Line of Duty (2012) s06e06 Episode Script
Season 6, Episode 6
Operation Lighthouse.
Re the unsolved murder of Gail Vella
on September 10th, 2019.
The Gail Vella murder weapon was
never recovered.
Move in.
However, the cartridge
and bullet were tailored ammunition.
The White Rock Unit is equipped
with the exact machinery
required for this process.
By the time of our inquiry in 2015,
Thurwell had taken early retirement,
believed to be living in Spain.
I wonder if Gail discovered the link
between Thurwell
and the Lawrence Christopher case.
I've been looking into other members
of Thurwell's team.
Detective Constable Ian Buckells.
Inspector Philip Osborne.
I don't know where you're getting
your figures from,
- but I can assure
- The figures come from your own office,
Chief Constable.
The Chief's thrown me under a bus.
I'd been fighting his plan
to scale back AC-12.
It's down to you now, Ted,
in whatever time you've got left.
You want to talk about rats?
Ask your boss.
Superintendent Hastings?
Well, he told me there was
a rat in our crew.
And that rat turned out to be
an undercover copper.
John Corbett.
It's as easy as that, Jo.
It's best if you request a transfer.
Is this personal?
I am Detective Chief Superintendent
Patricia Carmichael.
Carmichael's taking command.
It's on the Chief Constable's
orders, and we've just learned
he could have been a beneficiary
of Gail Vella's murder.
One more chance, Ryan.
- Drop it!
- One more chance!
No!
Six Five to Control,
on scene. Stand by for sitrep.
Seven Six, unarmed, clear to approach.
Charlie Seven Two to Control.
Vehicle at scene.
Body on floor next to vehicle.
Standby.
Kate's car's missing.
Request urgent obs.
Alpha Charlie Five Two, Control,
active message, request urgent obs.
Where is Kate?
Seven Six, all clear, sir.
Unarmed, clear to approach.
Search this area!
Check that body for signs of life.
Repeat, service vehicle, DI Fleming.
Preserve the scene, let them work!
Alpha Charlie Five Two,
Control, active message,
State Six at Menton Road,
one police major trauma,
request urgent paramedic attendance
and full forensic deployment.
Ryan Pilkington,
two gunshot wounds to the chest.
- No pulse, he's well gone.
- Right.
If you hadn't withdrawn
our bloody surveillance
Given her OCG links, I think
we have to assume that Davidson
or her associates are the likely
shooter.
DI Fleming was authorised
to carry a concealed firearm
for her own protection.
Go state 12, channel three.
Five Two, switching.
DI Fleming's vehicle.
Alpha Charlie Five Two,
Control, on three.
Control, Service Vehicle
registered to DI Fleming
located Crowan Road.
Units report vehicle, service
mobiles and radios abandoned,
subject's not present at scene.
- Five Two, received.
- You know her best. Where would she go?
I'm sorry, ma'am. I've no idea.
Issue an order for the arrest
of Jo Davidson and Kate Fleming.
Consider them armed and dangerous.
Mother of God.
This is the back entrance to Steve's.
No-one's around this time of night.
Are you sure you can trust him?
Steve? Totally.
Why wasn't there
surveillance on Ryan and me?
- It got suspended.
- On purpose?
No, on the orders of the
Chief and DCS Carmichael.
That's nothing to do with me.
Look, I haven't got the
foggiest idea what's going on.
All I know is somebody's
behind all of this.
Kate, you've got to believe me.
I had nothing to do with it.
No? You lured me there to be murdered.
- Kate
- Didn't you?
Now look where we are.
Ryan's dead,
and I'm in the frame for it.
I'm sorry, Kate,
that's the last thing I'd want.
You've got to believe me!
- Let me prove it to you.
- How?
Give me your gun.
Do you believe me now?
Brilliant. Nice one, Steve.
I always worried you were pretending.
Pretending?
You know what I mean
to lure me into trusting you.
We've got to get a move on.
Steve's been made a bloody DI,
about time he got a grown-up car.
Yes? Any news of Kate?
Er, sorry, sir, nothing yet.
DCS Carmichael has ordered me
to update the Operation Lighthouse
evidence.
Sorry.
You still won't answer.
Were you lying to me, Kate?
This is about you, Jo, not me.
You said you wanted me on your team
because I'm ex-anticorruption.
- Were you lying about that?
- No!
I thought it might help me resist
what they were forcing me to do.
You never stopped manipulating the
inquiry into the Gail Vella murder.
They control me!
Ever since I joined the force!
The more I did their bidding,
the more they had over me.
- I'm not bent.
- Well, then, prove it.
You'll get Witness Protection
if you tell us everything.
"Witness Protection"?! Even Tom
No matter who it is, however powerful,
when they turn, they get killed.
What chance do I stand?
Just tell me everything you know, Jo.
Starting with your family, you
nearly said his name, Tommy Hunter.
AC-12 found DNA in Farida's house
showing you're related.
- So you already know everything.
- Hardly. I need the truth.
My mum was Tommy's sister.
And my dad was bent,
a police officer.
Right, well, the only way
you're getting out of this
is to prove you're not bent.
That's Gail Vella's house.
You want proof I'm not bent?
You're about to get it.
End of the road, turn left.
DCS Carmichael.
Gaffer, Carmichael's on the move.
I'm not sure what's happening.
Well, let's not wait for the crumbs,
son.
Pull up here.
This place used to be a front
for the OCG.
And right across the street is
Terry Boyle's flat.
Shit.
Tango Oscar Eight Six, Control,
active message,
visual of suspect vehicle, TA
Market Street travelling at speed.
Oh, shit!
- Brace!
- Ugh!
Go!
Eight Six, Control,
suspect vehicle failed to comply,
initiating a pursuit.
NPAS Six Five, maintain obs
and open microwave downlink.
Shit.
Armed police!
Armed police!
Armed police!
Get out of the vehicle
with your arms raised
and your hands open,
with palms facing towards me.
Armed police! Get back!
Armed police, stay indoors! Get back!
How have they managed to intercept
us? Something's not right.
Get out of the vehicle with your
arms raised and your hands open,
with palms towards me.
Final warning.
This isn't your fault.
I'll say I forced you to drive me.
Get out of the vehicle
with your arms raised,
your hands open, with palms towards me!
Kate, we don't have a choice!
Control, sitrep,
two occupants still in vehicle.
Control to Eight Four, received.
We have a visual link from
helicopter, maintain sitrep.
Alpha Charlie Eight Four to Control.
Two occupants exiting the vehicle now.
Control to Eight Four, received.
We're police officers!
- DI Fleming.
- DSU Davidson!
Hands above your head!
Open them, palms towards me.
I'm a police officer going about
my lawful duty! Lower your weapons!
Hands above your head! Open them!
..have verbally identified
themselves as police officers.
Armed officers giving directions.
DCS Carmichael now on scene.
DCS Carmichael,
you are ordered to surrender!
Jesus Christ, Steve's in on it.
I'm taking out a pistol!
I'll put it on the ground!
DI Fleming, surrender your firearm!
Jo, we're being framed.
This is your final warning,
lay down your firearm.
Slowly.
Hands where we can see them.
We surrender!
Kate
Hand on weapon.
Ma'am, if I may
This is Superintendent Hastings.
I can assure you
you'll be treated fairly
with the full protection of the law.
Steve told me some bad stuff
about the gaffer.
This is my fault, sir.
DI Steve Arnott! I'm unarmed!
- You bastard, Steve!
- Stay there, Kate.
Take the gun out slowly.
Lay it on the ground.
You gave me up! You told them!
Kate, I give you my word, I didn't.
That's bullshit. How would they know
what car I'm driving?
Kate, listen to me.
I don't know how they knew.
If it came from me,
I'd be straight with you.
That's how it is between us.
And I'm telling you,
I didn't give you up,
neither did the gaffer.
Come on, mate.
I don't know what the hell's going
on either, why the Chief's ordered
Carmichael to take over, but I
promise you, I'll get you to safety.
Both of you.
She's cooperating!
Lay it on the ground.
She's put the gun down!
Second person has placed
firearm on the floor.
Come on, mate, I'll walk you in.
Get behind me.
You too, ma'am.
Both persons are now walking
with arms raised, with DI Arnott.
Check out the old OCG Print Shop.
Also, Ryan Pilkington confessed
to the murder of Maneet Bindra
and John Corbett.
Don't you worry, Kate,
I'll see you're well looked after,
or by Christ, they'll have me
to answer to.
Arrest them both.
Put them in forensic suits,
transfer them to dry cells.
Log the reg of the transport vehicle.
Alpha Charlie 96 to Control,
both persons retained in handcuffs.
Weapons being made safe.
Will need a forensic recovery
for the vehicle.
Ambulance, stand down.
96, received.
You should have shared
Kate's whereabouts with me.
I didn't want to put you in a
difficult position with Carmichael.
Kate told me Ryan Pilkington
confessed to Maneet's murder.
Pilkington?
He also confessed
to the murder of John Corbett.
Ma'am.
Ma'am, the interviews
with Davidson and Kate,
DI Arnott and I will be involved,
of course?
We know the inquiry
like the back of our hands.
Mmm. DI Arnott, I've just learned
that the vehicle was yours
and keys to your home were found
on DI Fleming's person.
We've got keys to each other's homes
and vehicles in the event
of extreme circumstances.
Oh, OK, yes. I see.
What would constitute
"extreme circumstances"?
An unexplained disruption
of the chain of command.
Superintendent Hastings
has been informed
of his impending retirement.
Ma'am, I must protest!
That information was confidential!
And so, to ensure a smooth
transition, I've assumed command.
So from now on, DI Arnott,
you'll be taking orders from me
or face disciplinary action.
Right.
Is there anything else
you're not sharing with me?
I'm waiting.
Kate said we should check out
the old OCG Print Shop,
the front where John Corbett worked.
Very good.
Report back after Davidson's
rest period to assist me
in interviewing her.
- Dismissed. Thank you.
- Ma'am.
I'll lead the interview
and you can assist
within the parameters set by me.
Do you think you can manage that?
Very good.
I'll see you in the morning.
How did you know of Davidson
and Kate's whereabouts?
Oh, we put trackers
on all AC-12 vehicles.
- What?
- Mm, Chief Constable's orders.
Thank goodness we did.
My officers were going
about their lawful duty.
Putting trackers on their vehicles
was a flagrant breach of trust.
No, you're right, Ted.
The Chief and I don't trust you.
AC-12 interview of Acting Detective
Superintendent Joanne Davidson
in the presence of her solicitor,
Police Federation Representative
by Chief Superintendent Carmichael,
Superintendent Hastings,
Detective Inspector Arnott.
You remain under caution.
Following your arrest,
a search of your registered address,
Apartment G, 9 Croxford Street,
was carried out under
Section 18 of the Police
and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.
Image 17 on screen.
Image 17 is a crime-scene photograph
captured during the search
of Apartment G, 9 Croxford Street.
Who is seen in Image 17?
No comment.
Document 22 in your folders
and on screen.
Document 22 is a scan
of Samantha Davidson's passport.
The person seen in Image 17
is Samantha Davidson, correct?
No comment.
Document 6 in your folders
and on screen.
Document 6 is Acting DSU Davidson's
police personnel record.
Next of kin is given
as Samantha Davidson.
What is your relationship
to Samantha Davidson?
No comment.
Oh, God, give me strength,
it's going to be a long day.
We carried out checks
on Samantha Davidson.
The passport shown in Document 22
is the last one on record.
An interim death certificate
was issued for Samantha Davidson
on the 5th of January 1996
by the Glasgow City Coroner.
The subsequent inquest into
Samantha Davidson's death recorded
a finding of suicide.
You all right, Jo?
The purpose of our questioning
is not to trigger painful memories
but rather to address
an important aspect of our inquiry.
Document 33 in your folders.
Document 33 is a forensic
laboratory report
submitted on the 19th of November 2020,
relating to DNA deposits
detected during
a search of 29 Stalton Drive
conducted up to and including
the 16th of November 2020.
Comparison of said DNA deposits
found a 100% match
with DNA held on the national database
belonging to Joanne Davidson.
Further comparison with criminal
databases found a strong
partial match to John Thomas Hunter.
Are you related by blood
to John Thomas Hunter?
No comment.
OK, I just gave you
an opportunity to declare
whether or not you are familiar
with what we're about to disclose.
If not, you may find the following
information distressing.
- DI Arnott.
- Document 33A.
Further analysis of the DNA found
at 29 Stalton Drive detected
runs of homozygosity.
This is an indicator
of a close blood relationship
between the subject's mother and father.
In the percentage match to Tommy Hunter,
it has been concluded that Hunter
was your uncle and also your father.
No.
No, he
He was my uncle, that's
That That's not true!
So, what is the truth?
You can see my colleague's distressed.
Perhaps we could have a short break?
It's a simple enough question
for Acting Detective
Superintendent Davidson to answer.
No comment.
OK. I think we should pause this
interview and return you to custody
until such time, if any,
you're willing to cooperate.
Ma'am, wait.
Please.
Jo, if you're bent, fine,
if you want to run the clock down.
We'll charge you
and with the evidence we've got,
you'll go away for a long time,
but if you're not bent,
this is your chance to prove it.
These things we've learned
about your family history.
No-one can be blamed
for what they're born into.
Or the path it puts them on.
Now's the time to give your side.
No comment.
You were still only a teenager
when you lost your mum.
That must've been very upsetting.
No comment.
If you think
you're going to wear us down,
Acting Detective
Superintendent Davidson,
you have got another thing coming.
DI Arnott.
The search
of Apartment G, 9 Croxford Street,
detected an article seized
in evidence appearing on screen
in Image 11.
Image 11 shows item reference PW-5,
a laptop computer.
Whose device is this?
No comment.
Forensic examination of PW-5
detected fingerprints
and DNA deposits relating
to one person only.
Said fingerprints and DNA
are a match for Joanne Davidson.
For what purpose
did you employ this device?
No comment.
Document 56 in your folders.
AC-12's Cybercrime Department
carried out an examination
of PW-5's hard drive.
Their findings are fully
summarised in Document 56.
There are numerous text conversations
between the user of PW-5
and an Unknown User.
Who are the participants in these
text conversations?
No comment.
Our Cybercrime Department
detected an IP address
for the PW-5 user
matching 9 Croxford Street.
The IP address for the unknown user
is located in Spain.
No comment.
What was the nature of these
text conversations?
No comment.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph and the
wee donkey, can we just move this
thing along, before it drives us
all round the bloody bend?
DI Arnott.
Please refer to the screen
which shows a text conversation
which took place
on the 22nd of November at 21.42,
between the user of PW-5
and an unknown user.
Can you tell us what is meant
by the instruction,
"Get rid of her"?
No comment.
You agreed to lure DI Fleming
to her death,
that's about the top and bottom of it,
isn't it?
No comment.
Look, you could say "no comment"
till you're blue in the face,
but we know what's what.
DI Fleming made a call to DI Arnott
just minutes before an illicit
rendezvous took place between
you and PC Ryan Pilkington.
No comment.
You lured her to that rendezvous
and there is the evidence,
up there on the screen
in black and white!
Conspiracy to murder, which as you know,
Acting Detective
Superintendent Davidson,
brings with it a life sentence.
And that's before we get to the rest
of the evidence.
Which I would describe as a mountain.
A mountain of evidence.
And we haven't even scratched
the surface!
I was asking about your mum.
Yes?
She took her own life?
Yes.
This must be very painful for you,
but do you think you can speak
about that?
She was born into it, same as me.
Hated what her family stood for.
Her brother, Tommy
what a piece of work he was.
Yeah, you don't need to tell us what
he was capable of, believe you me.
He controlled Mum's life.
Did he control yours?
Not at first.
My mum was still a girl.
Raped, she told me
though I never knew the details.
Forced to go through with the pregnancy.
Tommy sent her away, back to Glasgow,
under her mum's maiden name.
I had no idea about any of this,
until Tommy came looking.
But that was later, yes?
I'd just turned 16.
He'd heard I was doing well
in school, never been in trouble,
plus no-one knew me here.
He wanted me for the police, he said,
to do his bidding,
to be under his control.
My mum couldn't bear the thought
of me being with Uncle Tommy.
She knew she couldn't protect me.
That's why she took her own life?
Yes.
It's all right.
Take your time, take your time.
You're doing well, Jo.
So Tommy hid from you
he was your real father?
Yes.
Who did you believe was your father?
This person, did he control you
the same way Tommy Hunter did?
We can all see my colleague finds
this line of questioning
extremely distressing.
In regard to coercion and control,
my colleague should be treated
as a vulnerable person.
We'll move on. Tommy Hunter is
no longer a person of interest.
He became an informant
and was killed by his own
organisation in 2014.
It wasn't simply
that he was an informant, ma'am.
What do you mean?
Tommy had cultivated relationships
with corrupt police officers,
but they started to turn against him.
He felt betrayed, so he threatened
to expose them all.
So it was police officers
who got Hunter killed?
They were heavily involved.
As you know, your former officer,
DI Matthew Cottan,
he orchestrated the plan.
Cottan was a disgrace to the
uniform. He betrayed the trust
of every single one of us that
he worked with.
So someone took Tommy's place
at the top of the organisation
and he gave Cottan
the order to kill Tommy?
Tommy held it all together.
It broke up into disparate elements,
smaller OCGs.
The only thing that united them
was how much they stood to lose
if Tommy carried out his threat.
Because they relied on corrupt
officers to carry out
many of their criminal enterprises?
Yes.
And they wanted to be able
to continue exploiting them.
Yes, well, the OCGs,
they may not be working to one man
but the bent coppers,
that's a different story.
They're a network, aren't they?
This Force has detected no evidence
of institutionalised corruption.
We have identified
a number of high-ranking figures
in a clandestine network
of corrupt police officers.
Hypothetical network.
One such high-ranking figure,
once erroneously code-named H,
we now refer to as the Fourth Man,
is he running the show?
No comment.
We're here to examine DCI Davidson's
offending, no-one else's.
Alleged offending.
Are you taking your orders
from him? Who is the Fourth Man?
I don't know.
- I don't believe you!
- Let's move on.
Turning to Operation Lighthouse,
the inquiry into the murder
of Gail Vella, opened
on the 10th of September 2019.
You became
Senior Investigating Officer when?
The following month. 6th of October.
Your predecessor was removed
allegedly due to the
inquiry's slow progress.
How did you come to be appointed?
I'm an experienced murder investigator.
Image 24 on screen.
What is shown in Image 24?
No comment.
Image 24 shows Item Reference FD-8
seized in evidence
during a search
of Apartment G, 9 Croxford Street.
Document 39 in your folders.
Document 39 is a photocopy
of the contents of FD-8.
You will see that FD-8
contained documents relating
to Operation Lighthouse. Now,
these documents were not present
at Hillside Lane Police Station
on the 4th of November of this year
when AC-12 seized all files
relating to Operation Lighthouse.
Why were these documents
in your apartment?
No comment.
These documents reveal
for the first time that
Detective Superintendent Ian Buckells
noted that your predecessor as SIO
was pursuing the line of
inquiry that Gail Vella's murder
was a contract killing
carried out by organised criminals.
However, Detective Superintendent
Buckells then wrote a memorandum
suggesting that the SIO was
failing to make any progress
and that a new SIO be appointed.
Buckells mentions you by name.
Had you ever worked together?
Not to my knowledge.
Hm, so what motivated Ian Buckells
nominating you
to be the Senior Investigating Officer
on the Gail Vella murder?
You'd have to ask Ian Buckells.
Yes, well, we did, and he denies
all knowledge of the documents.
The same way he still claims
no knowledge of the missing
Operation Lighthouse files
subsequently found hidden
in his service vehicle.
Did you or someone close to you
engineer your appointment,
with Buckells as the convenient stooge?
No comment.
You see, the last thing
that organised crime would want is
Operation Lighthouse coming knocking
on their door.
So they had to put in a new SIO
to suppress that line of inquiry
in favour of a random act of violence,
perpetrated by a
disturbed individual acting alone,
a Frame that neatly fits Terry Boyle.
I refused to charge Terry Boyle.
Why not? There was
just about enough evidence.
Why did you not seek authority
to charge Boyle?
Was it because you couldn't
go through with it?
Is it because you just couldn't live
with the idea of sending
an innocent man to trial?
Yes.
Good. At last, we're getting somewhere.
OK, let's examine the other
recent prime suspect
identified by Operation Lighthouse.
Image 29 on screen.
Image 29 shows Terry Boyle on the right.
On the left, Image 29 shows Carl Banks.
Carl Banks was a known violent offender
with lifelong links to organised crime.
On the night of the 26th of October,
the Murder Investigation received a tip-off that an individual,
who was almost certainly Carl Banks,
had confessed to the murder
of Gail Vella.
As a result of delays and leaks,
Carl Banks was abducted
and murdered and Terry Boyle
installed in his place.
PS Farida Jatri was charged
with leaking the information
based on evidence seized
from 29 Stalton Drive,
the address where she claims
the two of you lived.
Did you plant evidence
against Farida Jatri?
No comment.
You've already told us that you
were coerced into a life of crime.
That you were forced to mislead
and deceive.
Here, now, you have a choice.
A choice to tell the truth.
I planted the burner phones.
Farida's innocent.
Good.
Good.
Who leaked the information regarding
the operation
to arrest Carl Banks?
I did.
And the armed robbery staged
to coincide with the operation,
you knew about that?
It was a decoy I used
to delay Banks' arrest.
And the mistakes in surveillance
attributed to Detective
Superintendent Buckells?
I manipulated him into those.
It wasn't hard.
And the files that were planted
in his service vehicle?
I planted those.
What about the witness who came
forward to incriminate Terry Boyle?
Deborah Devereux.
All I know is we found out she was
a former girlfriend of DSU Buckells.
And the false statement from Deborah
Devereux, Buckells set that up?
I don't know if he set that up
himself or someone else did.
Why would he do that?
He was worried the failure to solve
the murder was making him look bad.
He was desperate for me
to charge someone.
Let's be clear. You have
no evidence that Buckells
was responsible for Deborah
Devereux's false statement?
Correct, ma'am.
And his desire to charge Terry Boyle
was borne out of a legitimate fear
for the advancement of his career?
It appeared so, ma'am.
DI Arnott, can you bookmark the DIR?
Significant testimony in determining
whether the charges
against Detective Superintendent
Buckells should be discontinued.
OK, moving on, what can you
tell us about the evidence
against Terry Boyle?
The images of Gail Vella
found in his flat
would seem to have been planted.
To the best of your knowledge,
was Terry Boyle involved
- in the murder of Gail Vella?
- No, he was not.
To the best of your knowledge,
was Carl Banks involved
in the murder of Gail Vella?
No comment.
Here we go again!
We know Gail Vella attempted to make
contact with Carl Banks' brother,
Lee Banks,
an inmate in Blackthorn Prison.
We believe Lee Banks informed Carl
Gail Vella was investigating
stories that the OCG were determined
to suppress.
In regard to Gail Vella's
investigative journalism,
let's now examine your movements
prior to your arrest last night.
DI Arnott.
On screen, Image 41.
Image 41 is a map showing telemetry
from a tracking device
attached to vehicle Victor, Oscar,
six, nine, Golf, Kilo, Yankee
in the early hours
of the 24th of November 2020.
Victor, Oscar, six, nine, Golf,
Kilo, Yankee is the vehicle
in which you were a passenger
at the time of your arrest.
Telemetry location two is the scene
of Gail Vella's murder.
Telemetry location three relates
to the derelict premises
of the Kingsgate Printing Services.
Who is directing the movements
of the vehicle?
No comment.
A forensic search
of Kingsgate Printing Services
has been carried out.
Image 45 on screen.
Image 45 is a crime scene photograph
captured at Kingsgate Printing Services
showing the inside
of the abandoned premises.
Image 46.
Image 46 is an item of evidence
detected by the search team,
Item reference TG-8.
TG-8 is a metal strong box.
The contents of TG-8
are shown in Image 47.
What is shown in Image 47?
No comment.
Image 47 shows items references
TG-11 and TG-12 -
a laptop computer and desktop
computer respectively.
Forensic examination of these devices
detected fingerprints
matching Gail Vella.
We believe these devices were stolen
from Gail Vella's home
around the time of her murder.
Now, the Operation Lighthouse files
that you withheld
relate in part to evidence
of the theft of these devices.
This is crucial evidence you hid!
I was leading Kate Fleming there
to uncover the evidence, to prove
Prove what?
That I'm not bent.
Yes, but you hid this evidence
for months!
Not months, no.
That's not what happened.
I only began to suspect
the evidence might be there
after Terry Boyle's arrest.
The Print Shop had been
long abandoned by the OCG,
police searches concluded
there 18 months ago
and it was right across the street.
But you never ordered a search
of the Print Shop.
Cybercrime examined the hard drives
of both devices.
Passwords were input to access
the stored files.
How would these passwords
have been obtained?
No comment.
Well, taking for granted the
involvement of organised crime,
I'd suggest an employee
in the IT department
at Gail Vella's news service
was exploited using bribery,
blackmail or intimidation.
No comment.
Numerous files were detected relating to
Gail Vella's investigations
into the links
between organised crime
and corrupt police officers.
We have found audio files
of interviews with Jimmy Lakewell.
We have found research files
confirming that Gail Vella
was investigating the suppression
of police inquiries
into historic child sexual exploitation.
And we have found research
confirming that Gail Vella was
digging deep into police failure in
the murder of Lawrence Christopher.
Did you know Gail Vella was looking into
- the Lawrence Christopher murder?
- No.
According to notes found
on Gail Vella's devices,
she visited Lee Banks on the 26th
of August 2019 in Blackthorn Prison.
Now, as you know, Lee Banks
is Carl Banks' brother.
It appears from Gail Vella's notes
that Lee Banks declined to furnish
any information regarding the murder
of Lawrence Christopher.
We believe Lee informed Carl Banks
and this was in large part
the motivation for her murder.
Do you really expect us to believe
that you didn't know this?
I didn't.
I'll give YOU "I didn't"!
One of the suspects
in the Lawrence Christopher murder
is your cousin, Darren Hunter!
I, erm
I mean, maybe if Darren had been
arrested, he would have squealed.
He would have given up Tommy Hunter.
He would have given up you.
I didn't know.
The initial inquiry into
Lawrence Christopher's murder
was led by DCI Marcus Thurwell.
Do you know that name?
No comment.
On screen, Image 75.
Who is shown in Image 75?
No comment.
On screen, Image 77, the last-known
image of the same individual.
Who is that?
No comment.
Image 77 shows Marcus Thurwell.
What's your relationship
to Marcus Thurwell?
No comment.
Files detected on Gail Vella's
computer prove that she was
investigating not just Thurwell's role
but the role of other officers
in the inquiry.
Notably, Detective Constable
Ian Buckells
and Inspector Philip Osborne.
The interviewee has repeatedly
claimed she doesn't know
about any of this. It's a dead end.
So let's focus on events surrounding
the killing of PC Ryan Pilkington.
Ma'am, this is significant evidence
crucial to the wider inquiry
into institutionalised corruption.
Yes. And I would prefer to confine
ourselves to the set parameters
of the anti-corruption inquiry
in front of us.
DI Arnott, if you wouldn't mind,
let's chivvy things along, shall we?
Ma'am.
On screen, Images 62 to 65 inclusive.
Crime scene photographs
of PC Ryan Pilkington's body.
How did Ryan Pilkington meet his death?
No comment.
Document 60 in your folders.
Document 60 is the forensic
pathologist's postmortem report
on Ryan Pilkington.
"Cause of death was two gunshot
wounds to the chest.
"At postmortem,
two Parabellum 9x19mm rounds
"were recovered from
the thoracic cavity."
Ryan Pilkington was fatally
wounded by a firearm.
Describe what happened.
No comment.
DI Arnott.
DI Arnott.
Document 78 in your folders.
Document 78 is a report issued by
NABIS on the 24th of November 2020.
Please refer to page two, paragraph six.
"Both Parabellum rounds
recovered from the deceased
"show markings consistent with
being fired from a Glock 17 pistol,
"serial number 277531."
"277531 is the firearm lawfully issued
"on the 20th of November 2020 to
Detective Inspector Kate Fleming."
Fingerprints matching DI Fleming
were also detected on 277531.
Did DI Fleming shoot dead
Ryan Pilkington?
No.
No?
Who, then?
I did.
Hmm.
That doesn't square with the
forensic evidence, I'm afraid.
Naturally, Kate's prints
were on the firearm.
She'd handled it repeatedly.
But you'll also have found
my prints on the firearm.
That's correct. We did.
Because she was forced
to hand it over to me.
Ryan had her at gunpoint.
I turned Kate's firearm on Ryan.
At the time of your arrest,
Fleming had her firearm,
you had Pilkington's.
I returned Kate's firearm.
I picked up Ryan's.
Forensic analysis of clothing
worn by DI Fleming detected
a dense distribution of gunshot
residue on the right-hand sleeve,
a finding commonly associated
with the discharging of a firearm.
Kate was in the process
of handing me the firearm
when I turned the firearm on Ryan
and discharged the fatal shots.
Kate's sleeve absorbed
the gunshot powder.
Joanne Davidson, to be clear
you are confessing to the murder
of Ryan Pilkington?
No, ma'am.
Pilkington was about to fire
on DI Fleming.
At the time of the incident,
I was a serving police officer.
Under Common Law, Section 3
of the Criminal Law Act 1967
and Section 117 of the Police
and Criminal Evidence Act 1984,
I am permitted to employ lethal force
to prevent an imminent threat to life.
My colleague was acting lawfully.
I think you'll find
that's for a court to decide.
You weren't in league with Pilkington?
Ryan Pilkington was imposed
on MIT against my will.
I was fully aware of his
OCG connections.
He was there to intimidate me into
misleading Operation Lighthouse.
So who was giving Pilkington his
orders? Was it Marcus Thurwell?
No comment.
We have presented clear evidence
that you were getting
your instructions from Spain.
We also know from our inquiries
that Thurwell was in Spain.
Is this the person
running the show, yes?
No comment.
Marcus Thurwell was SIO in the
Lawrence Christopher murder inquiry.
Now, we believe that he deliberately
misled that inquiry
to protect Darren Hunter,
Tommy Hunter's son,
on the expressed orders of Tommy Hunter.
No comment.
Lawrence Christopher, he was an
architect. He was a model citizen.
He had his head smashed in
with a piece of lead piping
by a bunch of racist thugs,
one of whom was your cousin!
Superintendent, your questioning
is oppressive.
I'll give you "oppressive"!
That lad had his whole life ahead
of him, just like Gail Vella!
They both died horrible deaths.
I dread to imagine what they suffered.
Yes. Well, then, give them justice!
Tell us who's giving the orders!
I can't.
I'm sorry.
Is it Thurwell? Is it someone else?
Is it Osborne?
- I think we'll leave it there.
- Is it the Chief Constable?!
Thank you, Superintendent Hastings.
Joanne Davidson, do you have
anything further to say?
No.
Joanne Davidson, I have been
in consultation
with the Senior Prosecutor
at the Complex Case Unit.
Nothing you have disclosed
during this interview
has impacted on those discussions,
and therefore I am authorised
to charge you
with the following offences.
Perverting the course of justice
and malfeasance in a public office.
I will consult further regarding
conspiracy to murder DI Kate Fleming
and any charges relating
to the death of PC Ryan Pilkington.
You will be remanded in custody.
Interview terminated at
11.43.
You take care of the custody, son.
Just leave this one to me.
I'm sorry.
Yeah.
Me, too.
You and I both know
that Jo Davidson is the best chance
we've ever had of blowing wide open
the network of corrupt police officers
in league with organised crime.
Goodness me. I must've been
in another interview
because every other answer
I heard was "no comment".
You let her off the hook, ma'am.
And as for shutting down all my
questions about the Fourth Man
Superintendent,
you are bitter about
AC-12 being merged. Who wouldn't be?
It's got nothing to do with that!
Enquiries into Jo Davidson
will continue.
If she has more to reveal,
we will get there, in time.
I don't have time.
Sir?
Sometimes
you don't lose, son
you just run out of time.
As you were.
The Crown Prosecutor's gullible
enough to consider proceedings
against Jo Davidson alone
in the death of Ryan Pilkington.
Thank you very much, ma'am.
Two shots to the chest.
Double tap.
Like a firearms-trained officer.
Davidson's not firearms-trained, is she?
You are, though, aren't you, Kate?
That's correct, ma'am.
So you'll provide a first account
for my team,
and then you're free to go.
I'm not gullible, Kate.
But I am pragmatic.
All right?
All right?
Thought we'd got rid of you.
No such luck.
You sure you're OK?
I know nobody's coming after you
over Ryan Pilkington's shooting,
but if you ever need to talk about it.
Thanks, mate, I appreciate it,
but I'm fine.
So, what did you get out of Jo?
A lot less than we needed.
Did she say anything about
her family history?
She told me
her dad was a police officer.
No. Never even gave us that much.
She's scared, Steve, after what
happened to Tommy, Dot, Lakewell,
never mind John Corbett.
That's why we've got her
on the VPU at Brentiss,
security cameras monitoring access
to her cell.
So what now?
Well, we're into the forensics
at the OCG workshop
and, as I'm the senior detective
left on Operation Lighthouse,
I could be the point of contact
between MIT and AC-12.
- Works for me, mate.
- Let's get this job done.
I'll drive.
Could be in the Red Lion by eight.
Nice work.
- All right, Chris?
- Ma'am.
You remember DI Arnott?
Sir.
Don't act like a tit, Sarge.
We're all in it together.
What you found?
There's strong evidence
of workshopping of firearms.
NABIS have given a preliminary
report of matches
between the machinery here
and the markings on the firearms
used in the Jimmy Lakewell ambush.
Forensics have harvested prints and DNA.
We're just waiting on the lab
for any matches.
FC thinks they've covered the ground.
I'm going to call off the forensic
deployment tonight.
No, you look at the weight of those.
No way were two OCG men on their own
going to move them.
What was in their van?
Tarpaulins, rope
a couple of pickaxes,
bolt cutters, a couple of wrenches,
a socket set, Stanley knives,
power tools, including power saws
and power drills.
Right, let's call out the GPR,
find out what's under that floor.
- Really?
- Yeah, really.
Hiya. Sorry, mate, my DI has
requested GPR for White Rock.
Cheers.
- Chloe.
- Sir, we think we've found Thurwell.
We'll be right there.
They've located Marcus Thurwell.
Let's go.
Asigurarte el perimetro.
Capitan, estamos recibiendo
la transmision de video
y le escuchamos con claridad.
En espera de su informe.
Adelante, sin hacer ruido.
Ah, Kate, Steve.
The Spanish authorities are helping us
in reference to apprehend Thurwell.
The Guardia Civil have received
intel on this particular address.
Nos hemos asegurado que esta
es la casa de Marcus Thurwell.
Las habitaciones estan vacias.
Entrar! Entrar!
- Seguro.
- Nada.
- La casa parece estar desierta.
- Capitan, por aqui!
Guardia Civil!
Punetas.
In the name of God and his Holy Mother!
Dos muertos. Un hombre y una mujer.
Two dead, sir. Male plus female.
Marcus Thurwell, Senora Thurwell.
Thank you, Captain.
We'll leave the rest to you.
Gracias, Capitan. Dejamos que lleve
los procedimientos necesarios.
Cambio y cierro.
It's just
It's another kick in the teeth.
There's only so much a man can take!
Wait there, please.
Sorry, wrong way.
God, this place is a maze.
For too long now, police officers
have had to serve faceless,
unaccountable bureaucrats.
We've even had to suffer political
opportunists trying to win votes
by vilifying police officers
with false allegations of corruption.
We defend this constabulary from those
who would obstruct us
in serving the public.
Not only does this force face
enemies without,
there are enemies within.
I will personally see to it
those enemies within
are made to suffer the consequences.
Re the unsolved murder of Gail Vella
on September 10th, 2019.
The Gail Vella murder weapon was
never recovered.
Move in.
However, the cartridge
and bullet were tailored ammunition.
The White Rock Unit is equipped
with the exact machinery
required for this process.
By the time of our inquiry in 2015,
Thurwell had taken early retirement,
believed to be living in Spain.
I wonder if Gail discovered the link
between Thurwell
and the Lawrence Christopher case.
I've been looking into other members
of Thurwell's team.
Detective Constable Ian Buckells.
Inspector Philip Osborne.
I don't know where you're getting
your figures from,
- but I can assure
- The figures come from your own office,
Chief Constable.
The Chief's thrown me under a bus.
I'd been fighting his plan
to scale back AC-12.
It's down to you now, Ted,
in whatever time you've got left.
You want to talk about rats?
Ask your boss.
Superintendent Hastings?
Well, he told me there was
a rat in our crew.
And that rat turned out to be
an undercover copper.
John Corbett.
It's as easy as that, Jo.
It's best if you request a transfer.
Is this personal?
I am Detective Chief Superintendent
Patricia Carmichael.
Carmichael's taking command.
It's on the Chief Constable's
orders, and we've just learned
he could have been a beneficiary
of Gail Vella's murder.
One more chance, Ryan.
- Drop it!
- One more chance!
No!
Six Five to Control,
on scene. Stand by for sitrep.
Seven Six, unarmed, clear to approach.
Charlie Seven Two to Control.
Vehicle at scene.
Body on floor next to vehicle.
Standby.
Kate's car's missing.
Request urgent obs.
Alpha Charlie Five Two, Control,
active message, request urgent obs.
Where is Kate?
Seven Six, all clear, sir.
Unarmed, clear to approach.
Search this area!
Check that body for signs of life.
Repeat, service vehicle, DI Fleming.
Preserve the scene, let them work!
Alpha Charlie Five Two,
Control, active message,
State Six at Menton Road,
one police major trauma,
request urgent paramedic attendance
and full forensic deployment.
Ryan Pilkington,
two gunshot wounds to the chest.
- No pulse, he's well gone.
- Right.
If you hadn't withdrawn
our bloody surveillance
Given her OCG links, I think
we have to assume that Davidson
or her associates are the likely
shooter.
DI Fleming was authorised
to carry a concealed firearm
for her own protection.
Go state 12, channel three.
Five Two, switching.
DI Fleming's vehicle.
Alpha Charlie Five Two,
Control, on three.
Control, Service Vehicle
registered to DI Fleming
located Crowan Road.
Units report vehicle, service
mobiles and radios abandoned,
subject's not present at scene.
- Five Two, received.
- You know her best. Where would she go?
I'm sorry, ma'am. I've no idea.
Issue an order for the arrest
of Jo Davidson and Kate Fleming.
Consider them armed and dangerous.
Mother of God.
This is the back entrance to Steve's.
No-one's around this time of night.
Are you sure you can trust him?
Steve? Totally.
Why wasn't there
surveillance on Ryan and me?
- It got suspended.
- On purpose?
No, on the orders of the
Chief and DCS Carmichael.
That's nothing to do with me.
Look, I haven't got the
foggiest idea what's going on.
All I know is somebody's
behind all of this.
Kate, you've got to believe me.
I had nothing to do with it.
No? You lured me there to be murdered.
- Kate
- Didn't you?
Now look where we are.
Ryan's dead,
and I'm in the frame for it.
I'm sorry, Kate,
that's the last thing I'd want.
You've got to believe me!
- Let me prove it to you.
- How?
Give me your gun.
Do you believe me now?
Brilliant. Nice one, Steve.
I always worried you were pretending.
Pretending?
You know what I mean
to lure me into trusting you.
We've got to get a move on.
Steve's been made a bloody DI,
about time he got a grown-up car.
Yes? Any news of Kate?
Er, sorry, sir, nothing yet.
DCS Carmichael has ordered me
to update the Operation Lighthouse
evidence.
Sorry.
You still won't answer.
Were you lying to me, Kate?
This is about you, Jo, not me.
You said you wanted me on your team
because I'm ex-anticorruption.
- Were you lying about that?
- No!
I thought it might help me resist
what they were forcing me to do.
You never stopped manipulating the
inquiry into the Gail Vella murder.
They control me!
Ever since I joined the force!
The more I did their bidding,
the more they had over me.
- I'm not bent.
- Well, then, prove it.
You'll get Witness Protection
if you tell us everything.
"Witness Protection"?! Even Tom
No matter who it is, however powerful,
when they turn, they get killed.
What chance do I stand?
Just tell me everything you know, Jo.
Starting with your family, you
nearly said his name, Tommy Hunter.
AC-12 found DNA in Farida's house
showing you're related.
- So you already know everything.
- Hardly. I need the truth.
My mum was Tommy's sister.
And my dad was bent,
a police officer.
Right, well, the only way
you're getting out of this
is to prove you're not bent.
That's Gail Vella's house.
You want proof I'm not bent?
You're about to get it.
End of the road, turn left.
DCS Carmichael.
Gaffer, Carmichael's on the move.
I'm not sure what's happening.
Well, let's not wait for the crumbs,
son.
Pull up here.
This place used to be a front
for the OCG.
And right across the street is
Terry Boyle's flat.
Shit.
Tango Oscar Eight Six, Control,
active message,
visual of suspect vehicle, TA
Market Street travelling at speed.
Oh, shit!
- Brace!
- Ugh!
Go!
Eight Six, Control,
suspect vehicle failed to comply,
initiating a pursuit.
NPAS Six Five, maintain obs
and open microwave downlink.
Shit.
Armed police!
Armed police!
Armed police!
Get out of the vehicle
with your arms raised
and your hands open,
with palms facing towards me.
Armed police! Get back!
Armed police, stay indoors! Get back!
How have they managed to intercept
us? Something's not right.
Get out of the vehicle with your
arms raised and your hands open,
with palms towards me.
Final warning.
This isn't your fault.
I'll say I forced you to drive me.
Get out of the vehicle
with your arms raised,
your hands open, with palms towards me!
Kate, we don't have a choice!
Control, sitrep,
two occupants still in vehicle.
Control to Eight Four, received.
We have a visual link from
helicopter, maintain sitrep.
Alpha Charlie Eight Four to Control.
Two occupants exiting the vehicle now.
Control to Eight Four, received.
We're police officers!
- DI Fleming.
- DSU Davidson!
Hands above your head!
Open them, palms towards me.
I'm a police officer going about
my lawful duty! Lower your weapons!
Hands above your head! Open them!
..have verbally identified
themselves as police officers.
Armed officers giving directions.
DCS Carmichael now on scene.
DCS Carmichael,
you are ordered to surrender!
Jesus Christ, Steve's in on it.
I'm taking out a pistol!
I'll put it on the ground!
DI Fleming, surrender your firearm!
Jo, we're being framed.
This is your final warning,
lay down your firearm.
Slowly.
Hands where we can see them.
We surrender!
Kate
Hand on weapon.
Ma'am, if I may
This is Superintendent Hastings.
I can assure you
you'll be treated fairly
with the full protection of the law.
Steve told me some bad stuff
about the gaffer.
This is my fault, sir.
DI Steve Arnott! I'm unarmed!
- You bastard, Steve!
- Stay there, Kate.
Take the gun out slowly.
Lay it on the ground.
You gave me up! You told them!
Kate, I give you my word, I didn't.
That's bullshit. How would they know
what car I'm driving?
Kate, listen to me.
I don't know how they knew.
If it came from me,
I'd be straight with you.
That's how it is between us.
And I'm telling you,
I didn't give you up,
neither did the gaffer.
Come on, mate.
I don't know what the hell's going
on either, why the Chief's ordered
Carmichael to take over, but I
promise you, I'll get you to safety.
Both of you.
She's cooperating!
Lay it on the ground.
She's put the gun down!
Second person has placed
firearm on the floor.
Come on, mate, I'll walk you in.
Get behind me.
You too, ma'am.
Both persons are now walking
with arms raised, with DI Arnott.
Check out the old OCG Print Shop.
Also, Ryan Pilkington confessed
to the murder of Maneet Bindra
and John Corbett.
Don't you worry, Kate,
I'll see you're well looked after,
or by Christ, they'll have me
to answer to.
Arrest them both.
Put them in forensic suits,
transfer them to dry cells.
Log the reg of the transport vehicle.
Alpha Charlie 96 to Control,
both persons retained in handcuffs.
Weapons being made safe.
Will need a forensic recovery
for the vehicle.
Ambulance, stand down.
96, received.
You should have shared
Kate's whereabouts with me.
I didn't want to put you in a
difficult position with Carmichael.
Kate told me Ryan Pilkington
confessed to Maneet's murder.
Pilkington?
He also confessed
to the murder of John Corbett.
Ma'am.
Ma'am, the interviews
with Davidson and Kate,
DI Arnott and I will be involved,
of course?
We know the inquiry
like the back of our hands.
Mmm. DI Arnott, I've just learned
that the vehicle was yours
and keys to your home were found
on DI Fleming's person.
We've got keys to each other's homes
and vehicles in the event
of extreme circumstances.
Oh, OK, yes. I see.
What would constitute
"extreme circumstances"?
An unexplained disruption
of the chain of command.
Superintendent Hastings
has been informed
of his impending retirement.
Ma'am, I must protest!
That information was confidential!
And so, to ensure a smooth
transition, I've assumed command.
So from now on, DI Arnott,
you'll be taking orders from me
or face disciplinary action.
Right.
Is there anything else
you're not sharing with me?
I'm waiting.
Kate said we should check out
the old OCG Print Shop,
the front where John Corbett worked.
Very good.
Report back after Davidson's
rest period to assist me
in interviewing her.
- Dismissed. Thank you.
- Ma'am.
I'll lead the interview
and you can assist
within the parameters set by me.
Do you think you can manage that?
Very good.
I'll see you in the morning.
How did you know of Davidson
and Kate's whereabouts?
Oh, we put trackers
on all AC-12 vehicles.
- What?
- Mm, Chief Constable's orders.
Thank goodness we did.
My officers were going
about their lawful duty.
Putting trackers on their vehicles
was a flagrant breach of trust.
No, you're right, Ted.
The Chief and I don't trust you.
AC-12 interview of Acting Detective
Superintendent Joanne Davidson
in the presence of her solicitor,
Police Federation Representative
by Chief Superintendent Carmichael,
Superintendent Hastings,
Detective Inspector Arnott.
You remain under caution.
Following your arrest,
a search of your registered address,
Apartment G, 9 Croxford Street,
was carried out under
Section 18 of the Police
and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.
Image 17 on screen.
Image 17 is a crime-scene photograph
captured during the search
of Apartment G, 9 Croxford Street.
Who is seen in Image 17?
No comment.
Document 22 in your folders
and on screen.
Document 22 is a scan
of Samantha Davidson's passport.
The person seen in Image 17
is Samantha Davidson, correct?
No comment.
Document 6 in your folders
and on screen.
Document 6 is Acting DSU Davidson's
police personnel record.
Next of kin is given
as Samantha Davidson.
What is your relationship
to Samantha Davidson?
No comment.
Oh, God, give me strength,
it's going to be a long day.
We carried out checks
on Samantha Davidson.
The passport shown in Document 22
is the last one on record.
An interim death certificate
was issued for Samantha Davidson
on the 5th of January 1996
by the Glasgow City Coroner.
The subsequent inquest into
Samantha Davidson's death recorded
a finding of suicide.
You all right, Jo?
The purpose of our questioning
is not to trigger painful memories
but rather to address
an important aspect of our inquiry.
Document 33 in your folders.
Document 33 is a forensic
laboratory report
submitted on the 19th of November 2020,
relating to DNA deposits
detected during
a search of 29 Stalton Drive
conducted up to and including
the 16th of November 2020.
Comparison of said DNA deposits
found a 100% match
with DNA held on the national database
belonging to Joanne Davidson.
Further comparison with criminal
databases found a strong
partial match to John Thomas Hunter.
Are you related by blood
to John Thomas Hunter?
No comment.
OK, I just gave you
an opportunity to declare
whether or not you are familiar
with what we're about to disclose.
If not, you may find the following
information distressing.
- DI Arnott.
- Document 33A.
Further analysis of the DNA found
at 29 Stalton Drive detected
runs of homozygosity.
This is an indicator
of a close blood relationship
between the subject's mother and father.
In the percentage match to Tommy Hunter,
it has been concluded that Hunter
was your uncle and also your father.
No.
No, he
He was my uncle, that's
That That's not true!
So, what is the truth?
You can see my colleague's distressed.
Perhaps we could have a short break?
It's a simple enough question
for Acting Detective
Superintendent Davidson to answer.
No comment.
OK. I think we should pause this
interview and return you to custody
until such time, if any,
you're willing to cooperate.
Ma'am, wait.
Please.
Jo, if you're bent, fine,
if you want to run the clock down.
We'll charge you
and with the evidence we've got,
you'll go away for a long time,
but if you're not bent,
this is your chance to prove it.
These things we've learned
about your family history.
No-one can be blamed
for what they're born into.
Or the path it puts them on.
Now's the time to give your side.
No comment.
You were still only a teenager
when you lost your mum.
That must've been very upsetting.
No comment.
If you think
you're going to wear us down,
Acting Detective
Superintendent Davidson,
you have got another thing coming.
DI Arnott.
The search
of Apartment G, 9 Croxford Street,
detected an article seized
in evidence appearing on screen
in Image 11.
Image 11 shows item reference PW-5,
a laptop computer.
Whose device is this?
No comment.
Forensic examination of PW-5
detected fingerprints
and DNA deposits relating
to one person only.
Said fingerprints and DNA
are a match for Joanne Davidson.
For what purpose
did you employ this device?
No comment.
Document 56 in your folders.
AC-12's Cybercrime Department
carried out an examination
of PW-5's hard drive.
Their findings are fully
summarised in Document 56.
There are numerous text conversations
between the user of PW-5
and an Unknown User.
Who are the participants in these
text conversations?
No comment.
Our Cybercrime Department
detected an IP address
for the PW-5 user
matching 9 Croxford Street.
The IP address for the unknown user
is located in Spain.
No comment.
What was the nature of these
text conversations?
No comment.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph and the
wee donkey, can we just move this
thing along, before it drives us
all round the bloody bend?
DI Arnott.
Please refer to the screen
which shows a text conversation
which took place
on the 22nd of November at 21.42,
between the user of PW-5
and an unknown user.
Can you tell us what is meant
by the instruction,
"Get rid of her"?
No comment.
You agreed to lure DI Fleming
to her death,
that's about the top and bottom of it,
isn't it?
No comment.
Look, you could say "no comment"
till you're blue in the face,
but we know what's what.
DI Fleming made a call to DI Arnott
just minutes before an illicit
rendezvous took place between
you and PC Ryan Pilkington.
No comment.
You lured her to that rendezvous
and there is the evidence,
up there on the screen
in black and white!
Conspiracy to murder, which as you know,
Acting Detective
Superintendent Davidson,
brings with it a life sentence.
And that's before we get to the rest
of the evidence.
Which I would describe as a mountain.
A mountain of evidence.
And we haven't even scratched
the surface!
I was asking about your mum.
Yes?
She took her own life?
Yes.
This must be very painful for you,
but do you think you can speak
about that?
She was born into it, same as me.
Hated what her family stood for.
Her brother, Tommy
what a piece of work he was.
Yeah, you don't need to tell us what
he was capable of, believe you me.
He controlled Mum's life.
Did he control yours?
Not at first.
My mum was still a girl.
Raped, she told me
though I never knew the details.
Forced to go through with the pregnancy.
Tommy sent her away, back to Glasgow,
under her mum's maiden name.
I had no idea about any of this,
until Tommy came looking.
But that was later, yes?
I'd just turned 16.
He'd heard I was doing well
in school, never been in trouble,
plus no-one knew me here.
He wanted me for the police, he said,
to do his bidding,
to be under his control.
My mum couldn't bear the thought
of me being with Uncle Tommy.
She knew she couldn't protect me.
That's why she took her own life?
Yes.
It's all right.
Take your time, take your time.
You're doing well, Jo.
So Tommy hid from you
he was your real father?
Yes.
Who did you believe was your father?
This person, did he control you
the same way Tommy Hunter did?
We can all see my colleague finds
this line of questioning
extremely distressing.
In regard to coercion and control,
my colleague should be treated
as a vulnerable person.
We'll move on. Tommy Hunter is
no longer a person of interest.
He became an informant
and was killed by his own
organisation in 2014.
It wasn't simply
that he was an informant, ma'am.
What do you mean?
Tommy had cultivated relationships
with corrupt police officers,
but they started to turn against him.
He felt betrayed, so he threatened
to expose them all.
So it was police officers
who got Hunter killed?
They were heavily involved.
As you know, your former officer,
DI Matthew Cottan,
he orchestrated the plan.
Cottan was a disgrace to the
uniform. He betrayed the trust
of every single one of us that
he worked with.
So someone took Tommy's place
at the top of the organisation
and he gave Cottan
the order to kill Tommy?
Tommy held it all together.
It broke up into disparate elements,
smaller OCGs.
The only thing that united them
was how much they stood to lose
if Tommy carried out his threat.
Because they relied on corrupt
officers to carry out
many of their criminal enterprises?
Yes.
And they wanted to be able
to continue exploiting them.
Yes, well, the OCGs,
they may not be working to one man
but the bent coppers,
that's a different story.
They're a network, aren't they?
This Force has detected no evidence
of institutionalised corruption.
We have identified
a number of high-ranking figures
in a clandestine network
of corrupt police officers.
Hypothetical network.
One such high-ranking figure,
once erroneously code-named H,
we now refer to as the Fourth Man,
is he running the show?
No comment.
We're here to examine DCI Davidson's
offending, no-one else's.
Alleged offending.
Are you taking your orders
from him? Who is the Fourth Man?
I don't know.
- I don't believe you!
- Let's move on.
Turning to Operation Lighthouse,
the inquiry into the murder
of Gail Vella, opened
on the 10th of September 2019.
You became
Senior Investigating Officer when?
The following month. 6th of October.
Your predecessor was removed
allegedly due to the
inquiry's slow progress.
How did you come to be appointed?
I'm an experienced murder investigator.
Image 24 on screen.
What is shown in Image 24?
No comment.
Image 24 shows Item Reference FD-8
seized in evidence
during a search
of Apartment G, 9 Croxford Street.
Document 39 in your folders.
Document 39 is a photocopy
of the contents of FD-8.
You will see that FD-8
contained documents relating
to Operation Lighthouse. Now,
these documents were not present
at Hillside Lane Police Station
on the 4th of November of this year
when AC-12 seized all files
relating to Operation Lighthouse.
Why were these documents
in your apartment?
No comment.
These documents reveal
for the first time that
Detective Superintendent Ian Buckells
noted that your predecessor as SIO
was pursuing the line of
inquiry that Gail Vella's murder
was a contract killing
carried out by organised criminals.
However, Detective Superintendent
Buckells then wrote a memorandum
suggesting that the SIO was
failing to make any progress
and that a new SIO be appointed.
Buckells mentions you by name.
Had you ever worked together?
Not to my knowledge.
Hm, so what motivated Ian Buckells
nominating you
to be the Senior Investigating Officer
on the Gail Vella murder?
You'd have to ask Ian Buckells.
Yes, well, we did, and he denies
all knowledge of the documents.
The same way he still claims
no knowledge of the missing
Operation Lighthouse files
subsequently found hidden
in his service vehicle.
Did you or someone close to you
engineer your appointment,
with Buckells as the convenient stooge?
No comment.
You see, the last thing
that organised crime would want is
Operation Lighthouse coming knocking
on their door.
So they had to put in a new SIO
to suppress that line of inquiry
in favour of a random act of violence,
perpetrated by a
disturbed individual acting alone,
a Frame that neatly fits Terry Boyle.
I refused to charge Terry Boyle.
Why not? There was
just about enough evidence.
Why did you not seek authority
to charge Boyle?
Was it because you couldn't
go through with it?
Is it because you just couldn't live
with the idea of sending
an innocent man to trial?
Yes.
Good. At last, we're getting somewhere.
OK, let's examine the other
recent prime suspect
identified by Operation Lighthouse.
Image 29 on screen.
Image 29 shows Terry Boyle on the right.
On the left, Image 29 shows Carl Banks.
Carl Banks was a known violent offender
with lifelong links to organised crime.
On the night of the 26th of October,
the Murder Investigation received a tip-off that an individual,
who was almost certainly Carl Banks,
had confessed to the murder
of Gail Vella.
As a result of delays and leaks,
Carl Banks was abducted
and murdered and Terry Boyle
installed in his place.
PS Farida Jatri was charged
with leaking the information
based on evidence seized
from 29 Stalton Drive,
the address where she claims
the two of you lived.
Did you plant evidence
against Farida Jatri?
No comment.
You've already told us that you
were coerced into a life of crime.
That you were forced to mislead
and deceive.
Here, now, you have a choice.
A choice to tell the truth.
I planted the burner phones.
Farida's innocent.
Good.
Good.
Who leaked the information regarding
the operation
to arrest Carl Banks?
I did.
And the armed robbery staged
to coincide with the operation,
you knew about that?
It was a decoy I used
to delay Banks' arrest.
And the mistakes in surveillance
attributed to Detective
Superintendent Buckells?
I manipulated him into those.
It wasn't hard.
And the files that were planted
in his service vehicle?
I planted those.
What about the witness who came
forward to incriminate Terry Boyle?
Deborah Devereux.
All I know is we found out she was
a former girlfriend of DSU Buckells.
And the false statement from Deborah
Devereux, Buckells set that up?
I don't know if he set that up
himself or someone else did.
Why would he do that?
He was worried the failure to solve
the murder was making him look bad.
He was desperate for me
to charge someone.
Let's be clear. You have
no evidence that Buckells
was responsible for Deborah
Devereux's false statement?
Correct, ma'am.
And his desire to charge Terry Boyle
was borne out of a legitimate fear
for the advancement of his career?
It appeared so, ma'am.
DI Arnott, can you bookmark the DIR?
Significant testimony in determining
whether the charges
against Detective Superintendent
Buckells should be discontinued.
OK, moving on, what can you
tell us about the evidence
against Terry Boyle?
The images of Gail Vella
found in his flat
would seem to have been planted.
To the best of your knowledge,
was Terry Boyle involved
- in the murder of Gail Vella?
- No, he was not.
To the best of your knowledge,
was Carl Banks involved
in the murder of Gail Vella?
No comment.
Here we go again!
We know Gail Vella attempted to make
contact with Carl Banks' brother,
Lee Banks,
an inmate in Blackthorn Prison.
We believe Lee Banks informed Carl
Gail Vella was investigating
stories that the OCG were determined
to suppress.
In regard to Gail Vella's
investigative journalism,
let's now examine your movements
prior to your arrest last night.
DI Arnott.
On screen, Image 41.
Image 41 is a map showing telemetry
from a tracking device
attached to vehicle Victor, Oscar,
six, nine, Golf, Kilo, Yankee
in the early hours
of the 24th of November 2020.
Victor, Oscar, six, nine, Golf,
Kilo, Yankee is the vehicle
in which you were a passenger
at the time of your arrest.
Telemetry location two is the scene
of Gail Vella's murder.
Telemetry location three relates
to the derelict premises
of the Kingsgate Printing Services.
Who is directing the movements
of the vehicle?
No comment.
A forensic search
of Kingsgate Printing Services
has been carried out.
Image 45 on screen.
Image 45 is a crime scene photograph
captured at Kingsgate Printing Services
showing the inside
of the abandoned premises.
Image 46.
Image 46 is an item of evidence
detected by the search team,
Item reference TG-8.
TG-8 is a metal strong box.
The contents of TG-8
are shown in Image 47.
What is shown in Image 47?
No comment.
Image 47 shows items references
TG-11 and TG-12 -
a laptop computer and desktop
computer respectively.
Forensic examination of these devices
detected fingerprints
matching Gail Vella.
We believe these devices were stolen
from Gail Vella's home
around the time of her murder.
Now, the Operation Lighthouse files
that you withheld
relate in part to evidence
of the theft of these devices.
This is crucial evidence you hid!
I was leading Kate Fleming there
to uncover the evidence, to prove
Prove what?
That I'm not bent.
Yes, but you hid this evidence
for months!
Not months, no.
That's not what happened.
I only began to suspect
the evidence might be there
after Terry Boyle's arrest.
The Print Shop had been
long abandoned by the OCG,
police searches concluded
there 18 months ago
and it was right across the street.
But you never ordered a search
of the Print Shop.
Cybercrime examined the hard drives
of both devices.
Passwords were input to access
the stored files.
How would these passwords
have been obtained?
No comment.
Well, taking for granted the
involvement of organised crime,
I'd suggest an employee
in the IT department
at Gail Vella's news service
was exploited using bribery,
blackmail or intimidation.
No comment.
Numerous files were detected relating to
Gail Vella's investigations
into the links
between organised crime
and corrupt police officers.
We have found audio files
of interviews with Jimmy Lakewell.
We have found research files
confirming that Gail Vella
was investigating the suppression
of police inquiries
into historic child sexual exploitation.
And we have found research
confirming that Gail Vella was
digging deep into police failure in
the murder of Lawrence Christopher.
Did you know Gail Vella was looking into
- the Lawrence Christopher murder?
- No.
According to notes found
on Gail Vella's devices,
she visited Lee Banks on the 26th
of August 2019 in Blackthorn Prison.
Now, as you know, Lee Banks
is Carl Banks' brother.
It appears from Gail Vella's notes
that Lee Banks declined to furnish
any information regarding the murder
of Lawrence Christopher.
We believe Lee informed Carl Banks
and this was in large part
the motivation for her murder.
Do you really expect us to believe
that you didn't know this?
I didn't.
I'll give YOU "I didn't"!
One of the suspects
in the Lawrence Christopher murder
is your cousin, Darren Hunter!
I, erm
I mean, maybe if Darren had been
arrested, he would have squealed.
He would have given up Tommy Hunter.
He would have given up you.
I didn't know.
The initial inquiry into
Lawrence Christopher's murder
was led by DCI Marcus Thurwell.
Do you know that name?
No comment.
On screen, Image 75.
Who is shown in Image 75?
No comment.
On screen, Image 77, the last-known
image of the same individual.
Who is that?
No comment.
Image 77 shows Marcus Thurwell.
What's your relationship
to Marcus Thurwell?
No comment.
Files detected on Gail Vella's
computer prove that she was
investigating not just Thurwell's role
but the role of other officers
in the inquiry.
Notably, Detective Constable
Ian Buckells
and Inspector Philip Osborne.
The interviewee has repeatedly
claimed she doesn't know
about any of this. It's a dead end.
So let's focus on events surrounding
the killing of PC Ryan Pilkington.
Ma'am, this is significant evidence
crucial to the wider inquiry
into institutionalised corruption.
Yes. And I would prefer to confine
ourselves to the set parameters
of the anti-corruption inquiry
in front of us.
DI Arnott, if you wouldn't mind,
let's chivvy things along, shall we?
Ma'am.
On screen, Images 62 to 65 inclusive.
Crime scene photographs
of PC Ryan Pilkington's body.
How did Ryan Pilkington meet his death?
No comment.
Document 60 in your folders.
Document 60 is the forensic
pathologist's postmortem report
on Ryan Pilkington.
"Cause of death was two gunshot
wounds to the chest.
"At postmortem,
two Parabellum 9x19mm rounds
"were recovered from
the thoracic cavity."
Ryan Pilkington was fatally
wounded by a firearm.
Describe what happened.
No comment.
DI Arnott.
DI Arnott.
Document 78 in your folders.
Document 78 is a report issued by
NABIS on the 24th of November 2020.
Please refer to page two, paragraph six.
"Both Parabellum rounds
recovered from the deceased
"show markings consistent with
being fired from a Glock 17 pistol,
"serial number 277531."
"277531 is the firearm lawfully issued
"on the 20th of November 2020 to
Detective Inspector Kate Fleming."
Fingerprints matching DI Fleming
were also detected on 277531.
Did DI Fleming shoot dead
Ryan Pilkington?
No.
No?
Who, then?
I did.
Hmm.
That doesn't square with the
forensic evidence, I'm afraid.
Naturally, Kate's prints
were on the firearm.
She'd handled it repeatedly.
But you'll also have found
my prints on the firearm.
That's correct. We did.
Because she was forced
to hand it over to me.
Ryan had her at gunpoint.
I turned Kate's firearm on Ryan.
At the time of your arrest,
Fleming had her firearm,
you had Pilkington's.
I returned Kate's firearm.
I picked up Ryan's.
Forensic analysis of clothing
worn by DI Fleming detected
a dense distribution of gunshot
residue on the right-hand sleeve,
a finding commonly associated
with the discharging of a firearm.
Kate was in the process
of handing me the firearm
when I turned the firearm on Ryan
and discharged the fatal shots.
Kate's sleeve absorbed
the gunshot powder.
Joanne Davidson, to be clear
you are confessing to the murder
of Ryan Pilkington?
No, ma'am.
Pilkington was about to fire
on DI Fleming.
At the time of the incident,
I was a serving police officer.
Under Common Law, Section 3
of the Criminal Law Act 1967
and Section 117 of the Police
and Criminal Evidence Act 1984,
I am permitted to employ lethal force
to prevent an imminent threat to life.
My colleague was acting lawfully.
I think you'll find
that's for a court to decide.
You weren't in league with Pilkington?
Ryan Pilkington was imposed
on MIT against my will.
I was fully aware of his
OCG connections.
He was there to intimidate me into
misleading Operation Lighthouse.
So who was giving Pilkington his
orders? Was it Marcus Thurwell?
No comment.
We have presented clear evidence
that you were getting
your instructions from Spain.
We also know from our inquiries
that Thurwell was in Spain.
Is this the person
running the show, yes?
No comment.
Marcus Thurwell was SIO in the
Lawrence Christopher murder inquiry.
Now, we believe that he deliberately
misled that inquiry
to protect Darren Hunter,
Tommy Hunter's son,
on the expressed orders of Tommy Hunter.
No comment.
Lawrence Christopher, he was an
architect. He was a model citizen.
He had his head smashed in
with a piece of lead piping
by a bunch of racist thugs,
one of whom was your cousin!
Superintendent, your questioning
is oppressive.
I'll give you "oppressive"!
That lad had his whole life ahead
of him, just like Gail Vella!
They both died horrible deaths.
I dread to imagine what they suffered.
Yes. Well, then, give them justice!
Tell us who's giving the orders!
I can't.
I'm sorry.
Is it Thurwell? Is it someone else?
Is it Osborne?
- I think we'll leave it there.
- Is it the Chief Constable?!
Thank you, Superintendent Hastings.
Joanne Davidson, do you have
anything further to say?
No.
Joanne Davidson, I have been
in consultation
with the Senior Prosecutor
at the Complex Case Unit.
Nothing you have disclosed
during this interview
has impacted on those discussions,
and therefore I am authorised
to charge you
with the following offences.
Perverting the course of justice
and malfeasance in a public office.
I will consult further regarding
conspiracy to murder DI Kate Fleming
and any charges relating
to the death of PC Ryan Pilkington.
You will be remanded in custody.
Interview terminated at
11.43.
You take care of the custody, son.
Just leave this one to me.
I'm sorry.
Yeah.
Me, too.
You and I both know
that Jo Davidson is the best chance
we've ever had of blowing wide open
the network of corrupt police officers
in league with organised crime.
Goodness me. I must've been
in another interview
because every other answer
I heard was "no comment".
You let her off the hook, ma'am.
And as for shutting down all my
questions about the Fourth Man
Superintendent,
you are bitter about
AC-12 being merged. Who wouldn't be?
It's got nothing to do with that!
Enquiries into Jo Davidson
will continue.
If she has more to reveal,
we will get there, in time.
I don't have time.
Sir?
Sometimes
you don't lose, son
you just run out of time.
As you were.
The Crown Prosecutor's gullible
enough to consider proceedings
against Jo Davidson alone
in the death of Ryan Pilkington.
Thank you very much, ma'am.
Two shots to the chest.
Double tap.
Like a firearms-trained officer.
Davidson's not firearms-trained, is she?
You are, though, aren't you, Kate?
That's correct, ma'am.
So you'll provide a first account
for my team,
and then you're free to go.
I'm not gullible, Kate.
But I am pragmatic.
All right?
All right?
Thought we'd got rid of you.
No such luck.
You sure you're OK?
I know nobody's coming after you
over Ryan Pilkington's shooting,
but if you ever need to talk about it.
Thanks, mate, I appreciate it,
but I'm fine.
So, what did you get out of Jo?
A lot less than we needed.
Did she say anything about
her family history?
She told me
her dad was a police officer.
No. Never even gave us that much.
She's scared, Steve, after what
happened to Tommy, Dot, Lakewell,
never mind John Corbett.
That's why we've got her
on the VPU at Brentiss,
security cameras monitoring access
to her cell.
So what now?
Well, we're into the forensics
at the OCG workshop
and, as I'm the senior detective
left on Operation Lighthouse,
I could be the point of contact
between MIT and AC-12.
- Works for me, mate.
- Let's get this job done.
I'll drive.
Could be in the Red Lion by eight.
Nice work.
- All right, Chris?
- Ma'am.
You remember DI Arnott?
Sir.
Don't act like a tit, Sarge.
We're all in it together.
What you found?
There's strong evidence
of workshopping of firearms.
NABIS have given a preliminary
report of matches
between the machinery here
and the markings on the firearms
used in the Jimmy Lakewell ambush.
Forensics have harvested prints and DNA.
We're just waiting on the lab
for any matches.
FC thinks they've covered the ground.
I'm going to call off the forensic
deployment tonight.
No, you look at the weight of those.
No way were two OCG men on their own
going to move them.
What was in their van?
Tarpaulins, rope
a couple of pickaxes,
bolt cutters, a couple of wrenches,
a socket set, Stanley knives,
power tools, including power saws
and power drills.
Right, let's call out the GPR,
find out what's under that floor.
- Really?
- Yeah, really.
Hiya. Sorry, mate, my DI has
requested GPR for White Rock.
Cheers.
- Chloe.
- Sir, we think we've found Thurwell.
We'll be right there.
They've located Marcus Thurwell.
Let's go.
Asigurarte el perimetro.
Capitan, estamos recibiendo
la transmision de video
y le escuchamos con claridad.
En espera de su informe.
Adelante, sin hacer ruido.
Ah, Kate, Steve.
The Spanish authorities are helping us
in reference to apprehend Thurwell.
The Guardia Civil have received
intel on this particular address.
Nos hemos asegurado que esta
es la casa de Marcus Thurwell.
Las habitaciones estan vacias.
Entrar! Entrar!
- Seguro.
- Nada.
- La casa parece estar desierta.
- Capitan, por aqui!
Guardia Civil!
Punetas.
In the name of God and his Holy Mother!
Dos muertos. Un hombre y una mujer.
Two dead, sir. Male plus female.
Marcus Thurwell, Senora Thurwell.
Thank you, Captain.
We'll leave the rest to you.
Gracias, Capitan. Dejamos que lleve
los procedimientos necesarios.
Cambio y cierro.
It's just
It's another kick in the teeth.
There's only so much a man can take!
Wait there, please.
Sorry, wrong way.
God, this place is a maze.
For too long now, police officers
have had to serve faceless,
unaccountable bureaucrats.
We've even had to suffer political
opportunists trying to win votes
by vilifying police officers
with false allegations of corruption.
We defend this constabulary from those
who would obstruct us
in serving the public.
Not only does this force face
enemies without,
there are enemies within.
I will personally see to it
those enemies within
are made to suffer the consequences.