Hope to Die

And why wasn’t Nigel Ward questioned at the time? Why did he arrive at the Christmas party so late? Where had he been? Was he the man who abused Camilla? Was he the father of her missing baby?

Intercut: series of shots of Nigel Ward – in local paper, at other golf events, ending with one with his father when he was a teenager. His father is in police uniform.

And was the reason why he was not questioned at the time down to the fact that he had a number of friends within the ranks of South Mercia Police? Men in the Rotary Club, men he played golf with …

We just don’t know. All we have is questions. And right now neither Ward, nor Camilla herself, are saying anything.

What we need now is a proper investigation by the one body who can insist on answers: the police.

Cut to: MONTAGEof headlines from the trial, finishing with a picture of Camilla in tears outside the court.

- freeze frame -

Why? Because I no longer think Camilla Rowan’s conviction is sound. So much so, that I believe we could be looking at a miscarriage of justice. A significant and serious miscarriage of justice.

Throughout the trial there were headlines screaming ‘Milly Liar’ on an almost daily basis. Has the time now come for another slogan?

Has the time come for ‘Free Milly’?

TEXT OVER: South Mercia Police were contacted during the making of this programme, but declined to comment.

FADE OUT

FADE IN: Do you have any information about the disappearance of Camilla Rowan’s baby? Call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or email Infamous@Netflix.tv.com

- ends -

* * *

‘I think you could do it, Sarge.’

Hansen has a printout in his hand and that ‘got it’ look Gis has started to recognize.

‘Show me.’

Hansen spreads the printout down on the desk. ‘This is from Companies House. Rowan’s main company was Rowan Holdings, which he wound up in 2005, but there were a lot of subsidiary companies, which he appears to have used to manage specific projects.’ He points. ‘Pine Developments, Oak Properties, Poplar Homes –’

‘That’s enough trees, Ed,’ says Gis with a sigh.

Hansen grins. ‘Right. Most of them were wound up with the parent company. All except one. Beech Management Ltd. That still exists, though it’s been all but dormant for at least two years. But because it’s still technically trading it has to list its directors and give a current contact address for them.’ He points again. ‘And there he is: Richard Swann, Gantry Manor, Wytham.’

Gis looks up at him. ‘So the boss was right – you could track the Swanns down. As long as you knew where to start.’

‘Exactly, Sarge. If the dead man suspected Camilla Rowan was his mother, he could have worked it out from there. Though, to be fair, it’s fiddly and he might not have known about Companies House if he’s been living overseas.’

‘But he could do it.’

Hansen nods. ‘He could do it.’

* * *

Just finished bingeing Infamous. What do people think of that last ep? Pretty explosive stuff eh?

submitted 6 days ago by HickoryDickory77

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Yup, sure is. I still can’t believe the police didn’t pursue that bloke Ward at the time

submitted 6 days ago by Danny929292

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Wasn’t his dear old Dad in the police? That wd explain a lot

submitted 5 days ago by sweetrubette55

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This whole abuse angle – I mean, OK, if she was abused it could have been this Nigel Ward bloke, but aren’t these things always really close to home? Like *really* close to home? Does anyone know if the police ever had the father down as a suspect?

submitted 5 days ago by timeforcrime1998

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I’m not sure I buy the abuse thing – it’s all too easy to come out with this stuff years later when you’re accused of something. She never said a word about it before, did she? And not every single person who commits a crime has been abused. Just saying

submitted 4 days ago by digginforthetruth

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You shd try working in victim services. People just bury an experience like that. It happens all the time. Believe me.

submitted 4 days ago by MakeanewplanStan44

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And she was really young wasn’t she. And completely under the parents’ thumb as far as I can tell

submitted 3 days ago by SusieClarke1818

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Camilla Rowan is a pathological liar. I don’t think Nigel Ward had anything to do with it. Or her father. Just because the baby hasn’t been found doesn’t mean she wasn’t responsible. It just means she’s clever. Very very clever.