Jeremy Bamber: CCRC & Court of Appeal

Until I became a supporter of Jeremy Bamber I did not understand the process of court appeals and I am still far from an expert but...

I had originally thought that at an appeal the same evidence is re-tried and I used to wonder why someone would keep providing the same information, having had it dismissed by the court previously; since then I have learnt that the appellant has to provide 'new' evidence.  How an innocent person is expected to find new evidence whilst in prison, is another story.

Before an appeal can be heard by a judge it has to be submitted to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), a body set-up precisely to deal with miscarriages of justice.  The CCRC then decide whether the case stands a chance of being heard by the Court of Appeal.
Justice Committee discussion on CCRC

A major factor in Jeremy Bamber's case is that in the original investigation Essex Police believed there was sufficient evidence to support the fact that Sheila Caffell, suffering from schizophrenia, having just been released from a mental health unit after a psychotic episode, had killed the family then turned the gun on herself.  But by the time the case went to trial, this had all changed and now Essex Police and the Crown Prosecution (CPS) were maintaining that Jeremy Bamber committed the murders.  Jeremy had told Essex Police that when he left his family home that evening, there was tension; his parents had been speaking to Sheila about having her, seven year old, twin sons fostered again.  The police and prosecution denied this but now there is the evidence to show that foster carers and social service staff had been interviewed
 

As I understand it, much of the original case notes and police logs, citing Sheila, were given a different case number and withheld from the defence also from the jury at Jeremy's trial.  Although Jeremy's team now have access to some of this original information, I think I am correct in stating that, as far as the CCRC is concerned, it is not considered new evidence. No consideration appears to be given to how the defence could possibly know what had been withheld from them!

 

Jeremy has always maintained his innocence and his story of the events of that night has never changed and now he has documented evidence to support that.  Let us hope that sanity prevails and that the law is not the ass it is so often accused of being.

Sheila Caffell's Mental Health and Illegal Drugs

The Case of Sheila Caffell: The Effects of Illegal Drugs on People with Schizophrenia. Last updated 20.01.13  Original material T Whitefoot;                                        Additions: L Lake, J Martin-Adams, Poppy Ann Miller  Not enough credence is given to the link between Sheila Caffell’s mental illness and her use of Cannabis and other illegal drugs. For instance 30-40% of people diagnosed with schizophrenia attempt suicide and the use of cannabis can prolong and exacerbate the symptoms of mental illness. Medical assessments showed Sheila Caffell displayed “textbook” delusions associated with schizophrenia, yet her state of mind and its role in the murders was constantly overlooked. Advances over the years have shown the link not only exists but also that it is wholly destructive - this comprehensive review reveals the devastating detail. In the early hours of 7th August 1985, five people were shot to death at White House Farm: Sheila Caffell, her twin six year old sons, and her adoptive parents, June and Nevill Bamber. Initially, Essex police believed that Sheila carried out the shootings and then committed suicide[1]. However, in the weeks that followed, that view changed and Jeremy Bamber, Sheila’s brother (also adopted, but no blood relation), was arrested and later convicted for the murders of Sheila, Nevill, June and the twins. He has been  in prison since then for a crime which he did not commit. The purpose of this article is to explain the link between schizophrenia and cannabis and to show how Sheila Caffell’s collapsing mental health caused her to suffer a psychotic episode which resulted in the murder of her family.  Sheila Caffell Schizophrenia is a mental disorder, characterised by a disintegration of the thought process, and a breakdown of emotional responses[2]. Most commonly, the disorder manifests itself in the form of paranoid or bizarre delusions, auditory hallucinations and/or disorganised, incoherent speech and thinking. It is believed that genetics can sometimes play a role in predisposing a person to develop the illness, but other causal factors, such as a history of mental illness and/or abuse of drugs and alcohol, have also been discussed[3]. There is no laboratory test to determine schizophrenia[4]; a diagnosis is made based on the patient’s self- reported symptoms, and a clinical assessment. It has been recorded that approximately 30-40% of diagnosed schizophrenics attempt suicide at some point during their lifetime and one in ten of these will succeed in taking their own life[5]. It has also been established that people between the ages of 16-30 are more vulnerable to developing psychosis[6]. It is also within this age range that people are more likely to use cannabis[7]. Sheila also took Cocaine. In recent years, a great deal of research has been conducted [8] in order to establish a link between schizophrenia and the effects of cannabis and other recreational drugs. Over thirty clinical studies have taken place over the past twenty years, mostly in the UK, Sweden and Australia. It is now widely believed that using cannabis can prolong the symptoms of mental illness and impede a patient’s chances of recovering from a psychotic episode[9]. If a patient has already developed schizophrenic symptoms, the continuing use of cannabis and other substances, such as alcohol or amphetamines, is believed to have a detrimental effect on their illness[10]. Set out below are two examples of the research that has been conducted so far.  1. The authors of a study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry in May 2010 conducted a study over a period of ten years. Patients were examined during the initial first period of psychiatric hospitalisation and then six months later, and then two years, four years and, finally, ten years later. At each assessment patients were rated on their psychiatric symptoms and their use of cannabis. The study concluded that cannabis use is associated with an adverse course of psychotic symptoms found in schizophrenia sufferers[11].     Cannabis 2. In a study conducted at the Zucker Hillside Hospital in New York, researchers used a special kind of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) known as Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) to measure the motion of water molecules which can indicate microscopic abnormalities in the brain. The test group included adolescents with and without schizophrenia, and adolescent users and non-users of cannabis. The MRI imaging revealed that heavy users of cannabis were found to have the type of abnormalities found in certain areas of the brain which are also found in the brains of subjects with schizophrenia[12]. These abnormalities were most pronounced in subjects with schizophrenia who were also regular users of cannabis[13]. The abnormalities occur in a pathway of the brain which is related to auditory and language functions which undergoes development during adolescence. The research suggested that if an adolescent is genetically predisposed to develop schizophrenia, the use of cannabis can cause the same type of damage to the brain’s pathway that is caused by schizophrenia. Put more simply, regular and prolonged use of cannabis could kick-start the development of schizophrenia where it might otherwise not have developed at all, or cause an earlier onset of the illness, and/or cause the condition to worsen [14].  Social Services Noted Concerns: Sheila Caffell’s mental health issues probably surfaced initially in 1981 when social workers reported injuries to her twin sons, and she was described as forgetful and disorganised.[15] She was referred for psychiatric treatment to Dr Ferguson in 1983, but she had been suffering from depression for eighteen months or so previously[16]. She was diagnosed as suffering from paranoid schizophrenia[17]. In addition to cannabis, she was also reported to have used other recreational drugs on occasion, such as cocaine and amphetamine[18]. After her divorce from her husband Colin Caffell twelve months earlier, she was believed to have acquired considerable debts in support of her drug addiction[19].  St Andrews Mental Health Hospital Sheila was admitted as an in-patient to St. Andrews Hospital, Northampton in August 1983 following an acute breakdown[20]. During the course of her treatment, she was observed to display a number of classic ‘textbook’ delusions associated with paranoid schizophrenia. Dr Ferguson detailed that she had been in a state of acute psychosis and had been for about two weeks[21]. These included religious delusions about being given the responsibility of ridding the world of evil, delusions about her children being ‘the devil’s children’, and references to incestuous sex with her son's whom she described as 'the devil's children.'[22].  When she was discharged one month later, having made only a partial recovery[23], Sheila had been prescribed Stelazine[24], an anti-psychotic drug which is typically the first line of defence in the treatment of schizophrenia[25]. People with schizophrenia are usually found to have high levels of dopamine activity[26]. Stelazine works by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain, thus alleviating or minimising schizophrenic symptoms of delusions, hallucinations and disorganised thought or speech. Common side effects of Stelazine are nausea, headaches, dizziness, menstrual irregularities and agitation. Major side effects are lowered life span, dyskinesia and akathisia (see glossary below).     In March 1985, Sheila was again admitted to St Andrews Hospital following a severe psychotic episode [27]. She had suffered violent outbursts, one of which was witnessed by a friend who was left traumatised by the event[28]. During a stay of only three weeks, Sheila admitted to having used cocaine frequently[29]. It appears that Dr Ferguson did not raise the issues about Sheila harming her children because of client confidentiality. Despite the fact that Nevill was paying for the treatment, Sheila was the patient. It is also important to remember that Sheila was an 'informal' patient; that is, she was not subject to a 'section' under the Mental Health Act 1983. Therefore she was advised about her treatment but could not be legally required to comply. This undoubtedly had far reaching implications.[29a] At this time, Sheila was prescribed three kinds of medication: [30].     Anafranil - is a brand name of the chemical called Clomipramine. A tri-cyclic anti-depressant used a lot in the 1980swhen it was considered to be very successful in the treatment of depression. It typically takes 2 – 3 weeks to become effective. Caution is always required as suicide is always possible for a depressed or a disturbed patient. Side effects include confusion, agitation, insomnia and nightmares[31]. Haloperidol - is the chemical name which is typically branded as Serenace in the UK - a very strong anti-psychotic drug with sedative qualities. It is noted as being the most common neuroleptic associated with extra-pyramidal symptoms[32]. Clinical trials have shown that a medium to high dose of Haloperidol for a two-week period dramatically increased the dopamine activity up to 98%[33]. Long term effect is not known, but severe dyskinesia is indicated, and long-term, high-dose treatment may result in depression severe enough to result in suicide[34]; Procyclidine - often branded as Kemadrin is used to counteract the effects of anti-psychotic medications. Known side effects include agitation, confusion and insomnia[35].   Additionally, there is the issue of non-compliance. It is well known that patients who are required to self-medicate will often fail to take prescribed medication for two main reasons: one is that they do not believe they are ill and therefore believe the medication is unnecessary; the second is the result of the side-effects which many individuals find to be so extreme that they would prefer to tolerate their symptoms.[35a]  In July 1985, Sheila requested that her dose of Haloperidol be reduced. Her GP, Dr Angeloglou, contacted Dr Ferguson to discuss this for reasons unknown, but it is possible that Sheila had experienced some of the aforementioned side effects. The reduction of her dose from 200mg to 100 mg is the kind of sudden reduction which is potentially very dangerous, as it may have caused severe withdrawal symptoms, or even a return of the original condition. In addition to this, because she was due another injection, any side effects would have completely diminished[36]. At the family supper which took place at White House Farm on the night of the murders, the subject of Sheila’s twin boys being put into foster care was raised[37]. Sheila’s psychiatrist stated that the effect of this news would have been ‘catastrophic’, and may well have been the trigger for a psychotic episode[38]. Her post-mortem results showed no trace of Anafranil, but cannabis and Haloperidol were found[39]. Failure to take some of her medication would have been exacerbated by the taking of cannabis and also the sudden reduction of her Haloperidol - could have caused her already fragile mental health to crumble completely.     In 1985, the public and the police were perhaps reluctant to believe that a young mother could murder her own family with such brutality. In the twenty-first century, reports of women committing violent crime, including murdering one's own children before suicide, or attempted suicide - are well documented in the media. The outcome of Jeremy Bamber’s trial may well have been different had it taken place more recently, and if the jury had been made aware of research into the links between cannabis and schizophrenia. In fact, it is highly likely that Sheila Caffell’s life would have been saved, had the advances made in understanding schizophrenia and its treatment been available in 1985. Glossary of Medical Terms Akathisia – characterised by sensation of ‘inner restlessness’ or inability to remain motionless or to sit still[40]. Dystonia – characterised by contraction of muscle groups that cause repetitive or twisting movements or abnormal postures[41]. Tardive Dyskinesia – characterised by repetitive, involuntary movements of the body, commonly associated with anti-psychotic drugs such as Haloperidol[42]. Psuedo-Parkinsons – characterised by the symptoms of Parkinsons disease[43]. Notes [1] D.Sup Ainsley (6/9/1985) Interview with Metropolitan Police Stokenchurch [on-line] Available at: http://twitpic.com/8dbhmj [Accessed 11 January 2013].  The Mirror (8/8/1985) Mother Shoots Twin Sons and Parents [on-line] Available at: http://twitpic.com/7d1a3u [Accessed 11 January2013]. Dr Vanezis, Pathology report DI Dickinson Enquiry, November, 1986, retrospectively states that he was satisfied that it was a suicide and four murders. [2] See me, Schizophrenia (2008) What is it? Signs and symptoms [on-line] Available at: http://www.seemescotland.org.uk/findoutmore/aboutmentalhealthproblemsandstigma/schizophrenia [Accessed 7 January 2013]  NHS Choices (2012) Schizophrenia Diagnosis. ‘Diagnosing Schizophrenia’ [on-line] Available at: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Schizophrenia/Pages/Diagnosis.aspx [Accessed 7 January 2013] [3] Schizophrenia Research (1999) ‘Dual Diagnosis of Substance Abuse in schizophrenia: prevalence and impact on outcomes’ [on-line] Available at: http://www.schres-journal.com/article/S0920-9964(98)00161-3/abstract [Accessed 6 January 2013] Schizophrenia.com (1996-2004) ‘Hereditary and the Genetics of Schizophrenia. Family statistics’ [on-line] Available at: http://www.schizophrenia.com/research/hereditygen.htm [Accessed 13 January 2013] [4] Schizophrenia.com (2010) ‘How is Schizophrenia Diagnosed? Symptom of Schizophrenia and Schizophrenia Diagnosis’ [on-line] Available at: http://www.schizophrenia.com/diag.php#diagnosis [Accessed 9 January 2013] [5] Spokeane Mental Health (2010) ‘Schizophrenia. Facts about Schizophrenia. Suicide Attempts.’ 'About 1 in 4 schizophrenics attempts suicide; 1 in 10 succeed' [on-line] Available at: http://www.smhca.org/schizophrenia.aspx [Accessed 9 January 2013] Annals of General Psychiatry (2007) ‘Suicide risk in schizophrenia: learning from the past to change the future. Background’ [on-line] Available at: http://www.annals-general-psychiatry.com/content/6/1/10 [Accessed 10 January 2013] [6] Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (2013) ‘Psychosis onset usually occurring in young people’ (80%, aged 16-30) [on-line] Available at: http://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/page.asp?fldArea=2&fldMenu=4&fldSubMenu=14&fldKey=1105 [Accessed 10 January 2013] Here to Help, (2006) What’s going on with me? Signs & Symptons of Psychosis. [First experiences with psychosis are more common in people aged 16-30.] Available at http://heretohelp.bc.ca/factsheet/whats-going-on-with-me-signs-and-symptoms-of-psychosis [Accessed 18 January 2013] [7] The Guardian ( 2012) DATA BLOG [on-line] Available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2012/sep/28/drug-use-age-popular-cannabis [Accessed 10 January 2013] [8] Schizophrenia.com (1996-2010) ‘Street Drugs and Schizophrenia’ [on-line] Available at: http://www.schizophrenia.com/prevention/streetdrugs.html [Accessed 9 January 2013] [9] Pubmed.gov (2009) ‘US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. Cannabis and psychosis: search of a causal link through a critical and systematic review.’ [on-line] Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19748375 [Accessed 10 January 2013] Psych Central (2012) ‘Schizophrenia and Psychosis. Delusions & Hallucinations are Common in Schizophrenia’ Para6 [on-line] Available at: http://psychcentral.com/disorders/schizophrenia/ [Accessed 10 January 2013] [10] Everyday Health (2009) ‘Can Drug Use Cause Schizophrenia?’ Some evidence points to a link between illicit drug use especially marijuana and schizophrenia [on-line] Available at: http://www.everydayhealth.com/schizophrenia/drug-use-and-schizophrenia.aspx [Accessed 10 January 2013] Health athealth.com (2002) ‘Disorders and conditions. Co-Occurring Alcohol Use Disorder and Schizophrenia.’ [on-line] Available at: http://www.athealth.com/Consumer/disorders/schizophreniaalcohol.html [Accessed 10 January 2013] [11] The American Journal of Psychiatry (2010) ‘Cannabis Use and the Course of Schizophrenia: 10-Year Follow-Up After First Hospitalization.’ [on-line] Available at: http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleid=102388 [Accessed 10 January 2013] [12] Zucker Hillside Hospital http://www.northshorelij.com/NSLIJ/zhh [13] Ibid [14] The Lancet (2007) ‘Cannabis use and risk of psychotic or affective mental health outcomes: a systematic review’ [on-line] Available at: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(07)61162-3/abstract [Accessed 11 January 2013] [15] The Official Web Site of Jeremy Bamber, 2013. http://www.jeremy-bamber.co.uk/how-and-why-did-sheila-do-it, End notes 7-10, regarding the statements of social workers and Doctors who treated Sheila. [16] Jeremy Bamber (2010) Sheila Caffell's Mental Health [on-line] Available at: http://jeremybamber.tumblr.com/post/1193239485/sheila-caffells-mental-health [Accessed 9 January 2013] 'Mind' Understanding Depression [on-line] Available at: http://www.mind.org.uk/mental_health_a-z/7980_understanding_depression?gclid=CKbS-b6y4LQCFU3HtAod9WcAAQ [Accessed 9 January 2013] [17] Medical News Today, MNT. (2010) What Is Paranoid Schizophrenia? What Causes Paranoid Schizophrenia? [on-line] Available at: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/192621.php [Accessed 10 January 2013] [18] 'FRANK' COCAINE, THE RISKS [on-line] Available at: http://www.talktofrank.com/drug/cocaine [Accessed 10 January 2013] Dr Ferguson, Handwritten Statement, 30th September 1986. Details her use of Cannabis, Cocaine and Amphetamine. Colin Caffell, Statements handwritten, 11th September, 1985, he states that Dr Ferguson had contacted him by telephone concerned that Sheila had been taking cocaine through her involvement with Farhad Emami. [19] Jeremy Bamber (2010) Sheila Caffell's Mental Health [on-line] Available at: http://jeremybamber.tumblr.com/post/1193239485/sheila-caffells-mental-health [Accessed 9 January 2013] [20] Jeremy Bamber (2010) Sheila Caffell's Mental Health [on-line] Available at: http://jeremybamber.tumblr.com/post/1193239485/sheila-caffells-mental-health [Accessed 10 January 2013] [21] Mayo Clinic (2010) Paranoid schizophrenia, signs and symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia [on-line] Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/paranoid-schizophrenia/DS00862/DSECTION=symptoms [Accessed 11 January 2013] [22] Jeremy Bamber (2010) Sheila Caffell's Mental Health [on-line] Available at: http://jeremybamber.tumblr.com/post/1193239485/sheila-caffells-mental-health [Accessed 9 January 2013] Dr Ferguson, Statement, 8th August, 1985, details her behaviour, his diagnosis. [24] eMedicineHealth, Medications and drugs, Stelazine (trifluoperazine) [on-line] Available at: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/drug-trifluoperazine/article_em.htm [Accessed 11 January 2013] [25] eMedtv (2008) Stelazine is a prescription medicine...treatment of schizophrenia...[on-line] Available at: http://schizophrenia.emedtv.com/stelazine/stelazine-p2.html [Accessed 11 January 2013] [26] Oxford Journal (2009) Schizophrenia Bulletin Howes, Kapur The Dopamine Hypothesis of Schizophrenia: Version III—The Final Common Pathway [on-line] Available at: http://schizophreniabulletin.oxfordjournals.org/content/35/3/549.abstract [Accessed 11 January 2013] [27] Jeremy Bamber (2010) Sheila Caffell's Mental Health [on-line] Available at: http://jeremybamber.tumblr.com/post/1193239485/sheila-caffells-mental-health [Accessed 11 January 2013] [28] Jeremy Bamber (2010) Sheila Caffell's Mental Health [on-line] Available at: http://jeremybamber.tumblr.com/post/1193239485/sheila-caffells-mental-health [Accessed 11 January 2013] Dr Ferguson Statement Op cit, n 22 Farhad Emami (Freddie) (1985) statement: [on-line] Available at: http://twitpic.com/8xxria [Accessed 11 January 2013] Pathologist Views: Professor Peter Vanezis [on-line] Available at: http://www.jeremy-bamber.co.uk/pathologist-s-views [Accessed 11 January 2013] [29] Jeremy Bamber (2010) Sheila Caffell's Mental Health [on-line] Available at: http://jeremybamber.tumblr.com/post/1193239485/sheila-caffells-mental-health [Accessed 11 January 2013] [29a] How and Why Sheila Did it http://www.jeremy-bamber.co.uk/how-and-why-did-sheila-do-it  [30] 12.09.85 & 20.09.85 Dr Angeloglou Statement, 09.10.85 Dr Wilkinson, Statement, collective statements of Dr Ferguson regarding medication and its impact on Sheila and her erratic attendance to have medication and appointments. Suzette Ford Interview (1986) [on-line] Available at: http://twitpic.com/8zv8ja [Accessed 11 January 2013] Helena Grimster (1986) statement [on-line] Available at: http://twitpic.com/7fgjm7 [Accessed 11 January 2013]                [31] Drug Lib.com (2007) Anafranil (Clomipramine Hydrochloride) Warnings and Precautions. Clinical Worsening and Suicide Risk [on-line] Available at: http://www.druglib.com/druginfo/anafranil/warnings_precautions/ [Accessed 12 January 2013] [32] Psychiatric Nursing (2012) Neuroleptic-Induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms [on-line] Available at: http://nursingplanet.com/psychopharmacology/extrapyramidal_symptoms.html [Accessed January 13 2013] [33] Wikipedia (2013) Haloperidol, Adverse Effects 'increase dopamine activity, up to 98%' [on-line] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haloperidol#Adverse_effects [Accessed January 12 2013] [34] Drugcite (2013) Haloperidol and Suicide Attempt...'Suicide attempt has been reported to the FDA a total of 229 times for Haloperidol' [on-line] Available at: http://www.drugcite.com/indi/?q=HALOPERIDOL&s=&a=&i=SUICIDE+ATTEMPT [Accessed 12 January 2013] [35] Medline Plus (2010) Procyclidine. What side effects can this medication cause? [on-line] Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a605037.html#side-effects [Accessed 12 January 2013] [35a] Op Cit n 30, Sheila's reluctance to take medication and reliability to keep appointments. Why don't patient's take their Medicine (2007) Available at http://apt.rcpsych.org/content/13/5/336.full [Accessed 20.01.13][36] EMC Medicine guides (2012) Haloperidol. Stopping your medicine. Withdrawal symptoms [on-line] Available at: http://www.medicines.org.uk/guides/haloperidol/aggression,%20restlessness%20and%20agitation [Accessed 12 January 2013] Medications, Op Cit, n29 Sheila’s medication [37] Statement of Jeremy Bamber, Statement, 7th and 8th August 1985. Colin Caffell, Over the Rainbow, details that Caffell had told Sheila he intended to go for custody of the children, he advised Sheila as he drove her and the children to white house farm shortly before their deaths. [38] Jeremy Bamber (2010) Sheila Caffell's Mental Health [on-line] Available at: http://jeremybamber.tumblr.com/post/1193239485/sheila-caffells-mental-health [Accessed 11 January 2013] Health athealth.com (2010) Expert Consensus Treatment Guidelines for Schizophrenia: A Guide for Patients and Families [on-line] Available at: http://www.athealth.com/Consumer/disorders/schizophreniaguide.html [Accessed 12 January 2013] BMC Psychiatry (2011) 1. Background. Self-esteem is associated with premorbid adjustment and positive psychotic symptoms in early psychosis [on-line] Available at: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-244X/11/136 [Accessed 12 January 2013] [39] 04.10.85 Alexander Allan, Toxicologist, Statement [40] Clinical Trials.Gov. (2005) Akathesia, (Restless Leg Syndrome) in People With Schizophrenia and Mental Retardation [on-line] Available at: http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00065286 [Accessed 7 January 2013]  [41] Distonia Medical Research Foundation (2010) Drug induced [on-line] Available at: http://www.dystonia-foundation.org/pages/more_info/76.php [Accessed 7 January 2013] [42] Mind (2012) Understanding Tardive Diskinesia [on-line] Available at: http://www.mind.org.uk/help/diagnoses_and_conditions/tardive_dyskinesia [Accessed 8 January 2013] [43] Parkinson's UK (2008) Parkinson's Disease Society. Drug-Induced Parkinsonism, Information Sheet [on-line] Available at: http://www.parkinsons.org.uk/PDF/FS38_druginducedparkinsonism.pdf [Accessed 8 January 2013]

About Jeremy Bamber

Many people may have heard of Jeremy Bamber; others support him and are familiar with his case and the outrageous miscarriage of justice.  Copied from Jeremy's website, I found the following helpful in providing some insight into Jeremy's background, friends and family.

Copyright ©Jeremy Bamber Campaign http://jeremybamber.org/jeremy-bamber/

The Author’s view                                                                                                        December 2011

This is not a direct account from Jeremy Bamber. It is my view on Jeremy and his circumstances written as author. I have been kindly granted access to all available evidence regarding Jeremy’s case including 130 lever arch files of papers, which has enabled me to build a picture of Jeremy during this period. I have also sourced various accounts from people who know Jeremy. It is from these documents that I have drawn my conclusions that Jeremy Bamber was an innocent man, wrongly convicted in the prime of his life. The character of Jeremy as I see it is one which contrasts with popular myth brought about by the media.

Background
Jeremy’s natural mother was 16 and lived in Scotland, and his father a young army recruit. His natural father was married at the time he was conceived and later divorced his wife to marry Jeremy’s natural mother. His father rose to be an Army General and I believe they are still married to this day, they also had more children together, Jeremy Bamber’s full brother and sister are called Justin Marsham and Sophie Marsham.

Jeremy was adopted through the church by June and Nevill Bamber who provided a kind and loving family, and Jeremy feels very fortunate to have grown up in this environment. He enjoyed life on the farm, had his own dog and learned the skill of farming from an early age. He loved Sheila despite them going their separate ways during their teenage years. Jeremy enjoys cultivating plants and he has expressed a desire to return to farming, though I think small scale farming would be on his agenda these days.

As a young man he went to the renowned Gresham College. Jeremy is intelligent, and is particularly interested in engineering, architecture, sculpture and physics. He has always enjoyed keeping fit and still goes to the gym every day he can, he is also interested in yoga and meditation. Jeremy didn’t pursue a degree after college but while in prison he has gained many educational qualifications and spends long hours working on his case as well attending the Brallie translation workshop.

Jeremy did not dress up as Adam Ant on the farm, contrary to popular belief, but was always smart and well presented when he wasn’t farming. He did go into London to meet up with friends and he saw Sheila every couple of weeks; he was friends with Colin Caffell and they got on well. Jeremy was definitely a ‘farmer’s boy’ who very much enjoyed that life style and wanted it to continue that way.

From 79-80 Jeremy spent time in Australia travelling. For 5 months he worked on a sugar plantation working with a family in Queensland; he really enjoyed employment for them on the farm and still speaks about their ingenious inventions of various types of machinery to harvest crops. At the end of that year he went to New Zealand and back to Australia a couple of times but for no great length of time. It has been suggested that Jeremy hated farming, if this was so then why did he work on a farm in Australia and not as a barman for example?

Coping with the tragedies at White House Farm

Everyone copes with trauma in different ways. Jeremy had been kept away from the house when the fire arms team were called in. He had been asked to stay in a police car on Pages Lane with officers, who testified that he was distressed, he kept looking as though he was going to break down and they distracted him with talk of other things. PC Lay stated in his 1^st of October statement:
“There were two or three occasions during the conversation that Jeremy appeared to be getting upset. On one of these occasions he said, “Oh God, I hope she hasn’t done anything stupid.” I didn’t ask him to elaborate on that remark as the man was getting distressed and so I steered the conversation to another subject.”
Lay goes on to say:
“The Witham Duty Sergeant came over to the car. He went to the nearside and opened the passenger door and said – I’m very sorry there’s no hope for any of them.” Or words to that effect. At that Jeremy burst into tears and the sergeant tried to console him.”

Other officers detail in their statements that Jeremy was crying and was visibly upset and distressed. When the doctor arrived he gave him a sip of whiskey from a hip flask. This made Jeremy sick. When they took Jeremy to his home, police insisted he eat something to stop him from retching. He had little food in the house and went to the fridge, the only thing he could find was bacon which he put into the microwave and then into two pieces of bread, he ate this with the encouragement of the police officers and so is the kernel of the myth of the jolly Jeremy Bamber sitting at this kitchen table eating a hearty cooked breakfast with police officers.

Many of Jeremy’s responses have been used against him, for example, the talk of buying a Porsche was used as evidence to demonstrate that he was already planning to spend his inheritance on a new Sports car, but the truth was that Jeremy was referring to a buying a cheap kit Porsche. The case is littered with myths and circumstantial evidence. The facts are that there was no evidence against Jeremy Bamber; nothing connecting him to the scene. In court the moderator was the only thing suggesting that Sheila had not shot herself. She could not have fired one shot leaving her blood in the moderator and then taken the moderator downstairs and put it in the gun cupboard and gone back upstairs again where she was found. Even though this still did not connect Jeremy to the killings, the judge stated at court that because Jeremy said that his father had made the call to him – this would mean that it had to be either Jeremy or Sheila and not a third party. It does beg the question as to why there has been so much emphasis placed on the precarious evidence of Mugford and her hit man story which was demonstrably disproved. So, with absolutely no evidence – why is he in prison?

Jeremy Bamber let Julie Mugford and his friends and relatives take over the running of almost every part of the aftermath of the tragedy.[1] Unable to cope with entering White House Farm without experiencing trauma and severe anxiety Jeremy continued to smoke cannabis heavily, whilst drinking alcohol and taking diazepam as prescribed by his doctor. [2]

The question must have turned over in his mind a million times: If I hadn’t left the gun out on the settle would this still have happened?Had he forgotten to take the magazine out or not? No, he was sure he had taken the magazine out. Had Sheila noticed that he had left the gun like this? He had blamed himself for his own mistakes, but then the farm was full of guns, a collection of 7 weapons including rifles and shotguns were there and he knew that Sheila could have picked up any one of those at any time.

The family solicitor was later interviewed by police and confirmed that he had advised Jeremy to find out the order of deaths[3] something which was later to be used against him by his relatives and the police. Later when the City of London Police investigated, Mr Wilson told them that Jeremy was very emotional on his visits to him and that he had advised Jeremy that he should be appointed sole director of the businesses.[4]

A few days after the tragedy Jeremy had to face going into the farm, Ann Eaton took Jeremy around the house after she had been in to clean it and remove valuable items she wanted for herself and her family. She stated that he did not want to go into each room and she described Jeremy as “frightened, hesitant and petrified,” a normal reaction for someone having to face where the bodies of their family had been found. [5]

The family accountant had confirmed that Nevill’s bank account was overdrawn by almost £100,000; [6] all of the estate was tied up in assets. Nevill had borrowed this money to convert his estate in Guildford into five houses. Jeremy had the responsibility of running the farm at harvest time, coping with the funerals of his family, the shock, his grief and the prospect of having little money for funerals as well as paying staff wages. He was an inexperienced farmer at just 24 years old, and Basil Cock had advised that Jeremy appoint Peter Eaton as farm manager to help. Jeremy was also advised that death duties would be high and he would have to find ways of cutting down costs. At the time inheritance duties were 40% of all monies inherited over £200,000. The financial difficulty Jeremy faced was because he was to inherit both his parent’s estates at once. The accountant told him that he would owe around £80,000 in tax.

Brett Collins, Julie and Jeremy went out drinking together a frequently after the tragedy, Jeremy Bamber recently said in an interview with the Mirror Newspaper “I am certainly not alone in turning to alcohol in sorrow – nor in seeking the company of others who cared about me.” Brett tried to keep Jeremy’s spirits high with good humour and Jeremy even joined his friend, the twins father, Colin Caffell on the 9^th of August where he, Jeremy, Julie, Brett and three others went for Chinese meal and then on to a concert as both Jeremy and Colin tried to put a brave face on their grief. [7]

Some weeks later after the tragedy, on the 23^rd August, Jeremy attended the farm, he asked both Barbara Wilson and Jean Bouttell to clear out much of the clutter that filled up the rooms of White House Farm. This included a large collection of magazines in the kitchen under which Jean Bouttell found the spare telephone. She asked Jeremy what she should do with it he just remarked it was a spare.[8] There was much discussion over this telephone which was a court exhibit.

Jeremy had cheated on Julie Mugford with her friend Lizzie prior to the tragedies and he had also felt that his time with Julie had come to an end and broke of their relationship. Her endless demanding behaviour must have become tiresome for him; he had offered to buy Julie a wine bar in London and had given her money to help her as a student teacher. Jeremy wanted to be with another woman called Virginia whom he had known for some time. He turned to Virginia for comfort away from Julie’s violent tantrums and demands. [9] Julie was becoming more and more difficult and resented Brett Collins being around and suspected that they were lovers.

Brett had said he was experienced in the sale of antiques and together with Jeremy they took some valuables to Sotheby’s for auction to raise funds to help with the impending death duties much to the horror of the relatives. During the period before he was charged with the murders, Jeremy Bamber had twice headed overseas rejecting what had happened and feeling distressed at the constant press intrusion into his life.

After DCI Jones was removed as head of the investigation he worked under Supt Ainsley. DCI Jones had to arrest Jeremy Bamber the first time at Moorshead Mansions.  Almost immediately after his arrest and still at the flat Jeremy had blurted out that he had possession of Marijuana and handed some over to Jones.  At interview he easily confessed to burgling the caravan park to prove a point by using a key kept inside the letter box.  He also confessed to cultivating Marijuana in his back garden which he sold to friends.  For someone who owns up to crime so easily, it seems to me that if Jeremy Bamber had committed the killings he would not be able to stop himself from confessing.  Nevertheless, in 27 years there has never been any admission.

After his first arrest on the 8^th of September, he was questioned for four days sometimes until 11pm at night. The interviews were not audio recorded but hand written each day, the first two days of questioning were held without Jeremy having a solicitor present. Police constantly pressed him on the positioning of the gun accusing him of telling some police officers that the rifle was on the table, but he was adamant the gun was on the settle.  DS Stan Jones asked him if he had or hadn’t fired the gun.  He was insistent that he had not fired the rifle.  They went over and over the telephone call from his father.  The records of these interviews span for hundreds of pages.  DS Jones told Jeremy that Julie had said that he had called her before calling the police which contradicted what both he and Julie had initially told police. The time of the call needed to be ‘fixed’ at a much earlier time for the prosecution to state that he called Julie first. This corresponds to PC West’s log having been recorded much earlier but he altered his testimony saying that he filled the log out wrong by ten minutes.

After days of questioning and with all the  confusion, Jeremy said that maybe he did call Julie first.  This single discrepancy was used against Jeremy although it actually has no real bearing on the facts; whether he called Julie first or the police second the events still happened just as he had said.  Since the interview Jeremy has maintained that he called the police before he called Julie.  There are no other discrepancies in Jeremy’s accounts throughout his 27 years. This single issue was used to state that Jeremy had lied. Jeremy Bamber’s account has stood up to scrutiny over 27 years and is very robust by comparison with the testimony of Mugford, who had lied about their engagement, the end of their relationship, Jeremy’s relationship with Collins, MacDonald being the hit man, her involvement in drugs and crime independently of Jeremy and her pre-trial deal with the News of the World for 25k.

Through all of the witness accounts, many people have altered their accounts and statements contradict each other, there is only one account which remains the same to this day and it is the account of Jeremy Bamber.  This is because it is the truth and the truth does not alter, other witnesses (both police officers and relatives) have exaggerated and embellished their original accounts in the media and to different police enquiries.  Jeremy has coped with the strain of the continual questioning and by comparison with other miscarriages of justice his version of accounts has not altered; he has never confessed nor altered his account under duress.

After his first arrest and release without charge Jeremy was approached by the newspapers for his story.  Naively he went to meet with one after his solicitor advised him against it.  But Jeremy was tired of being vilified by the newspapers after his arrest and wanted to tell his story.  Jeremy said that Brett Collins also advised that he should go to meet with the journalist. But the Sun journalist wasn’t interested in Jeremy’s account, and continually asked questions about Sheila Caffell and requested any modelling pictures which might have been pornographic.  Jeremy had told him that there were none and that there might have been some topless ones but Colin Caffell would have those.  The journalist ran the story reporting that the newspaper had been offered these pictures and they also went to the police. The newspaper never obtained pictures of Sheila, because they didn’t exist, further proof that Jeremy Bamber had not intended to sell any pictures to the newspaper.

Jeremy’s efforts to tell his story had gone disastrously wrong, this coupled with the burglary at the caravan park made the outlook very bleak.  Stories escalated about Jeremy’s relationship with Brett Collins and his trips abroad.  Acquaintances turned their backs on him and his often eccentric, foolish behaviour and socialising with homosexuals was amplified by local gossip.  His enjoyment of cannabis, later down classified to a class C drug and frequently used by the middle classes, was also a major point of 'criminality' used by the prosecution.  He was presented as having spent a lot of money on holidays but the reality was on his trip to Amsterdam he, Brett and Julie had shared the same room to economise.

After his arrest, the trip to the South of France was glamorised but the fact was that Jeremy and Brett stayed in a caravan to keep the costs low.  Anything to escape the now intrusive and destructive glare of the media. Jeremy was an innocent man subjected to similar treatment as other people who are vilified in the press, and subsequently released without charge.

Jeremy had continued smoking pot, taking prescribed sedatives[10] and alcohol to drown out the shock, pain and sorrow.  His arrest and high media profile prompted his new love Virginia to turn her back on him.   Julie had contrived a convoluted story to the police, and his relatives had turned against him and by their own admission, were taking belongings from his family home without permission.[11] Even Colin Caffell had become distant and had written to him saying that the relatives had insisted that Jeremy was duping him and was definitely guilty and Colin didn’t know what to believe now his beautiful twins were dead and Jeremy had been arrested and released without charge.[12]

Now Jeremy was in virtual exile in France with his friend Brett trying to support him in the only way he knew how, by leading him to drinking dens. After a short period under police surveillance the officers abandoned their suspect realising that Jeremy was not going to do anything helpful to the prosecution’s case.[13] Jeremy found the pain was dampened by drinking until the small hours and both he and Brett suffered with food poisoning on their return journey to the UK by ferry. Jeremy was arrested and charged with murder at the port of Dover.

On his arrival in a police van on his last day of freedom, there were several women  waving to him and calling out his name, he smiled back as the cameras snapped him in a dazed, exhausted blur of a mask which veiled the pain he would carry for at least another 27 years. This was a photograph often used over the years by the press to demonstrate that he was a shallow and arrogant young man.
                                                                       ***

'Truth cannot be found through facts alone, truth can only come through understanding'

 Jeremy Bamber, 2012

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[1] Collective statements, J Mugford, A. Eaton, P. Eaton, B. Cock, B Collins

[2] Medical records, J Bamber

[3] 25^th September, 1985, Police action 769, interview T. Wilson, Solicitor

[4] 3^rd July 1991, Statement, T Wilson, Solicitor

[5] 16^th September 1985, Statement, A Eaton

[6] Nevill Bamber statement of Estate & Ann Eaton Statement IBID

[7] 17^th November, 1985, Statement, J Mugford

[8] Trial Transcript & Statements, J Bouttell

[9] 8^th September 1985, Statement, J Mugford

[10] Medical records of Jeremy Bamber

[11] Ann Eaton Statement to COLP

[12] 17^th September 1985,Letter to Jeremy from Colin Caffell

[13] Officer’s report Surveillance on JB