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Russell Bishop trial: Ex-detective denies bullying tactics Russell Bishop trial: Dead girl 'not assaulted months earlier'
(about 4 hours later)
A former detective has denied bullying a man he was questioning over the murder of two nine-year-old girls. A pathologist has rejected suggestions that one of two girls found dead in woods near Brighton 32 years ago had been sexually assaulted months earlier.
Retired Det Con Barry Evans told the Old Bailey he never used violence or aggression while interviewing Russell Bishop about the deaths. Russell Bishop's lawyer had told his trial that the father of one of the nine-year-old victims had previously been "complicit" in her sexual abuse.
The 52-year-old denies murdering Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway, who were found dead in woodland on the outskirts of Brighton in 1986. But, pathologist Dr Nathaniel Cary told the Old Bailey the injuries occurred around the time of death, not earlier.
Bishop, formerly of Brighton, is facing a second trial over the deaths. Bishop, 52, denies murdering Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway.
Mr Evans was cross-examined by Bishop's counsel, Joel Bennathan QC about one of the police interviews with the defendant after the girls' bodies were found in Wild Park in October 1986. The schoolgirls' bodies were found in Wild Park, on the outskirts of Brighton, in October 1986.
The court heard that in an earlier account, Bishop had described how he had seen the girls after their bodies had been found and touched them to check for a pulse. The court has heard they had been strangled and sexually assaulted.
But he later denied even going into the area where they were found. Brian Altman QC, prosecuting, said: "In the course of this trial, certain allegations are going to be made that Barrie Fellows, Nicola's father, was observed two-to-three months before Nicola's death watching a video in his front room of his own daughter engaged in sexual activities with the lodger who lived at the address at the time."
Mr Evans said he and fellow officers had tried to impress on him the need to give straight answers. However, Dr Cary, who has reviewed the findings of the original pathologist in 1986, said the injuries Nicola had suffered were inflicted around the time of her death, and if she had suffered internal sexual abuse within the preceding few months, he would have expected to see evidence of it.
But he denied playing "soft copper, hard copper" with Bishop, who was then aged 20. Earlier, a former detective told the trial he had not used violence or aggression while interviewing Bishop.
Mr Bennathan asked: "Was there a stage [Bishop] got up to leave and was pushed back in his chair?" Retired Det Con Barry Evans denied playing "soft copper, hard copper" with Bishop, who was then aged 20.
Mr Evans replied: "That's not how it worked."
Mr Bennathan added: "He had two experienced detectives basically bullying a very young witness."
Mr Evans replied: "I do not accept that, no."
And he told prosecutor Alison Morgan: "I never used violence or aggression."
Bishop's earlier acquittal for the murders of Nicola and Karen was quashed at the Court of Appeal in the light of new evidence following advances in DNA testing.Bishop's earlier acquittal for the murders of Nicola and Karen was quashed at the Court of Appeal in the light of new evidence following advances in DNA testing.
Bishop, who was also convicted of the attempted murder, kidnap and indecent assault of a seven-year-old girl in 1990, denies the current murder charges.
The trial continues.The trial continues.