I have no knowledge of the murder of Grace Jefferies. Micky never spoke about it, and Roy has always denied any involvement in it. I can only assume that Howard learned from Grace that Cill had been in her house and became angry because she hadn't told him. His interest in Cill was perverted, which may explain why he never mentioned the connection at his trial.
My life has been regulated and controlled by Roy Trent since May 30, 1970. My dependence on him was fueled for many years by my addiction to heroin. While I was married to Micky, he was our main supplier. After Micky's death in 1986, Roy took over as my pimp in order to retain control. He had a stable of prostitutes, one of whom was his wife, Robyn Hapgood. Roy married me in 1992 when I was at a low ebb in my life and close to suicide. At the time I was grateful to him.
When Colley Hurst suffered brain damage because of his treatment at the hands of the Metropolitan Police in 1998, Roy recognized that the damages would be high. He invited Colley to stay with us at the Crown and Feathers in order to access the money when it came through. Colley's life expectancy was low and he had no surviving relatives. Roy's idea was to take power of attorney during Colley's lifetime and to construct a will that made him sole beneficiary.
I had been calling myself Priscilla for some time, although Roy always shortened it to Cill because it amused him. Colley is a very sick man with extensive amnesia, but he has a lasting memory of Cill Trevelyan. He has no recollection of killing her but he does remember that she was important to him. He believes I am Cill Trevelyan because Roy was calling me Cill when he first arrived at the Crown and Feathers, and he recognized me as someone he knew.
Since the assault, Colley finds contact with people frightening and it brings on his violence. During his stay with us, he and Roy came to blows regularly over Colley's fear of the customers. In the same disturbed way that he remembers Cill as someone he loved, he remembers Roy as someone to fear and distrust. Roy was the leader when they were a gang, and I'm sure part of Colley remembers that he led them into trouble. During these outbursts I was the only person who could control him, and Roy conceived the idea that I should marry Colley and move to a secluded house where contact with people would be minimal. In return, he promised to watch over me via webcams which would be connected twenty-four hours a day to a monitor in the Crown and Feathers kitchen.
I freely admit that I went along with this plan. As Colley's wife I would inherit everything automatically, and it is an indication of Roy's arrogance and controlling nature that he never questioned my willingness to return to him once Colley was dead. Colley and I moved into Palencia on Sandbanks in August 2001 (initially paid for by Roy) and we married in November 2001, subsequently calling ourselves Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Fletcher.
This was the first time in thirty years that I was truly free of Roy Trent's influence and I used the opportunity to kick my drug habit by going cold turkey. It was made easier because Colley's paranoias meant I had to keep him tied to me all the time. He may be a violent and dangerous man, but he understood the pain I was going through and helped me in a way that no one else has ever done. I also freely admit that I have planned for the last two years to 'out' Roy Trent, Colley Hurst and Micky Hopkinson as Cill Trevelyan's murderers. I also admit that by doing this I will secure Nicholas 'Colley' Fletcher Hurst's money for myself. It has been suggested to me that it is convenient that one witness to Cill's murder is dead (Micky) , and the other is an amnesiac (Nick/Colley) . I can only answer that I was afraid of being killed in the same way Cill was if I'd told my story earlier.
I believe Roy has been suspicious of me ever since I came off drugs. One of his reasons for placing webcams about Palencia was to monitor anyone who came to the house. He knew, for example, that my brother had visited me before I told him. He also knew that Ms. Sasha Spencer had left her card. I told him about both incidents in order to allay his suspicions, but I did not tell him that I'd agreed to an interview with Ms. Spencer.
I hoped that by turning off the computer at my end he would think it was a glitch, but it merely made him suspicious. He has had keys to the house since August 2001 when we first moved in and he entered via the back door because he was suspicious of WCH Investigations' van in the road. I heard him come in, which is why I gave Ms. Spencer the version of events involving Howard Stamp that Roy instructed me to tell after Councillor Gardener and Dr. Hughes discovered Cill's story. However, when he attempted to remove Ms. Spencer, I realized I would be severely punished for stepping out of line.
Had I known that Ms. Spencer's colleagues were monitoring our conversation, I might have found the courage to tell the true version. They believed my husband was in the house and were ready to intervene because of his violent nature. While I understand that I have certain rights in law relating to privacy and security of information, I do not wish anyone to be prosecuted as a result of this morning's intervention by Mr. Duncan Bartholomew and Mr. Trevor Paul. I am grateful for their assistance in calling the police and the ambulance service.
I am relieved to have finally cleared my conscience.
I confirm that everything I have said in this statement is true.
POOLE POLICE STATION
CIVIC CENTER POOLE DORSET BH15 2SE
WITNESS STATEMENT
Date: 5/27/03
Time: 1700
Witness: Roy Trent
In the presence of: DS John Wyatt, DC Peter Hughes
Also present: n/a (Witness refused a lawyer)
Incident: The alleged murder of Priscilla 'Cill' Trevelyan on the night of May 30/31, 1970.
Mr. Roy Trent presented himself voluntarily at Poole police station in order to answer allegations made against him by Priscilla Fletcher on May 26, 2003. This statement was written by him and he agrees that it is a true and complete record of what he said. He has signed it accordingly.
Priscilla Fletcher's story is a complete fabrication. I deny absolutely that I, Micky Hopkinson or Colley Hurst had any involvement in or knowledge of the alleged murder of Priscilla 'Cill' Trevelyan on the night of May 30/31, 1970.
It is almost thirty-three years, to the day, that Cill Trevelyan went missing and it is impossible to prove or refute these allegations when so many witnesses are dead or, as in Nicholas 'Colley' Hurst's case, severely brain damaged.
I do not deny that we raped Cill in early May 1970, nor that we bullied Howard Stamp mercilessly until he pulled out a knife and attacked us. I cannot recall precisely when this incident happened but I believe it was some time in late March or early April 1970.
Priscilla Fletcher is a deeply damaged woman who suffered appalling abuse at the hands of her father when she was a child. She has been a prostitute and a drug addict, although I deny that I ever pimped for her or supplied her with class-A narcotics.
