POLICE
INTERNAL MEMO To: ACC Clifford Golding From: Det Supt Brian Jones Date: 13 August 2007 Subject: Assault on Walter Tutting 12.00–13.00, 10.08.07
Sir,
We continue to believe the assault on Walter Tutting was part of the series. Update as follows:
Lt Charles Acland Resident at the Bell, Gainsborough Road. Now on police bail and still being treated as a material witness. Known contacts with Walter Tutting and Ben Russell. Was in possession of Kevin Atkins’s mobile for a brief period before handing it in.
Ben Russell Currently a patient at St Thomas’s Hospital. Believed to have had Atkins’s mobile in his possession for some weeks (see below).
‘Chalky’ Name unknown. Current whereabouts unknown. According to what he told Dr Jackson and Lt Acland, he has had intermittent contact with Ben Russell over the last four weeks. He may also be in possession of a canvas duffel-style bag that Lt Acland believes Russell brought into the alleyway and which
Chalky may have hidden inside one of his own. These facts are contradicted by Russell (see below). NB As ‘Chalky’ is a common nickname for the surname ‘White’ army records have been searched for a Corporal White on active service during the Falklands War. Two were found, but neither has any involvement with the inquiry.
Walter Tutting
Despite dissimilarities at the crime scene, we remain of the opinion that the attack on Mr Tutting is connected to the earlier murders. This view is cautiously endorsed by John Webb, senior SOCO at the victim’s house. I am sending his preliminary report under separate cover. We have been unable to interview Mr Tutting, who remains under heavy sedation in St Thomas’s Hospital. His doctors have expressed optimism about a return to consciousness in the next few days.
Kevin Atkins – mobile telephone
This is the most promising lead we’ve had so far. We are currently working on a printout of the address book in cooperation with the Atkins family. I expect further information in the next two days re previously unidentified numbers, accessed websites, texts, photographs, etc. FYI: The only fingerprints retrieved from the casing have been identified as Ben Russell’s, Lt Charles Acland’s and Dr Jackson’s. We found no Unknowns and none belonging to Atkins, which suggests the casing was cleaned after the murder. There’s a possibility of a DNA reading from saliva inside the mouthpiece, although FSS is predicting Atkins as the most likely donor.
BlackBerry/second mobile/iPods
Interviews with Ben Russell, and initial searches of the memories, suggest the BlackBerry and second mobile are unconnected with the inquiry. We have yet to confirm ownership, but interviews with relevant parties are being arranged. Meanwhile, I have requested continued searches of the memories. The iPods contain variously Garage, Rap, Brit Pop and Indie, but again appear to have no connection with the inquiry. FYI: A variety of fingerprints were recovered from the different casings, but we were only able to identify Russell’s and Acland’s. FSS confirms there was no obvious attempt to clean these items before or after their thefts.
Ben Russell
Russell has been interviewed on three occasions in St Thomas’s Hospital in the presence of his mother and a solicitor. Due to his age and medical condition, he has been treated throughout as a ‘vulnerable’ witness. His full details are attached, including cautions and an ASBO issued in Wolverhampton, but the essential points are:
Benjamin Jacob Russell
16 yrs old
Brought up in Wolverhampton
Poor education record
Cautioned twice for drunk and disorderly
Served with ASBO following complaints from neighbours
Left home last year after row with stepfather over theft of money
Claims to have lived in a squat in Birmingham for first 6 months (vague on detail)
Claims to have been sleeping rough in London for approx. 3–4 months
Still has contact with girlfriend, Hannah, 13 – resident in Wolverhampton
