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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 22:34 12 Apr 2025
I'll add a bit more to this.
As far as l could ascertain despite the person who confessed to the murder of James Attfield and explained the long route he took to and from the murder scene ( some six miles in total ) there was not a single trace of him on CCTV.
Despite stabbing his victim over 100 times there was no DNA shed on the victim....the duration and force of the stab wounds was replicated for Essex Police by a member of the British Army.
The process took some considerable time and l believe an animal carcass was used.
I recall someone from Sky News studying the footage Essex Police released of the confession to the first murder and saying that she was not convinced by the description.
The police released a short segment of the confession into the public domain. It's possible there was a more convincing explanation from the accused on other parts of the tape. |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 22:12 12 Apr 2025
The person who mentioned the 5.30am arrival of a white male at a property on East Hill drenched in blood came to my home and explained it all in detail.
I asked her if she had related all of this to the police.
I believe that she had but something else occured around this time so l am not certain how much information she gave to the police.
Followers may be interested in this!
The young lady is approached outside Witham Police Station by plain clothed officers who ask her if she would speak to them in their car.
She agrees.
There are needing to break the alibi of an individual of interest to their investigation and he was residing on East Hill at the material time of the murder.
She is offered -
A financial reward.
A new identity.
To be moved anywhere in the country and start a new life.
Those three in a package are about as good as it gets.
She actually said to me 'I'm no grass' and she didn't cooperate with the police officers.
Now what l take from that is Essex Police had a major suspect for the murder of James Attfield and it wasn't the person who was eventually charged many months later.
In fact, there was another similar murder ( in terms of knife wounds ) at Salary Brook in the Greenstead area of Colchester - but this in broad daylight.
This indicated that there may be a serial killer at large ....it was eventually members of the public who saw someone behaving in a suspicious manner in the area where the second murder of a female student took place and alerted the police.
The person accused of two murders was actually 14 years old when he commited the first ( that's if he did ).
He certainly commited the second murder which revealed his DNA profile.
As l understand it there was NO EVIDENCE that he murdered James Attfield. He confessed to that but people confess to murders all the time.
I have had dealings with several such cases and one may appear on television screens in the future. [Post edited 12 Apr 22:17]
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 21:41 12 Apr 2025
So, what was in the property in East Hill?
I know what l was told that may or may not have been found by Essex Police.
Blood on clothing that was under a divan bed and should have been burned along with other items of clothing...but those in the property refused to do it.
Back to the '5.30am sightings on the morning James Attfield was murdered'.
Who saw a white male on East Hill at 5.30am?
Answer....A taxi driver.
What part of East Hill did he see the person on?
Answer....Close to the property where the bloody clothing had been.
When the police looked at the CCTV they saw an individual going up East Hill on the southern side but because of the incline he goes off camera and using the next camera some 80 approx yards up the road there is no sign of him.
Where did he go?
Well he went into the property mentioned.
How do l know?
Because someone in that property told me he returned there at 5.30am....in fact, he was so keen to get in there he smashed a side window and woke people up.
And guess what ...he was drenched in blood.
TBC. |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 20:32 12 Apr 2025
More ....
Another property was searched. This was in the Dutch quarter. It was the property of the female who was on East Hill.
The police did what they thought was a thorough search which included digging up the garden.
I just happened to be walking past that property a few weeks after the search.
There were builders there. They were doing a bit of a refurb as there was a new tenant moving in.
I spoke to them and they said 'We have had to stop work as we've found drugs and needles hidden behind a panel'.
I don't want to be critical of the police but this was quite an error, and the builders said as much.
Now, jumping forward several months.
The police finally find out that the timer on the CCTV at Middle Mill bridge was out by around 50 minutes - which is exactly what l had estimated and relayed to them on more than one occasion.
So everyone they had featured crossing the bridge on television and in the newspapers was shown at the wrong time...50 minutes earlier than when they had actually been there!
FFS!
I thought they might have thanked me or at least acknowledged that l had worked out the error on the CCTV. No. Just dead pan.
I was beginning to wonder if they knew what they were doing.
I was getting a lot on the case.
Suffice to say....l must have been up to pace with the police findings ( no one charged at this point ) and they were wondering how l was gathering my information.
So they visit me again. They say we need to 'eliminate you from the investigation and require your DNA samples'.
I was swabbed, that's left mouth, right mouth...l had no problem with that.....anyway, l had already learned they had NO DNA from.a suspect!
What l gathered on the case would make a chapter for a book.
I don't think the public would believe it though.
I'll put some more up on this later.
TBC |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 20:07 12 Apr 2025
The incident l refer to above.
It was around 5.40am a day or two before the murder. I was walking alongside the cricket pitch on the west side....my dog was off the lead, l turned round and noticed a cyclist approaching...he came within inches of where l was walking, it didn't seem right.
He got off the bike and propped it against a bench near the pond, about 20 metres from where l was standing. At this point my dog ran at him and jumped up, l sped over, got the dog on a lead and simply said 'sorry'.
The individual was about 50 and had a small back pack. He had an unusual fixed expression.
The surrounding area was deserted and l don't recall seeing anyone in around a 15 minute portal.
Anyway, l related this to the police over my first couple of meetings with them.
By that time l had learned that Attfield was stabbed over 100 times and was aware of his horrific injuries.
About a week or so after James Attfield was murdered a friend of mine witnessed a couple shouting and screaming on East Hill.
He distinctly heard a reference to what appeared to be the murder of James Attfield.
He gave THREE interviews to the police to relay what he had seen and heard.
The third was videotaped at Stanway l think.
A property on East Hill became a subject of interest to Essex Police.
From memory it took them several days to search the property and question those in it.
I remember the forensic van being parked outside and thinking 'why didn't they search the place some days before'.
The two individuals who were arguing were arrested by the police and l know that that they both gave 'no comment' interviews....on numerous occasions.
TBC |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 19:43 12 Apr 2025
So, carrying on with this.
About a week later two more police officers came to see me.
They put it to me that l was recorded crossing Middle Mill bridge at around 4.50am....and how could l explain that?
So this was my explanation.
'The CCTV timer is wrong .....end of'.
They didn't bite on that but l knew l was correct.
I don't think l was ever a serious suspect but the police returned again....we went through the times and the routes.
The CCTV images had about 20 of us crossing the bridge between around 2am and 5.30am.
There were people staggering back from a night out, the odd cyclist, cleaners going to work...vagrants etc.
Now this reminds me of something and l reported this to the police.
It was either the morning before James Attfield was murdered, or the morning before that when a strange incident occured.
TBC |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 19:27 12 Apr 2025
I thought nothing more of what l had witnessed until it was featured on the radio...probably BBC Essex.
I think it was the mid day news and it was quite dramatic. I cannot recall at this point if it was referred to as a 'serious incident' or a 'murder'.
Either way Essex Police wanted to speak to a 'white male' who was on East Hill at 5.30am.
This precise time became VERY IMPORTANT as things began to unravel.
I thought it best to contact the police despite being on East Hill closer to 6am.
Several days later two female police officers came to my home to speak to me. They bought maps of the area with them ....and in particular the park routes in the vicinity of where a 33 year old male - James Attfield had been stabbed to death.
I was precise about my exact route...could even account for the dog being off the lead in certain areas.
The reason l was going out at 5.30am was to give the dog a run when there was virtually no one else about.
I knew it was precisely 5.30 when l left the house because l would time it by BBC Radio 4 early morning news broadcast.
When my dog was young he would run off at break neck speed into the car park at Leisure World and sometimes beyond....chasing squirrels and the like.
Anyway, the police officers seemed ( l thought ) satisfied with my account of where l had been between 5.30am and about 6.20am.
A couple of days later two male police officers came to see me.
We went through everything again.
I knew that this was a ploy commonly used but what l didn't know then was that CCTV footage on Middle Mill bridge which showed me crossing it with the dog was way out from the timing l had given.
TBC. [Post edited 12 Apr 21:23]
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 18:06 12 Apr 2025
29th March, 2014
I was out with my dog Max at 5.30am.
We did a trek around the Castle Park area, through town, down East Hill and entered the riverside walk via East Bay.
It was about ten minutes past six.
As we made our way along Riverside Walk we had police officers and paramedics a few metres ahead of us. They were walking quickly and looking in all directions.
After a few minutes l noticed what appeared to be someone asleep about 50 metres ahead.
At this point the police and paramedics quickened their pace and we veered off left and entered the Estate.
My impression was that a vagrant may have been out drinking all night....a fairly common sight in the area at the time.
TBC |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 21:37 11 Apr 2025
Jeremy Bamber and Julie Mugford may have been a cartoon strip of Bonnie and Clyde....l am putting together insights into their habits in the time leading up to the murders at White House Farm.
Julie had racked up a string of offences that included cheque book fraud and drugs related issues, she was effectively a partner in crime when Jeremy broke into his own family's business at Osea and stole cash....and although Jeremy was caught stealing cash from Sloppy Joe's Pizza Parlour in Colchester l wonder if Julie was a co - conspirator?
There is something of a parallel here with The Rettendon Murders....Darren Nicholls was the key witness that saw Michael Steele and Jack Whomes convicted for murder, and Julie Mugford the key witness in the Bamber trial.
Jeremy's crime at Sloppy Joe's was never reported to the police and does not appear on his criminal 'CV'.
Darren Nicholls and Julie Mugford virtually had their entire criminal record put into hibernation as an incentive to put Steele, Whomes and Bamber behind bars for a combined total of 88 years....and in Bamber's case this could be added to.
I was in a briefing this week for a prospective crime docu....the producer asked 'What is it that sustains you through a two year research programme?'
My answer was effectively 'The intrigue, insight and mental stimulation from studying a case'.
I have only followed up murder cases that are within about a twenty five mile radius of Colchester and have declined opportunities to stray from my comfort zone.
It's strange that just about everything l have ever worked on with murder stories has somehow interested media and production companies over recent months.
I have written about some of it on 'Tigers' but the recent contacts have not come through this route.
Living on Riverside Estate there have been a series of murders in recent years within a five to ten minute dog walk of my home.
I'll follow up on that in a later posting. [Post edited 11 Apr 21:41]
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Thread | Colchester United F.C - latest accounts
at 07:42 11 Apr 2025
I have just had a quick look through the latest set of accounts for the club that were filed a few days ago.
I was expecting a loss in excess of £2 million year on year but it is much worse.
The figures indicate ( to me ) that this may be the worst trading year in the history of the club. |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 21:20 10 Apr 2025
2009.
I used to hear something scurrying around in the kitchen. The pitter patter of tiny footsteps.
This went on for a few days.
Then l saw him. A big mouse or a small rat. It ran across the kitchen floor and disappeared.
Then quietness.
For the next couple of weeks l would leave an evening meal for him. Two cheeselets and some cheese cut into tiny portions.
Every morning when l came downstairs l would look to see if he had consumed his supper.
He had.
Then, after about a fortnight his supper remained untouched.
I never saw him again.
Wondered what became of him.
I remembered him today ..... |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 18:56 9 Apr 2025
An update on previous post....the ITN news is from 18.30 to 19.30 tonight so it should be beamed from Colchester Castle Park on Channel 3 at 19.17....it's a feature on the weather and the camerman has driven all the way from Wales for the shoot.
The BBC ....they are a little over keen to our liking on featuring topics via their Podcast Platforms...we took quite a bit of pleasure in declining an invitation by them on a certain news item that we have uncovered.
The BBC appear to have an agenda to do as much as they can at their own convenience....and are obviously cutting costs in whatever way they can.
To borrow a term from Peter Doherty 'xxxx em'
🙃🙂🙃🙂 |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 18:24 9 Apr 2025
I met up with a journalist today who has since sent me some information relating to Jeremy Bamber who was convicted for the murder of five members of his family at White House Farm, Tolleshunt Darcy, Essex in 1986.
Jeremy used to work at a pizza restaurant in Colchester - Sloppy Joe's in the High Street.
What l hadn't realised is that he met Julie Mugford there who was working as a waitress.
Julie Mugford's evidence was crucial in the conviction of Jeremy Bamber.
It is likely that l would have been served by them back then as my children loved it there.
An associate of mine was a partner in the company and had to sack Jeremy on the spot for taking money from the till over a period of time.
Over the past month l have been contacted by several media outlets who are looking into historic crime cases in Essex and Suffolk.
PS - ITN will be reporting live from Colchester soon - l think they mentioned 7.17....which sounds like Channel 4 news. [Post edited 9 Apr 18:27]
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 20:42 8 Apr 2025
Michael Steele, who was convicted for the Range Rover murders in December 1995 will finally be released from prison in the coming days.
He will be placed at a designated address which may be some distance from his previous places of residence in the Clacton and Colchester area. |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 13:44 8 Apr 2025
After a marathon day of crime discussion l ventured over to Castle Park this morning to watch Essex 2's take on Somerset 2's in the sunshine.
It's always a pleasure to converse with Keith Fletcher. For the first time ever the former captain of Essex was seated at the Catchpool Road end and we discussed the double winning team from 1979 and beyond - Keith is still in touch with many of the players....those mentioned included Stuart Turner, Brian Hardie, John Lever, Graham Gooch and Derek Pringle.
I always thank him for master minding some of the victories with his astute captaincy that led to Essex winning the County Championship title in 1979.
And back to crime world ...my new work colleagues are hungry for info from the back catalogue of files featuring Essex and Suffolk. |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 18:22 7 Apr 2025
In a previous post on the subject of a murder case with a series of extraordinary twists and turns that may be subject to a television documentary l have located a letter from the accused that mentions how he was taking ( a lot of ) 'Spice' while in a Category D prison and following a time in hospital was transferred to HMP Wayland ( Category C ).
I have since emailed the television production company with an idea of the content in the letter.
It is by far the most dramatic letter l have ever read.
We discussed the case today - l, in my back garden and the producers up in Leeds....during this l mentioned the correspondence l had with the accused and after our 'meeting' l managed to find the letter in a draw upstairs.
There are other letters which l will try and locate - but nothing like this.
I saw what effect 'Spice' was having on people about 10 to 15 years ago - like scenes from a zombie movie. |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 21:28 6 Apr 2025
Since my last posting - almost a week ago l have written a series of findings on a murder that occured over 20 years ago.
The files are now with a film production company and we have a meeting tomorrow to discuss the content.
There are many strands to the report and it will be interesting to see what the production team make of it.
At the time of the work we did on this case Sir Keir Starmer was heading up the Crown Prosecution Service and he seemed very fair and astute in his responses.
This case was actually road showed in the United States to the FBI as it was the first of it's kind in terms of a particular single strand of evidence.
This strand of evidence was later disputed by a science lab in Oxford. [Post edited 7 Apr 15:08]
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 17:04 2 Apr 2025
It's just as well l keep paper work in ring binders....some gruesome images here but they will help with the background information from a murder in 2001 that may be featured on Channel 4.
I have -
Scene of crime pics.
Murder weapon image in situ on floor.
Crime stoppers reports - citing another killer than the accused.
Finger print analysis.
DNA profiles.
Witness statements.
Pathology reports.
Criminal records of viable suspects.
STR profiling on murder weapon.
Lab reports.
Fibre evidence.
Etc, etc....need to read these again as a refresher as some of this may be used as background for the above.
It will be interesting to see how this will be put together in 2025....we already have a few modes of communication that until now l have been unfamiliar with.
I'm not a crime reporter as such but television production companies still contact me and so far we have made several documentaries and over 60 short news features.
I do research crime - as followers of 'Tigers' may have detected.
I am in touch with criminals - some major ones including Gold Bullion and Drug Importation etc - they have served their time in prison and on occasion have explained how these 'projects' came about.
This is usually over a coffee or on occasion in a prison with their parole edging towards a green light. [Post edited 7 Apr 15:36]
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Reply | U's to starve the Gills of oxygen
at 16:28 2 Apr 2025
I too was very surprised Taylor didn't feature at all last night.
I only listened to parts of the commentary but from what l could ascertain it was Gillingham attacking and Colchester defending ...so in that respect, it was a decent point that keeps the play off hopes alive.
My concern is Samson Tovide.
Can he get through a season?
When l saw him at the beginning of this season l detected a different body mass and hence a different balance and movement required...could this have an effect on his lower back problems?
Taylor and Tovide as a front two is formidable at this level but hardly gets past a couple of matches before an injury or 'tiredness??' occurs to one or the other or both.
Colchester should still make at least 6th or 7th place in this below par ( this season ) League 2. [Post edited 2 Apr 16:31]
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 12:12 2 Apr 2025
Sparkfilms TV - which is really just me, have been requested by a production company to assist in a crime project.
The production company involved are behind some of the current crime content on Channel 4 and Channel 5.
🙂🙃🙂🙃 [Post edited 7 Apr 15:35]
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