to represent GCHQ
13:25	@skynewsgatherer	Gareth had attended two 'Black Hat' technical security conferences in Las Vegas in August 2008 and July 2010, inquest hears
13:26	@skynewsgatherer	Mr Gale says he doesn't know whether members of criminal fraternity also attend the security conferences
13:27	@skynewsgatherer	Mr Gales says the conferences are still deemed as low risk. The same as working in the UK
13:29	@skynewsgatherer	Mr Gales says Gareth returned to UK on Aug 11th and visited London office on Thursday 12th
13:30	@stone_skynews	Detail now on conference in Las Vegas which Gareth Williams attended 2 weeks before he was found dead
13:30	@skynewsgatherer	Gareth was given secondment to SIS in late 2008 after his first application in 2007 was turned down
13:32	@stone_skynews	Inquest hearing now from Stephen Gale, retired GCHQ officer, was Director of Strategy, liaised w/ Whitehall, dealt with personal security
13:32	@skynewsgatherer	Gareth won two awards during his career. One posthumously in 2010 for technical work
13:34	@skynewsgatherer	The other for work done in 2009 which was for a particular programme described as a 'Herculean effort for an extraordinary team'
13:34	@stone_skynews	Inquest hears that Gareth Williams team won an award for "a Herculean effort by an extraordinary team" in cryptology. A very bright man
13:36	@skynewsgatherer	Gareth was a GC10 which is graduate entry grade. He quickly progressed to GC9. The post at SIS was GC8. He got an 11% increase in pay
13:37	@skynewsgatherer	Gale says that GCHQ paid for the rent on Gareth's flat as part of the deal in moving to London
13:37	@skynewsgatherer	Mr Gale says that the 20k of women's clothes would have taken up a large chunk of salary even for someone with no rent or car to pay for
13:45	@skynewsgatherer	Mr Gale confirms that leave is agreed verbally with boss and then formalised on card for HR records
13:50	@skynewsgatherer	GCHQ confirms it pays accommodation but allows staff to choose it. It recommends that they use approved lettings agency
13:51	@skynewsgatherer	Gareth's flat was rented under same terms as other staff. It was chosen by him. GCHQ does not chose or inspect accommodation
13:52	@skynewsgatherer	Mr Gale confirms that Gareth's flat was not a safe house
13:56	@skynewsgatherer	From pervious job ads looks like a GC08 grade GCHQ worker gets just under 40k a year. Gareth spent 20k on women's clothes
14:02	@skynewsgatherer	Witness confirms that GCHQ did not conduct any investigations into death and said it was a matter for the police
14:17	@skynewsgatherer	Mr Gale confirms there were no leaks to the media following Gareth's death from GCHQ
14:17	@skynewsgatherer	No investigation was carried out by GCHQ about possible leaks to the media, Mr Gale
14:20	@skynewsgatherer	Mr Gale has finished his evidence. Next up is Denise Stanworth, a toxicologist
WITNESS: Denise Stanworth
14:22	@skynewsgatherer	Ms Stanworth is a forensic scientist from private firm LGC, she looked at blood, liver and body fluid samples
14:23	@skynewsgatherer	Court hears how Gareth's hair was also examined for any drug use before his death - it tested negative
14:25	@skynewsgatherer	Inquest hears how 'extensive' analysis was done on Gareth including tests for poison
14:25	@skynewsgatherer	Gareth's blood contained alcohol and GHB
14:27	@skynewsgatherer	Alcohol level was 78/100ml, which is consistent with the body having produced it. Inquest hears
14:29	@skynewsgatherer	The drug GHB was also found in Gareth's urine
14:31	@skynewsgatherer	GHB in blood could have naturally occurred after death. Had it been taken before death scientist thinks levels would be higher
14:33	@skynewsgatherer	'Ingestion of GHB cannot be ruled out but I think it would be unlikely,' says witness
14:37	@skynewsgatherer	Gareth also had low levels of codeine in blood but scientist says he would not have been under any influence of painkiller
14:39	@skynewsgatherer	Gareth's body was tested for cyanide and a range of other poisons - all negative
14:43	@skynewsgatherer	Scientist can't rule out certain drugs being used given Gareth may have been dead for 9 days before PM examination
14:45	@skynewsgatherer	Scientist says she can't rule out use of 'poppers' because of amount of time passed before tests
14:53	@skynewsgatherer	Scientist says toxicology for volatile drugs after 9 days is 'not that reliable'. Would be reliable for some drugs though
14:54	@skynewsgatherer	Scientist says the use of an unusual poison cannot be ruled out but is unlikely
14:56	@skynewsgatherer	Family lawyer now questioning forensic scientist
14:59	@skynewsgatherer	Inquest hears that being in the bag, with the heating on in August, would have accelerated decomposition
15:31	@skynewsgatherer	Inquest resumes. Next will be read statement of Dr Jennifer Miller, a stomach contents analysis
STATEMENT FROM: Jennifer Miller
15:35	@skynewsgatherer	Scientist suggests Gareth ate the peppered steak he had bought before he died
15:37	@skynewsgatherer	Gareth was likely to have died between 3 to 5 hours after he ate the steak
15:46	@skynewsgatherer	End of today's evidence in the inquest. Tomorrow we expect to hear from a 'bag expert' and possibly DNA experts
END OF SESSION 8. Thursday Afternoon, April 26, 2012

Link to source of April 26 coverage

Session 7. Thursday Morning, April 26, 2012

SESSION 7. Thursday Morning, April 26, 2012
8:37	@skynewsgatherer	Back to inquest with @skymartinbrunt and @Stone_SkyNews. Expect to hear from more SIS staff
8:42	@skymartinbrunt	Unexplained delay at start of today's hearing
8:42	@skynewsgatherer	Delay to start of Gareth Williams inquest. Media not allowed into the annexe
8:47	@skymartinbrunt	Hearing about to start. Screens up to hide spook witnesses we are not allowed to identify
8:49	@skynewsgatherer	Allowed back into the media room. Blue screens still up in court to protect identity of next witness called SIS F
WITNESS: SIS F
8:52	@skymartinbrunt	First witness is MI6 woman officer known as 'F'
8:52	@skynewsgatherer	SIS F had no contact with Gareth - but is here to represent secret service, inquest told
8:53	@skynewsgatherer	Witness says SIS first became aware of Gareth's death on evening of 23rd
8:54	@skymartinbrunt	She never met Gareth but knows all about him from MI6 files
8:55	@skymartinbrunt	she says no MI6 officers went into his flat before or after body discoverd. Nor did counter terror cops or other agencies
8:55	@skynewsgatherer	Witness says no MI6 officers went into the flat before or after the discovery of Gareth's body
8:57	@skymartinbrunt	No evidence spooks involved in cover up of his death
8:58	@stone_skynews	The Gareth Williams inquest now hearing from witness known only as SIS F, out of sight behind screen. The female is MI6 Intelligence officer
8:59	@skymartinbrunt	Gareth originally rejected in bid to move on secondment to MI6. Later successful
8:59	@stone_skynews	SIS F had never met Gareth Williams. She is here to provide more information about his professional life. Perhaps more info on what he did?
9:01	@stone_skynews	SIS F says she has "no knowledge" of any cover-up by MI6 & that a cover-up would be outside MI6 remit anyway. Gareth Williams
9:01	@skymartinbrunt	Gareth was highly skilled with an able technical brain
9:04	@skymartinbrunt	Zero risk to him from contact with MI6 recruited agents. His work did not require him to dress in women's clothing says witness
9:04	@stone_skynews	SIS F says Gareth Williams work did not involve him having to dress in women's clothing. (£20,000 of women's clothes found at flat)
9:11	@skynewsgatherer	MI6 witnesses telling inquest about courses and training Gareth received
9:12	@skynewsgatherer	Gareth had failed a course on operational deployment because 'he didn't reach the standards required'
9:12	@skynewsgatherer	Gareth then retook the course and passed. Tutor had said his improvement had been 'immense'
9:13	@skynewsgatherer	Gareth only worked operationally in the UK. He had never travelled to Russia or Afghanistan as suggested in media
9:14	@stone_skynews	SIS F says that media reports suggesting that Gareth Williams had been to Afghanistan & Russia are wrong. He had never been to either
9:16	@skynewsgatherer	Gareth was carrying out work with low level of risk, says MI6 witness. He was not trained or experienced enough to work overseas
9:20	@skymartinbrunt	Quite rare for GCHQ staff to leave MI6 secondment early
9:22	@skymartinbrunt	MI6 very satisfied with Gareth's work
9:22	@stone_skynews	The inquest is hearing about Gareth Williams professional life now, but the crux of the whole case remains whether he could have locked himself in the bag
9:22	@stone_skynews	The cop in charge of the investigation - which remains open - says the key question is could Gareth Williams have locked himself into the holdall
9:22	@skynewsgatherer	Witness describes Gareth as a fully deployable highly talented officer. No evidence he had been pulled off job
9:22	@skynewsgatherer	Questions now turn to where Gareth was living
9:23	@skynewsgatherer	The flat was let through a GCHQ approved letting agency. It was not a 'safe house' says witness
9:23	@skymartinbrunt	His flat was not MI6 safe house says witness
9:24	@stone_skynews	Coroner asks SIS F if Gareth Williams flat in Pimlico was a 'safe house' as some speculation has suggested. "It was not" says SIS F
9:25	@skymartinbrunt	He made very substantial contribution to MI6 work
9:26	@skynewsgatherer	Gareth was a very pleasant individual, but intensely private and not someone who workmates would socialise with, says witness
9:28	@skymartinbrunt	MI6 colleagues found him good colleague but intensely private and didn't socialise with them even in shared interests
9:29	@skymartinbrunt	No concerns over his vetting. He was considered low risk
9:32	@skymartinbrunt	Coroner asks if MI6 staff should report contact with anyone from Kurdistan. Witness said she couldn't answer that
9:33	@skynewsgatherer	Witness now explaining vetting process. Gareth raised no issues prior to his death
9:34	@stone_skynews	Hints again of restrictions to Gareth Williams inquest. SIS F hesitates before answering question about countries which could be threat to UK
9:34	@skynewsgatherer	MI6 officer says Gareth had no requirement to tell SIS about his interest in clothes or his design course
9:35	@skynewsgatherer	Witness says she can't answer whether Gareth should have told SIS if he had contact with someone from Kurdistan
9:36	@skynewsgatherer	MI6 officer says she can't answer whether Gareth should have told his friends that he used different names
9:37	@skynewsgatherer	Gareth made small number of unauthorised searches of SIS database, inquest told
9:37	@skymartinbrunt	Gareth did some unauthorised database searches. Not unheard of
9:38	@skynewsgatherer	MI6 officers says this happens from time to time and can often be explained
9:40	@skynewsgatherer	Witness says that if Gareth was doing something against policy, and 3rd party knew about, they could put pressure on him
9:40	@stone_skynews	SIS F explains that MI6 officers must tell manager if they develop friendship with individuals from countries seen as a threat to UK
9:40	@stone_skynews	Coroner asks whether friendship with an individual from US would require clearance..
9:40	@stone_skynews	SIS F says she's not sure if she can answer it. Pauses. Then says no - US friendship would not require clearance
9:40	@stone_skynews	Coroner then asks about friendship with individual from Kurdistan. Would officer have to tell bosses about that. SIS F says she can't answer
9:40	@skynewsgatherer	Witness doesn't believe though that unauthorised searches put Gareth at risk
9:41	@skymartinbrunt	No evidence his unauthorised database searches were known to any hostile third party or were related to his death
9:42	@skynewsgatherer	Inquest heard earlier in week that Gareth may have had contact with man from Kurdistan through friend Elizabeth Guthrie
9:43	@skynewsgatherer	MI6 witness tells inquest that she had no reason to think death of Gareth Williams was connected to his work
9:44	@skymartinbrunt	MI6 review a year after his death concluded his death not connected with his work says witness
9:48	@skymartinbrunt	No threat to Gareth from any foreign intel service or agency and he hadn't been recognised or targeted by anyone
9:48	@stone_skynews	Coroner asks whether SIS thought any foreign Intel organisation represented a threat to Gareth Williams. Witness SIS F says "No"
9:50	@skynewsgatherer	Witness admits it 'clearly took far too long' to report Gareth missing. She says it was because policies were not communicated properly
9:51	@skymartinbrunt	Witness says MI6 took far too long to check in him when he didn't turn up at work a week before body found
9:52	@skynewsgatherer	Witness F says Gareth's boss should have told line manager and welfare department he had not shown up for work
9:53	@stone_skynews	Coroner asks what comment SIS has for fact that Gareth Williams was not reported meeting for a week. SIS F: "It clearly took far too long"
9:53	@stone_skynews	SIS F: "There were processes & policies in place. Clearly they were not followed. They haven't been communicated & trained strongly enough."
9:53	@stone_skynews	Witness SIS F is strongly suggesting that Gareth Williams line manager, Witness G, failed to follow procedure for when officer is missing
9:53	@skynewsgatherer	Witness says there should be 'greater clarity between GCHQ and SIS' about who is responsible for employees
9:54	@skynewsgatherer	Coroner says she struggles to understand how a team which is supposed to be 'first class' didn't know what each other were doing
9:55	@skymartinbrunt	Coroner says she struggling to understand how high-tech team didn't use electronic diary to know what exactly each other was doing
9:56	@skynewsgatherer	Coroner says there's evidence of a complete break down in communication in relation to Gareth. MI6 witness agrees
9:56	@skymartinbrunt	Coroner says there was complete breakdown of communication at MI6 over Gareth's absence
9:57	@skynewsgatherer	Family lawyer now asking about whether aspects of Gareth's private life would 'render him unsuitable for SIS work'
9:58	@skynewsgatherer	Witness says vetting looks at 'trustworthiness and reliability - not about lifestyle or sexual preferences or choices which are legitimate'
10:00	@skymartinbrunt	Anyone can have sex and lifestyle preferences and it's up to them to discuss it with vetting team for assessment
10:04	@stone_skynews	Family lawyer asks about vetting for Gareth Williams - SIS F says she can't specifically comment on vetting for Gareth
10:06	@stone_skynews	Family lawyer refers to suggestions in media (about Gareth Williams' possible sexual preferences) which could render him "unusable for SIS"
10:06	@stone_skynews	SIS F says vetting looks at 'trustworthiness and reliability' - not lifestyle, sexual preferences or choices which are legitimate
10:06	@skynewsgatherer	MI6 says they understood Gareth's reasons for wanting to leave London and go back to GCHQ
10:08	@skynewsgatherer	Family lawyer now asking again about Gareth's flat - letting agents told lawyer the tenant was 'secretary of state'
10:12	@skynewsgatherer	Family lawyer asks whether it would be fairer to say searches of database we 'unexplained' rather than 'unauthorised'. Witness agrees
10:13	@skynewsgatherer	MI6 witness says the agency didn't launch its own investigation into Gareth's death as it was clearly a matter for police
10:16	@skynewsgatherer	Witness says SIS are 'profoundly sorry' for delay in finding Gareth. Delay meant limited forensic evidence gathered from body
10:17	@skynewsgatherer	Impact of Gareth's death means that everyone at SIS are now aware of responsibilities, says witness
10:18	@skynewsgatherer	Witness also acknowledges that delay in finding Gareth made it even harder for his family
10:18	@skymartinbrunt	Witness accepts delays in investigating his absence frustrated police investigation and caused more grief for family
10:18	@stone_skynews	Witness SIS F: "MI6 are profoundly sorry about what happened [delay in reporting Gareth Williams missing] It shouldn't have happened."
10:18	@stone_skynews	Witness SIS F: "We recognise the delay in finding Gareth Williams body has made it harder to come to terms with his death."
10:19	@skynewsgatherer	Inquest adjourned as family breaks down after hearing no disciplinary action was taken against Gareth's boss
10:20	@skymartinbrunt	Family member walks out in flood of tears as lawyer accuses Gareth Boss of total disregard for his welfare and safety in not reporting absence
10:20	@stone_skynews	Family of Gareth Williams leave court in tears as SIS F says no disciplinary action taken against officer who failed to report him missing
10:20	@skynewsgatherer	Gareth's boss, witness G, took a week to report him missing, the inquest heard yesterday
10:21	@skymartinbrunt	Inquest briefly adjourns because of family distress
10:22	@stone_skynews	Family lawyer for Gareth Williams had suggested that Witness G - who failed to report him missing - had "total disregard for his welfare"
10:23	@stone_skynews	This whole inquest must be extremely hard for Gareth Williams family. Every possible aspect of his personal & professional live is examined
10:24	@skymartinbrunt	Family lawyer says police investigation was defeated by MI6 failure to report Gareth's absence
10:25	@skymartinbrunt	Witness says alarm should have been raised within two to four hours. It took eight days
10:26	@skymartinbrunt	Witness says no disciplinary action was taken against Gareth's boss for not reporting his absence early as he should have done
10:31	@skynewsgatherer	MI6 says they did not leak information to the media that Gareth looked up bondage websites
10:33	@skymartinbrunt	Witness denies MI6 leaked to media details of Gareths computer searches of bondage websites
10:34	@skynewsgatherer	MI6 witness says that if the police had asked for written signed witness statements they would have obliged
10:36	@skymartinbrunt	Witnees denies anyone interfered with any of Gareth's electronic devices before handing to police
10:37	@skynewsgatherer	MI6 confirms that all electronic devices used by Gareth were made available to police
10:37	@skynewsgatherer	MI6 says that no one from agency entered Gareth's flat between 16+23 Aug
10:37	@stone_skynews	We still don't know categorically whether info about Gareth Williams looking at bondage websites is true or not. Discussed, not confirmed
10:39	@skymartinbrunt	Witness says no spooks went into his flat between his first work absence and body discovery eight days later
10:39	@skynewsgatherer	SIS F witness now finished. She is the last anonymous witness. Screens now being taken down. Inquest resumes at 1200
10:46	@stone_skynews	Anonymous witnesses in Gareth Williams inquest done now. Courtroom screens removed. Next up: HR manager at GCHQ & another GCHQ employee
10:47	@skymartinbrunt	Screens have been removed for the next witness who will begin evidence at 12 noon
11:13	@skynewsgatherer	Helen Yelland from GCHQ now giving evidence. She was approached by Gareth's line manager at GCHQ on 20/08/10
WITNESS: Helen Yelland
11:18	@skynewsgatherer	'There was some confusion as to who was taking what checks,' says HR witness, when asked about when Gareth went missing
11:25	@skynewsgatherer	Ms Yelland says she had no info about Gareth's state of mind - police were told he had been "pulled off job and could have taken it badly"
11:28	@skynewsgatherer	Ms Yelland spoke to Gareth's sister at 1645 on 23rd to tell her she had reported Gareth missing
11:30	@skynewsgatherer	Checks should have been made to find Gareth very shortly after he was expected at work, says GCHQ HR worker
11:49	@skynewsgatherer	Met Police lawyer now questioning Ms Yelland
11:50	@skynewsgatherer	Asking about call made by Ms Yelland to the police. Police summarise info in what's called a CAD report
11:52	@skynewsgatherer	Report says that Gareth was last spoken to on 13th Aug and that his sister was due to stay with him
11:54	@skynewsgatherer	CAD report says "He was recently pulled off a job and informant is concerned he has taken this badly"
11:55	@skynewsgatherer	"Who told you he had been pulled off job and had taken it badly?" asks lawyer
11:56	@skynewsgatherer	Ms Yelland replies that she could have interpreted Gareth's request to return to GCHQ as being taken off job. Though admits odd language
12:01	@skynewsgatherer	Inquest into death of Gareth Williams has been adjourned for lunch. Back at 2pm
END OF SESSION 7. Thursday Morning, April 26, 2012

Link to source of April 26 coverage

Session 6. Wednesday Afternoon, April 25, 2012

SESSION 6. Wednesday Afternoon, April 25, 2012
12:37	@skynewsgatherer	Inquest into death of Gareth Williams delayed until 2.15pm
13:16	@skynewsgatherer	Further delays - Inquest into death of Gareth Williams is now being held in private
13:33	@skynewsgatherer	Have been allowed back into the media annexe. Large blue scenes across the whole of the court
13:36	@skynewsgatherer	Screens protecting the identity of the first witness from MI6. S/he has been referred to only as 'K'
WITNESS: Witness K
13:39	@skynewsgatherer	Coroner apologies for delays and says 'a lot of work has been done'
13:40	@skynewsgatherer	Witness K worked with Gareth Williams in Cheltenham. He last saw him on a work trip to a conference in Las Vegas
13:41	@skynewsgatherer	They would spend the days at the conference, and on a couple of evenings when they went out
13:41	@skynewsgatherer	Witness K said he didn't know Gareth Williams very well and only knew him in a work capacity
13:42	@skynewsgatherer	Most of the workmates would go out every night. Gareth only went out twice
13:44	@skynewsgatherer	Gareth told 'K' he was going to stay on in the USA to do some hiking and climbing. K didn't notice anything unusual about behaviour
13:48	@skynewsgatherer	K was due to have a work meeting with Gareth on August 20 2010. It was confirmed in last email exchange on Aug 13
13:49	@skynewsgatherer	K waited a while but then another colleague suggested they should try ring the numbers they had for Gareth
13:51	@skynewsgatherer	The meeting was 3 days before police were alerted by his family that Gareth was missing
13:53	@skynewsgatherer	K wasn't aware that Gareth had not been in work all week
13:55	@skynewsgatherer	K made two statements to the police but was never asked to check and sign the copies they drafted
13:56	@skynewsgatherer	K says that whilst seconded to MI6 Gareth would have been on a higher pay scale
13:58	@skynewsgatherer	K waited around 2 hours for Gareth, and left it with his colleague that Gareth had not turned up for the meeting
13:59	@skynewsgatherer	Inquest hears that Gareth was a member of a four man team. K got no explanation as to where Gareth was
14:02	@stone_skynews	The Gareth Williams inquest is now hearing from Witness K - a work colleague of his from GCHQ in Cheltenham. He had been due to meet him
14:02	@stone_skynews	Witness K says that he came to London for meeting with Gareth Williams on 20/8/10 @ MI6 HQ. Gareth didn't turn up. Was found dead on 23/8/10
14:03	@skynewsgatherer	K says it was unexpected that Gareth had not turned but - but that sometimes 'people don't turn up for meetings'
14:04	@skynewsgatherer	When K returned to Cheltenham he let his line manager know that Gareth had failed to turn up
14:10	@skynewsgatherer	Witness F now called. He worked at GCHQ and had been given Gareth's number about a flat
WITNESS: Witness F
14:12	@skynewsgatherer	F called Gareth on Aug 12 on the internal work phone system and arranged to meet him on Aug 16th at 7pm
14:15	@skynewsgatherer	F arrived late to view Gareth's flat after getting the address wrong. He pressed the buzzer but no response
14:16	@skynewsgatherer	Communal door was on the latch so F pushed it open and went to Gareth's front door. There was no response
14:18	@skynewsgatherer	F assumed he had arrived too late and wrote Gareth a note on a flyer. He tried to contact Gareth the next day
14:20	@skynewsgatherer	F made further attempts to contact Gareth and called his supervisor - thought to be witness G
14:24	@skynewsgatherer	Family barrister now questioning witness. Confirms again that statements in 2010 were not written and signed
14:28	@skynewsgatherer	So MI6 aware that Gareth had missed 2 meetings (16&20Aug) with GCHQ staff - his body not found til family reported him missing
14:36	@skynewsgatherer	Witness G now giving evidence. He had been Gareth's manager at SIS since August 2009
WITNESS: Witness G
14:39	@skynewsgatherer	G managed Gareth's day to day tasks at SIS but Gareth still had a boss at GCHQ
14:40	@skynewsgatherer	G explaining that he worked with Gareth and 2 others as a team. They all worked in a small office
14:42	@skynewsgatherer	The team worked in a flexible way with each member looking after their own tasks. Work described as being 'irregular'
14:44	@skynewsgatherer	G says that Gareth was able to work 'operationally' and had performed some operational duties including one trip abroad - to USA
14:46	@skynewsgatherer	Trip to US described as a wind down from SIS work and more in preparation for return to GCHQ in Cheltenham
14:49	@skynewsgatherer	Gareth's boss describes him as a quiet intellectual, a very private person. The team used to go out but Gareth rarely did
14:50	@skynewsgatherer	G knew little about Gareth outside work apart from their shared interest in running and cycling
14:53	@skynewsgatherer	G said there were no indication that Gareth was not happy at work apart from that he had failed a test, which he later passed
14:54	@skynewsgatherer	G says Gareth was frustrated with the amount of 'risk mitigation' and paperwork associated with operational duties
14:55	@skynewsgatherer	G says Gareth was good at the technical side of the job and wanted to get back to it
14:58	@skynewsgatherer	G says that he could have been in the office on August 13 with Gareth but doesn't remember seeing him
15:01	@skynewsgatherer	Q: 'Did Gareth ever not turn up for work when he was expected to do so?' A: No
15:02	@skynewsgatherer	G not concerned when Gareth didn't show by 10am - but thought he had had trouble with the trains
15:03	@skynewsgatherer	Gareth had never failed to show up before - even when he had been late
15:04	@skynewsgatherer	On 3pm Aug 16 Gareth had a meeting with another colleague, inquest hears (That's now 3 missed meetings)
15:06	@skynewsgatherer	Coroner: 'If I didn't turn up for my job people would have wondered where I was'
15:07	@skynewsgatherer	G said he took no action. In hindsight he said he should have taken more action and 'escalated it.'
15:09	@skynewsgatherer	Q: What action did you take? A: I made some calls to his landline
15:09	@skynewsgatherer	When G didn't get answer he thought that Gareth must have been packing. He didn't check with GCHQ. Says in hindsight he should have done
15:12	@skynewsgatherer	Appears that even though Gareth had failed to turn up at work his boss at MI6 did not try to contact his family or friends
15:13	@skynewsgatherer	G checked if Gareth was logged on to the work system to see if he was logged in on Aug 17
15:14	@skynewsgatherer	Q: Did that raise or lower your concern? A: It didn't change my concern
15:15	@skynewsgatherer	G says his thoughts were that Gareth had forgotten to tell him he would be out the officer - or that he had told him and he had forgotten
15:16	@skynewsgatherer	G then went on operations and was out of the office. He didn't pass details of Gareth's absence on to anyone
15:17	@skynewsgatherer	G back at work on 23rd and Gareth was still not in the office. He tried phone but no response. So he visited his flat
15:20	@skynewsgatherer	G visited Gareth's flat on his why out. He only pressed flat 4 buzzer and didnt try the neighbours
15:21	@skynewsgatherer	Q: Did you seek any advice on what you should do? A: Yes, I got a list of suggested actions
15:22	@skynewsgatherer	These actions including leaving a note, ringing the phone and contacting local hospitals. G did not contact the hospitals
15:23	@skynewsgatherer	G did not try to contact Gareth over the weekend. (apologises flat visit was 20th not 23rd)
15:24	@skynewsgatherer	G expected Gareth to just turn up at work on Monday morning. He admits it was just a gut feeling and he had no evidence
15:25	@skynewsgatherer	It was only when Gareth didn't show up on Monday that G became worried. He went round to his flat at 10.30 but didn't get in
15:26	@skynewsgatherer	G then reported Gareth missing to his line manager and GCHQ. He also looked for a spare set of keys for Gareth's flat
15:27	@skynewsgatherer	Appears it took Gareth's boss at MI6 a WEEK to report him missing
15:28	@skynewsgatherer	G then called Gareth's sister Ceri after first trying to contact his father. This was now the afternoon of 23rd
15:36	@skynewsgatherer	The risk to SIS staff working out of London was low, inquest told
15:37	@skynewsgatherer	Again witness G was not asked by police to witness and sign written statement taken at time when events were fresh in memory
15:41	@skynewsgatherer	During questions from family lawyer G admits he had never had a day off sick and never missed a meeting
15:51	@skynewsgatherer	Witness G says he can't remember, which or how many numbers, he tried for Gareth
15:57	@skynewsgatherer	G says in hindsight he should have told someone about Gareth's absence before he had a day off
16:06	@skynewsgatherer	'You hadn't seen Gareth for a week. Had no communication... why didn't you just break in?' Asks family lawyer
16:08	@skynewsgatherer	'What concerns the family is that Gareth was in a profession in which there are risks,' says lawyer
16:08	@skynewsgatherer	G: 'There is nothing to indicate that Gareth was at risk at that time.'
16:14	@skynewsgatherer	G says he doesn't know if anyone from SIS/GCHQ entered flat between 16+23 aug?
16:15	@skynewsgatherer	When asked if he had acted as a responsible manager G says that in hindsight he would have done things differently
16:16	@skynewsgatherer	G says corporate procedure is in place and was in 2010 for someone going missing. He can't remember what it is
16:17	@skynewsgatherer	Family lawyer says that given the circumstances it should be tattooed on his heart
16:23	@skynewsgatherer	End of fascinating 3rd day of evidence in inquest into death of Gareth Williams. More SIS staff tomorrow
END OF SESSION 6. Wednesday Afternoon, April 25, 2012

Link to source of April 25 coverage