Investigation Murder of Rachel Nickell

1 investigation

1.1 operation ezdell
1.2 trial
1.3 aftermath

investigation

scotland yard officers of metropolitan police undertook investigation. although 32 men questioned in connection murder, investigation targeted colin stagg, unemployed man roehampton known walk dog on common.

as there no forensic evidence linking stagg scene, police asked criminal psychologist paul britton create offender profile of killer. decided stagg fitted profile , asked britton assist in designing covert operation, operation ezdell , see whether stagg eliminate or implicate himself. operation later criticised media , stagg s trial judge, mr justice ognall, honeytrap .

operation ezdell

using pseudonym lizzie james undercover policewoman metropolitan police s special operations group (so10) contacted stagg, posing friend of woman whom used in contact via lonely hearts column. on period of 5 months attempted obtain information him feigning romantic interest, meeting him, speaking him on telephone , exchanging letters containing sexual fantasies. during meeting in hyde park, spoke nickell murder, stagg later claimed had played along topic because wanted pursue romance. britton later said disagreed use of fantasy-filled letters , knew nothing of them until after had been sent. lizzie won stagg s confidence , drew out violent fantasies, stagg did not admit murder. police released taped conversation between lizzie , stagg in lizzie claimed enjoy hurting people, stagg mumbled: please explain, live quiet life. if have disappointed you, please don t dump me. nothing has happened me before. when lizzie went on if had done wimbledon common murder, if had killed her, right, stagg replied: m terribly sorry, haven t.

believing, on advice of crown prosecution service, there sufficient evidence convict stagg, police arrested , charged him on 17 august 1993 nickell s murder.

several detailed accounts of covert operation have been written. britton s book jigsaw man, devoted extensive space it, while conflicting account can found in rachel files inspector keith pedder, technically third in command of investigation, after superintendent bassett , chief inspector wickerson, had day-to-day command of operation. stagg s own version included in killed rachel? co-written david kessler.

britton claimed in version of events did not have stagg s initial interrogation @ time of first arrest (after stagg released), undercover operation, leading stagg s second arrest when charges brought. however, pedder contradicts in account: before starting interviews, therefore rang paul britton @ towers hospital in leicester , asked if want give specific advice how should approach him. pedder claims consultation process no means one-off, rather went on throughout 3 days stagg held , interrogated: throughout interviews, , when stagg s behaviour appeared contradictory, , in cases downright confusing, ring paul britton; according him, stagg’s denials indicative of cunning , basic intelligence.

trial

during committal hearing britton claimed operation ezdell meant present subject series of psychological ladders climb rather slippery slope down vulnerable person slide if pushed. defence argued britton s evidence speculative , supported intuition.

when case reached old bailey mr justice ognall ruled police had shown excessive zeal , had tried incriminate suspect deceptive conduct of grossest kind . excluded entrapment evidence , prosecution withdrew case. stagg formally acquitted in september 1994.

aftermath

an internal review estimated pursuit of stagg had cost metropolitan police force £3 million , vital scientific information had been missed. stagg decided sue police damages totalling £1 million following 14 months spent in custody.

stagg has co-written , published 2 books case, killed rachel? and, more recently, pariah (with journalist ted hynds), latter appearing on same day real culprit robert napper s appearance in court enter plea.

in 1996, despite justice ognall s previous criticism of operation ezdell , essex police mounted similar operation, operation century , part of investigation of rettendon triple murders case. proved unsuccessful , highly controversial.

an episode of tv comedy series bottom, entitled bottom s out , due broadcast around time of murder, postponed 2 , half years set on wimbledon common.

lizzie james quit police force in 1998, taking retirement. support of police federation she, too, sued metropolitan police damages arising investigation. in 2001, shortly before due heard, case settled out of court , received £125,000. solicitor said: willingness of metropolitan police pay substantial damages must indicate recognition sustained serious psychiatric injury.

the payout lizzie james criticised various sources, particularly nickell s son had been granted £22,000 (less fifth of amount paid undercover detective) criminal injuries compensation authority.

britton charged professional misconduct british psychological society but, in 2002, in lieu of substantive hearings, further action dismissed due time delay in bringing proceedings. britton s lawyer, keir starmer qc (who later appointed director of public prosecutions) argued exceptional delay of more 8 years since first complaint made mean client not given fair hearing. stagg invited attend proceedings not permitted participate, address committee or answer britton s claims. stagg s detailed account of case against paul britton can found in killed rachel?.

andré hanscombe later wrote book, last thursday in july, life nickell, coping murder , life alex afterwards. in 1996 hanscombe moved alex france, driven abroad, according notes in book, media intrusion. callous, mercenary, unfeeling ... cowardly, snivelling scum how described of reporters tracked him , son down sanctuary in french countryside. hanscombe has since embarked on new career writing , illustrating children s books.

in 2006, nick cohen, @ time of murder junior reporter on independent on sunday, commented in column in observer inaccurate reporting of case – and, in particular, frequent suggestions press stagg guilty – stemmed close relationship between police , media.

in january 2007, home office confirmed stagg receive compensation wrongful prosecution, amount set independent assessor. on 13 august 2008, stagg s solicitor announced compensation, set lord brennan qc , accepted stagg, £706,000.

in 2012 stagg received substantial out of court settlement relating news international phone hacking scandal, result of news of world honeytrap involving attractive woman befriending , starting relationship him in 2004, decade after acquitted of nickell murder. later discovered woman prostitute employed newspaper.