Session 13. Tuesday Morning, May 1, 2012

SESSION 13. Tuesday Morning, May 1, 2012
8:42	@skynewsgatherer	Back with @Stone_SkyNews for final stage of inquest into death of Gareth Williams. Today DCI Jackie Sebire will be recalled
8:58	@skynewsgatherer	Coroner has asked to recall Ros Hammond, forensic scientist from LGC. Plus call a DC Hall from Met and an anonymous witness called SIS D
9:05	@stone_skynews	Back at what should be the penultimate day in the inquest of MI6 spy Gareth Williams. The coroner should deliver verdict tomorrow
9:07	@stone_skynews	There is now suggestion already that things may slip in Gareth Williams inquest. Coroner is asking for witnesses to be recalled
9:07	@stone_skynews	The forensic scientist who gave evidence yesterday, a police officer and a new anon MI6 witness could be called on to give evidence
9:11	@skynewsgatherer	DCI Jackie Sebire back in the witness box, she is the SIO in Gareth Williams case
WITNESS: Jackie Sebire
9:12	@skynewsgatherer	Coroner asks if detective had ever been provided with a list of Gareth's belongings from SIS or GCHQ. She says no
9:13	@skynewsgatherer	Detective says the first she heard of a North Face holdall being found amongst work things was yesterday
9:14	@skynewsgatherer	DCI says she only learnt this morning that 9 memory sticks were found with Gareth's work belongings
9:16	@stone_skynews	Throughout this inquest there has been an awkward desire to balance public interest with national security
9:16	@stone_skynews	Coroner grants anonymity to a further MI6 witness and recalls the Forensic Scientist, Ros Hammond later today
9:16	@skynewsgatherer	Family lawyer asking if DCI had been aware of memory sticks in 2010 if she would have looked at them
9:19	@skynewsgatherer	DCI says that memory sticks would have been checked had she known about them. DCI was only told of emails
9:24	@stone_skynews	Interesting developments - cop in charge of investigation says she was not aware of 9 memory sticks found in Gareth Williams work belongings
9:25	@skynewsgatherer	Gareth Williams inquest now in chambers. Update when we are allowed back into court
9:37	@skynewsgatherer	Next up is DC Colin Hall, he had not been due to give evidence today
WITNESS: Colin Hall
9:38	@skynewsgatherer	Detective went to MI6 offices on 26 August, 3 days after Gareth was discovered dead
9:40	@skynewsgatherer	DC Hall was taken to the room that Gareth shared with 3 colleagues. He was taken to one of 3 cabinets
9:42	@skynewsgatherer	Detective told certain items were for Gareth's work and he couldn't examine them. No inventory was taken
9:44	@skynewsgatherer	DC Hall works a forensic officer with the Met's counter terrorism team SO15
9:45	@skynewsgatherer	DC says there was no evidence that Gareth's cabinet had been sealed following his death. But it was locked
9:49	@skynewsgatherer	DC Hall says it's not be routine to take an inventory of items. He only recorded a photocopied birth certificate of Gareth and a note pad
9:49	@skynewsgatherer	Items were seized on DC's second visit to MI6
9:51	@skynewsgatherer	DC says that if he had seen a mobile phone in Gareth's office he would have seized it. DC doesn't remember seeing one
9:55	@skynewsgatherer	DC says he found a black North Face back under Gareth's desk. It contained 'personal items'. The bag was not seized
9:56	@skynewsgatherer	DC says he was told by Supt that the bag should be locked and left in place. ' I am a DC I do what I am told'
9:57	@skynewsgatherer	DC admits that the bag should have been seized. The bag was looked through but no inventory was taken
9:58	@skynewsgatherer	DC says he was acting on orders from Supt Michael Broster
10:01	@skynewsgatherer	Gareth's work cabinet was sealed on August 26 during So15's 55 minute visit. DC says the search was cut short
10:02	@skynewsgatherer	DC doesn't know why search was cut short but that he had to return the following day to complete it
10:04	@skynewsgatherer	DC Hall also attended search of GCHQ, where Gareth had worked before secondment to SIS in London
10:06	@skynewsgatherer	DC found 3 'entirely' empty draws with the keys found in the top one, inquest told. He says he would have made note if any docs found
10:08	@skynewsgatherer	DC Hall confirms he has security clearance when asked by family lawyer. The DC went into Gareth's flat the day body found
10:10	@skynewsgatherer	DC's job was to look for 'sensitive' items in the flat. He found some but none were seized, he tells inquest
10:14	@skynewsgatherer	Under questioning from family lawyer DC Hall admits cabinet was not 'sealed' but relocked with same combination lock by MI6
10:16	@skynewsgatherer	DC changes evidence and says the bag was locked and put in cabinet not left in situ under table as he said earlier
10:18	@skynewsgatherer	DC Hall says bag was unlocked by MI6, he can't remember how it was locked and unlocked
10:19	@skynewsgatherer	DC says he can't remember exactly what was in the bag. Family lawyer says 'it's as helpful as a London pea-souper'
10:20	@skynewsgatherer	DC was told by superior officer not to take Gareth's passport. He says he can't remember where it was
10:21	@skynewsgatherer	DC asked if Kray twins were involved rather than SIS if things would have been done differently
10:22	@skynewsgatherer	DC says he was told by MI6 as to what was sensitive and what was not
10:22	@skynewsgatherer	DC Hall: "I was under instructions and as I said I do what I am told."
10:33	@stone_skynews	It emerges that the only items seized by police from Gareth Williams 2 work places were laptop, post-it note pad & birth certificate copy
10:35	@skynewsgatherer	DC saw memory sticks but was told they contained sensitive information
10:37	@skynewsgatherer	MI6 barrister making the point that SO15 was brought in because of security clearance and could have requested to seize items
10:46	@skynewsgatherer	DC Hall asked about a hotel bill and medical note found in cabinet. DC says he did not seize those items
10:48	@skynewsgatherer	SIS barrister now asking DC Hall if he could be wrong that Gareth's pedestal at GCHQ was empty. Asking if 2 H&S certs were there
10:50	@skynewsgatherer	DC Hall saying he is relying on his notes he made at the time. It makes no mention of health and safety certificates
10:57	@skynewsgatherer	Bag in question found at MI6 has now been brought into court. Coroner wants to check lock - police taking forensic advice
10:59	@skynewsgatherer	DC Hall showing the court how big Gareth's work cabinet was - looks about six feet tall
11:03	@skynewsgatherer	Coroner pushing whether DC Hall would have known if Supt Broster had discovered phone in cabinet
11:03	@skynewsgatherer	DC hall eventually replies: "I would have thought I would have known"
11:04	@skynewsgatherer	DC Hall now putting on gloves to look at the lock on North Face bag found in Gareth's office
11:05	@skynewsgatherer	The bag is unlocked and empty, there are no padlocks, or locks of any kind on it
11:07	@skynewsgatherer	DC Hall says he can't be sure it was the bag in question
11:08	@skynewsgatherer	Police now checking in various carrier bags to see if they can find lock
11:09	@skynewsgatherer	Family lawyer remarking that whole point of exhibits officer is to record items which could be relevant
11:10	@stone_skynews	Court has now seen the bag said to have been found but not seized at Gareth Williams MI6 office. It is a small black North Face holdall
11:12	@skynewsgatherer	DC Hall has now been released from court to go and look for a padlock after checks made with crime scene manager
11:13	@skynewsgatherer	Forensic scientist Ros Hammond from LGC now recalled for a couple of quick questions from coroner
WITNESS: Ros Hammond
11:13	@stone_skynews	Crux of morning questioning is why police did not seize certain/all items from Gareth Williams workplace? Were they prevented from doing so?
11:15	@stone_skynews	Coroner also examining who locked/unlocked/sealed/unsealed items at Gareth Williams MI6 office. Confusing lines of questioning
11:16	@skynewsgatherer	Ms Hammond asked about timing as to when DNA error discovered. Mistake uncovered on Feb 7 and confirmed on 8th
11:19	@skynewsgatherer	Inquest adjourned for lunch after an incredible morning of evidence
END OF SESSION 13. Tuesday Morning, May 1, 2012

Link to source of May 1 coverage

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