Showing posts with label alcohol. Show all posts
Showing posts with label alcohol. Show all posts

Session 8. Thursday Afternoon, April 26, 2012

SESSION 8. Thursday Afternoon, April 26, 2012
13:13@skynewsgathererCoroner is dealing with a couple of other inquests before continuing with investigation into death of Gareth Williams
13:17@skynewsgathererStephen Gale now called to give evidence in Gareth Williams inquest
WITNESS: Stephen Gale
13:18@skynewsgathererMr Gale is retired GCHQ officer. He was director of strategy who liaised with Whitehall and looked after HR and personal security
13:20@skynewsgathererMr Gale says he had no personal connection to Gareth and is here to represent GCHQ
13:25@skynewsgathererGareth had attended two 'Black Hat' technical security conferences in Las Vegas in August 2008 and July 2010, inquest hears
13:26@skynewsgathererMr Gale says he doesn't know whether members of criminal fraternity also attend the security conferences
13:27@skynewsgathererMr Gales says the conferences are still deemed as low risk. The same as working in the UK
13:29@skynewsgathererMr Gales says Gareth returned to UK on Aug 11th and visited London office on Thursday 12th
13:30@stone_skynewsDetail now on conference in Las Vegas which Gareth Williams attended 2 weeks before he was found dead
13:30@skynewsgathererGareth was given secondment to SIS in late 2008 after his first application in 2007 was turned down
13:32@stone_skynewsInquest hearing now from Stephen Gale, retired GCHQ officer, was Director of Strategy, liaised w/ Whitehall, dealt with personal security
13:32@skynewsgathererGareth won two awards during his career. One posthumously in 2010 for technical work
13:34@skynewsgathererThe other for work done in 2009 which was for a particular programme described as a 'Herculean effort for an extraordinary team'
13:34@stone_skynewsInquest hears that Gareth Williams team won an award for "a Herculean effort by an extraordinary team" in cryptology. A very bright man
13:36@skynewsgathererGareth 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@skynewsgathererGale says that GCHQ paid for the rent on Gareth's flat as part of the deal in moving to London
13:37@skynewsgathererMr 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@skynewsgathererMr Gale confirms that leave is agreed verbally with boss and then formalised on card for HR records
13:50@skynewsgathererGCHQ confirms it pays accommodation but allows staff to choose it. It recommends that they use approved lettings agency
13:51@skynewsgathererGareth's flat was rented under same terms as other staff. It was chosen by him. GCHQ does not chose or inspect accommodation
13:52@skynewsgathererMr Gale confirms that Gareth's flat was not a safe house
13:56@skynewsgathererFrom 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@skynewsgathererWitness confirms that GCHQ did not conduct any investigations into death and said it was a matter for the police
14:17@skynewsgathererMr Gale confirms there were no leaks to the media following Gareth's death from GCHQ
14:17@skynewsgathererNo investigation was carried out by GCHQ about possible leaks to the media, Mr Gale
14:20@skynewsgathererMr Gale has finished his evidence. Next up is Denise Stanworth, a toxicologist
WITNESS: Denise Stanworth
14:22@skynewsgathererMs Stanworth is a forensic scientist from private firm LGC, she looked at blood, liver and body fluid samples
14:23@skynewsgathererCourt hears how Gareth's hair was also examined for any drug use before his death - it tested negative
14:25@skynewsgathererInquest hears how 'extensive' analysis was done on Gareth including tests for poison
14:25@skynewsgathererGareth's blood contained alcohol and GHB
14:27@skynewsgathererAlcohol level was 78/100ml, which is consistent with the body having produced it. Inquest hears
14:29@skynewsgathererThe drug GHB was also found in Gareth's urine
14:31@skynewsgathererGHB 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@skynewsgathererGareth also had low levels of codeine in blood but scientist says he would not have been under any influence of painkiller
14:39@skynewsgathererGareth's body was tested for cyanide and a range of other poisons - all negative
14:43@skynewsgathererScientist can't rule out certain drugs being used given Gareth may have been dead for 9 days before PM examination
14:45@skynewsgathererScientist says she can't rule out use of 'poppers' because of amount of time passed before tests
14:53@skynewsgathererScientist says toxicology for volatile drugs after 9 days is 'not that reliable'. Would be reliable for some drugs though
14:54@skynewsgathererScientist says the use of an unusual poison cannot be ruled out but is unlikely
14:56@skynewsgathererFamily lawyer now questioning forensic scientist
14:59@skynewsgathererInquest hears that being in the bag, with the heating on in August, would have accelerated decomposition
15:31@skynewsgathererInquest resumes. Next will be read statement of Dr Jennifer Miller, a stomach contents analysis
STATEMENT FROM: Jennifer Miller
15:35@skynewsgathererScientist suggests Gareth ate the peppered steak he had bought before he died
15:37@skynewsgathererGareth was likely to have died between 3 to 5 hours after he ate the steak
15:46@skynewsgathererEnd 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
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Session 5. Wednesday Morning, April 25, 2012

SESSION 5. Wednesday Morning, April 25, 2012
10:34@skynewsgathererInquest into death of MI6 code breaker Gareth Williams continues for 3rd day. Am there with @Stone_SkyNews
10:34@skynewsgathererAll SO15 officers who worked on the Gareth Williams case had six months of vetting to enable them to work with security services
10:34@skynewsgathererCoronor rules that the Met Police released photos of crime scene not exhibited during inquest
10:35@skynewsgathererGareth Williams inquest expected to hear from another friend and colleagues of code breaker
10:35@skynewsgathererElizabeth Guthrie called to give evidence. She was a friend of Gareth Williams
WITNESS: Elizabeth Guthrie
10:35@skynewsgathererMs Guthrie first met Gareth when she was sharing a flat with his friend Sian Jones, who gave evidence yesterday
10:35@skynewsgathererMs Guthrie became friends in their own right and as neither liked going out they would stay in and play video games
10:35@skynewsgathererThe pair shared a interest in Manga. They had been intended to go to an expo dressed in bright wigs
10:35@skynewsgathererMs Guthrie says she heard Gareth had been on design course and says it could have been to learn to make Manga costumes
10:35@skynewsgathererMs Guthrie says the women's clothes found at Gareth's flat would not have been for him
10:35@skynewsgathererMs Guthrie says clothes could have been 'support strategy for someone else'
10:35@skynewsgathererMs Guthrie never visited Gareth's flat and was never invited to it
10:36@skynewsgathererMs Guthrie says that Gareth never discussed any details of his work with her
10:36@skynewsgathererMs Guthrie says that if Gareth had concerns he would have shared them with her or his sister
10:36@skynewsgathererGareth drank alcohol at friend's flat but never out. He frowned on drug taking
10:36@skynewsgathererMs Guthrie says her view was that Gareth was straight, not gay, and had no interest in cross dressing
10:36@skynewsgatherer'We were going to a fancy dress party but he was going as a ninja not a queen' Ms Guthrie tells inquest
10:36@skynewsgathererGuthrie: 'Gareth being as private as he was, for someone being brought back would have been of note. He would have told his family.'
10:36@skynewsgathererGareth told Ms Guthrie that he worked for the Home Office. But she 'connected the dots'
10:36@skynewsgathererMs Guthrie asked by family lawyer if she knew that Gareth sometimes used another name. She replies yes - coroner asks for it to 'stop there'
10:36@skynewsgathererNext witness is Supt Michael Broster
WITNESS: Michael Broster
10:36@skynewsgathererSO15 were also first to examine any USB sticks, phones etc, to make sure they didn't have sensitive info about SIS work on them
10:36@skynewsgathererInquest hears that SO15 found no links between Gareth's work and his death
10:36@skynewsgathererSO15 acted as a go between SIS and murder squad. Broster says this did not hamper investigation but admits it caused a delay
10:36@skynewsgathererNo witness statements were taken from SIS or GCHQ
10:36@skynewsgathererIn line with security policy no sensitive material was found on laptop etc in Gareth's flat
10:36@skynewsgathererLawyer acting for Gareth Williams is challenging decision not to take any statements from intelligence services staff
10:36@skynewsgathererSupt Broster also being asked how he could be sure electronic items had not been tampered with by SIS before he analysed them
10:36@skynewsgathererFamily lawyer comparing enquiry to other criminal cases where there is a statement confirming how evidence is protected. None in this case
10:36@skynewsgathererFamily lawyer describes it as an 'old boys act' where SIS says there has been no tampering and SO15 accept their word
10:36@skynewsgathererSupt Broster says he has no reason to suspect that electronic items were interfered with
10:36@skynewsgathererSupt Broster says that he doesn't know how the media found out that Gareth Williams had visited bondage websites
10:37@skynewsgathererSupt Broster says he was doing as requested by DCI Sebire but at the same time he was doing his own investigation
10:37@skynewsgathererInquest adjourned for 15 mins
STATEMENT FROM: a police officer who was on duty the night Gareth was found
10:38@skynewsgathererInquest will now hear read statements of 8 witnesses. The first a police officer who was on duty on night Gareth Williams was found
STATEMENT FROM: Jennifer Elliot
10:41@skynewsgathererNext statement is from Jennifer Elliot who rented flat to Gareth Williams near GCHQ. He lived there for 10 years
10:43@skynewsgathererShe described Gareth as 'lovely polite young man'. Gareth had said he was returning to flat in Sept 2010
10:47@skynewsgatherer3 years before his death Mrs Elliot heard Gareth shouting for help - she found him tied up to his bed
10:48@skynewsgathererLandlady says Gareth was wearing just his underpants and explained his situation by saying he just wanted to see if he could escape
10:48@stone_skynewsStatement from Gareth Williams old landlord reveals that he was once found tied up on his bed. Claimed he wanted to see if he could get free
10:50@stone_skynewsLandlady says she and her husband thought the situation was more sexual than escapology
10:51@skynewsgathererLandlady says Gareth Williams had offered to pay more rent after she and husband were forced to untie him from bed. She declined
STATEMENT FROM: Carol Kirton
11:04@skynewsgathererNext statement is from Carol Kirton who sold Gareth Williams a £1000 pair of shoes which he told her was for his girlfriend
11:07@skynewsgathererMs Kirton says all items bought by Gareth Williams were high end fashion and would compliment each other
STATEMENT FROM: Cheryl Eastap
11:08@skynewsgathererTutor at fashion course attended by Gareth Williams says Gareth was a quiet man, very polite and had a slight stutter
11:11@skynewsgathererCheryl Eastap, fashion tutor, said Gareth was very nervous man, continually made apologies, a loner, he didn't mix with other students
11:13@skynewsgathererFinal read statement is from Magdalena Kolakowska. She worked at cake shop
STATEMENT FROM: Magdalena Kolakowska
11:16@skynewsgathererGareth Williams would visit Patisserie Valerie two or three times a week. She said she had seen Gareth talking to woman
11:18@skynewsgathererInquest now adjourned until 1.25pm so that screens can be put up to hide identity of witnesses K, F and G
11:58@stone_skynewsGCHQ codebreaker Gareth Williams was once found tied to bed by landlady inquest hears
END OF SESSION 5. Wednesday Morning, April 25, 2012

Link to source of April 25 coverage
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