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Taxi driver accused of Becky Godden murder offered to 'clear up' case Taxi driver accused of Becky Godden murder offered to 'clear up' case
(35 minutes later)
A taxi driver who was being interviewed over the murder of a young woman told detectives he would “resolve the matter” if he was not pursued for other crimes, a court heard. A taxi driver who was being interviewed by police over the murder of a young woman told detectives he would “resolve the matter” if he was not pursued for other crimes, a court has heard.
Christopher Halliwell appeared to accept that if he was found guilty of killing Becky Godden he would be given a full life term. Christopher Halliwell appeared to accept that if he was found guilty of killing Becky Godden he would be given a full life term. But he told police: “I don’t want to keep coming back every couple of years on different charges,” adding: “If I can clear this up in the next few hours, will everything else be forgotten?”
But Halliwell, 52, told police: “I don’t want to keep coming back every couple of years on different charges,” adding: “If I can clear this up in the next few hours, will everything else be forgotten?”
Footage of Halliwell being interviewed at Worcester police station has been released after it was shown to the jury hearing his trial at Bristol crown court.Footage of Halliwell being interviewed at Worcester police station has been released after it was shown to the jury hearing his trial at Bristol crown court.
Halliwell, from Swindon, is alleged to have strangled Godden, a sex worker, who is said to have disappeared aged 20 in 2003, and buried her in Oxo Bottom field in Eastleach, Gloucestershire. Halliwell, 52, from Swindon, is alleged to have strangled Godden, a sex worker who disappeared aged 20 in 2003, and buried her in Oxo Bottom field in Eastleach, Gloucestershire.
He is currently serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 25 years after admitting stabbing and strangling officer worker Sian O’Callaghan, 22, in 2011. He is serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 25 years after admitting stabbing and strangling officer worker Sian O’Callaghan, 22, in 2011.
The jury has been told Halliwell initially confessed to strangling Godden and led police to the spot where her remains were found. Halliwell has since pleaded not guilty to murder. The jury has been told that Halliwell initially confessed to strangling Godden and led police to the spot where her remains were found. Halliwell has since pleaded not guilty to murder.
Police arrested Halliwell on suspicion of Godden’s murder on 18 February last year. The jury heard Halliwell underwent three interviews at Worcester police station and appeared to offer police a deal to resolve the case. Police arrested Halliwell on suspicion of Godden’s murder on 18 February last year. The jury heard that Halliwell underwent three interviews at Worcester police station and appeared to offer police a deal to resolve the case.
He told officers: “If I get charged with this and found guilty, I’ll get a natural [a whole life order]. That’s it. Curtains, over.He told officers: “If I get charged with this and found guilty, I’ll get a natural [a whole life order]. That’s it. Curtains, over.
“I mean, I’m not being funny. I’m 50 now, but 25 years to go so chances are not looking good as it is.”“I mean, I’m not being funny. I’m 50 now, but 25 years to go so chances are not looking good as it is.”
Halliwell looks relaxed in the video and seems to smile. He said: “If I wrap this up in the next few hours, any other charges against me that will be brought, that’s bits of past. I think you probably know about various things in the past, there’s car thefts, break-ins, bits and pieces, some more serious. Halliwell looks relaxed in the video and seems to smile. He said: “If I wrap this up in the next few hours, any other charges against me that will be brought, that’s bits of past. I think you probably know about various things in the past, there’s car thefts, break-ins, bits and pieces, some more serious.”
Halliwell added: Halliwell added: “I don’t want to keep coming back every couple of years on different charges … If I can clear this up in the next few hours, will everything else be forgotten?
“I don’t want to keep coming back every couple of years on different charges ... If I can clear this up in the next few hours, will everything else be forgotten? He said: “I can resolve the matter but I don’t want you coming back every couple of years, every five years, every 10 years, whatever, with this, with this ... If it goes to court and I’m found guilty, that’s it, they’re locking me up and throwing away the key. I’m under no illusion, I’m not stupid.”
He said: The court was told that Halliwell called his daughter from prison at 10.23am on 22 February and spoke to her about the interviews.
“I can resolve the matter but I don’t want you coming back every couple of years, every five years, every 10 years whatever with this, with this ... If it goes to court and I’m found guilty, that’s it, they’re locking me up and throwing away the key. I’m under no illusion, I’m not stupid ... ”
The court was told Halliwell called his daughter from prison at 10.23am on 22 February and spoke to her about the interviews.
“I was taken out of here and rearrested for Becky,” Halliwell said in the phone call, which was recorded. “I spoke to Detective Superintendent Sean Memory, the bloke in charge of the case.“I was taken out of here and rearrested for Becky,” Halliwell said in the phone call, which was recorded. “I spoke to Detective Superintendent Sean Memory, the bloke in charge of the case.
“I said ‘I will help you if I can but I want something in return’. They gave me a bit of paper that was way, way, way short of what I asked for but I have it in writing that the police don’t want me for anything else.“I said ‘I will help you if I can but I want something in return’. They gave me a bit of paper that was way, way, way short of what I asked for but I have it in writing that the police don’t want me for anything else.
“I got it off my chest. As far as I am concerned, I have offered them the goose that lays the golden egg and they have let it fly away.”“I got it off my chest. As far as I am concerned, I have offered them the goose that lays the golden egg and they have let it fly away.”
The trial continues.The trial continues.