A SOUTH WALES COUPLE ARE SUING TOP SCOTLAND YARD P
A SOUTH WALES COUPLE ARE SUING TOP SCOTLAND YARD POLICE
OFFICERS AFTER THEY WERE ALLEGEDLY WRONGFULLY JAILED FOR FOUR DAYS.
THE HIGCOURT HEARD TODAY (MONDAY) THAT THE COUPLE HAD BEEN
TAKEN INTO CUSTODY DURING POLICE INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE BRUTAL
MURDER OF A HOMOSEXUAL.
TIED UP WITH WIRE, ANTHONY BIRD HAD BEEN FLAGELLATED AND
STRANGLED AT HIS FLAT IN BENTLEY COURT, KENSINGTON GARDEN SQUARE,
IN JUNE, 1980.
IN AUGUST THAT YEAR ANOTHER HOMOSEXUAL WAS LEFT TO DIE IN
SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
BUT HE RECOVERED AND TOLD POLICE HIS ATTACKER
WAS HOMOSEXUAL GARETH HOLTHAM.
MR.
LAURENCE MARSHALL, REPRESENTING THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
FOR THE METROPOLIS AND DETECTIVE CHIEF INSPECTOR DEREK CROFT, SAID
HOLTHAM’S PARENTS – WILLIAM HOLTHAM, 45, AND HIS WIFE SARAH, 49, OF
UPPER FRANCIS STREET, ABERTRIDUR, NEAR CAERPHILLY – WERE ARRESTED
AFTER NEIGHBOURS CLAIMED GARETH HOLTHAM HAD TAKEN ELECTRICAL
EQUIPMENT INTO THEIR HOME.
THE COURT HEARD THAT ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT HAD BEEN STOLEN
DURING THE MURDER AND ATTEMPTED MURDER AND WAS CONSIDERED THE MOST
VITAL CLUE.
THE COUPLE WERE KEPT IN CUSTODY AT CAERPHILLY POLICE STATION ON
NOVEMBER 20, 1980 BEFORE BEING TRANSFERRED TO HARROW ROAD POLICE
STATION IN LONDON.
THE HEARING CONTINUES.
ENDS/MFL
ADD POLICE.
