Hope to Die

As far as most of the team were concerned it was just another case meeting, but they twig pretty quickly that things have gone up a gear, because Harrison’s let me have a couple of extra DCs. With the budget cuts we’ve had that’s like hoisting a neon sign saying ‘Something’s Up and it’s Big’. And when the man himself strides in there’s a flurry of adjustment: Harrison at a morning meeting is as rare as hen’s teeth. People quickly stand up a little straighter, discreetly rid themselves of gum.

‘Right,’ he says, taking up his place next to me. ‘A little quiet, please.’ He clears his throat. ‘As you’ve no doubt guessed, this is about the shooting incident at Wytham last Sunday. Thanks to some good solid policework by DC Hansen –’

Hansen looks up and goes bright red; Ev grins and gives him a pat on the back.

‘– we now know that the couple we’ve been calling Richard and Margaret Swann have only been using that name since 2004, when they changed it by deed poll, shortly before moving here. Before that, they lived in Gloucestershire, and their surname was Rowan. Which, for those in kindergarten at the time, is Rowan as in Camilla Rowan. Otherwise known as “Milly Liar”.’

The tension in the room has suddenly jump-started.

‘DS Gislingham will be emailing you a link to the case files. There’s also a documentary series on Netflix –’

Eye-rolls now, a couple of sneers. Like I’ve said before, coppers aren’t great watchers of TV crime, and especially not of the idiot-plods-fucked-it-up-again kind.

‘I know, I know,’ he continues, ‘and normally I’d be equally sceptical. But it is relevant, in this case, because the producers claimed to have unearthed new evidence suggesting South Mercia Police failed to pursue all potential lines of enquiry. Which, as you may remember, provoked the usual storm of press chest-beating about this terrible “miscarriage of justice”.’

Someone raises a hand. Bradley Carter. A couple of people near him exchange weary glances.

‘Wasn’t there a CCRC review, sir?’

Harrison looks over at him. ‘Yes, Carter, there was. Which, after assessing all this so-called “new evidence”, concluded that there was nothing to justify referring the case to the Court of Appeal. So as at now, Camilla Rowan remains in HMP Heathside, with no prospect of parole until 2020.’

He takes a breath. ‘However, DNA tests done on blood found at the crime scene have thrown the entire case into question. There is now a very real possibility that Camilla Rowan did not, in fact, kill her baby. For the simple reason that he could very well be the man we currently have in the morgue.’

Silence.

Harrison clears his throat again. I can’t be the only one who finds this irritating.

‘Given the vast can of worms we will now be reopening, the Chief Constable wished to consult the CPS, the MoJ and his opposite number at South Mercia before any of this was put into the public domain.’

Someone raises a hand. Bradley Carter. Again.

‘What about Camilla Rowan, sir – will she be released?’

‘That’s up to the Secretary of State. And certainly not before we’ve conclusively identified the man in the morgue, and established exactly where he’s been for the last twenty years. DI Fawley has already arranged to interview her at Heathside later this afternoon – it’s clearly vital we speak to her before she hears the news from another source. And to anticipate what I imagine may be the next question, her parents will also be interviewed again as a matter of urgency, with the aim of establishing whether they were aware of the dead man’s identity, and if so, when – i.e. before or after he ended up dead. Any other questions at this stage?’

No one moves. Teacher’s pet isn’t a good look. Not that Carter seems to care.

My turn. ‘As the Super said, we’ll be talking to both Camilla Rowan and her parents. I’ll also be seeing the DS on the original South Mercia investigation as soon as we can get that arranged. Once that’s done we’ll start re-interviewing the key witnesses. Some we can do by phone, but the more crucial ones need to be done in person – DS Gislingham will be sending round an initial list, so if you’re down to conduct an interview, make sure you prioritize reviewing the material on that witness.’

Harrison nods to me. ‘I’ll leave you to it, Adam. And could you pop by my office when you’ve finished.’

* * *

27 January 2017

Criminal Cases Review Commission Non-Referral of Conviction of Camilla Rowan

The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has concluded it cannot refer for appeal the murder conviction of Camilla Rowan. Rowan was tried at the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales (the Old Bailey), on the charge of murdering her newborn baby in 1997. On 6 November 2003, she was convicted by a unanimous verdict and sentenced to life imprisonment, with a recommendation that she serve at least seventeen years.