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Russell Bishop trial: Murder police 'destroyed' accused | Russell Bishop trial: Murder police 'destroyed' accused |
(35 minutes later) | |
A man accused of murdering two girls in 1986 has told the Old Bailey how police bullied him into making a false account, "totally destroying" him. | A man accused of murdering two girls in 1986 has told the Old Bailey how police bullied him into making a false account, "totally destroying" him. |
Russell Bishop told the court he signed an incorrect witness statement as "it was the only way I was going to get out of there", the jury heard. | Russell Bishop told the court he signed an incorrect witness statement as "it was the only way I was going to get out of there", the jury heard. |
Bishop denies murdering Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway in a second trial. | Bishop denies murdering Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway in a second trial. |
He said he considered killing himself and his two children after he was acquitted in a first trial in 1987. | He said he considered killing himself and his two children after he was acquitted in a first trial in 1987. |
The court has heard how the girls were found dead in Wild Park, near Brighton, on 10 October 1986, a day after they went missing. | The court has heard how the girls were found dead in Wild Park, near Brighton, on 10 October 1986, a day after they went missing. |
In 1990, Bishop - formerly of Brighton - went on to be jailed for life for the kidnap, sexual assault and attempted murder of a seven-year-old girl at Devil's Dyke on the South Downs. | In 1990, Bishop - formerly of Brighton - went on to be jailed for life for the kidnap, sexual assault and attempted murder of a seven-year-old girl at Devil's Dyke on the South Downs. |
Two teenagers who initially discovered Nicola and Karen have told jurors Bishop never touched them. | Two teenagers who initially discovered Nicola and Karen have told jurors Bishop never touched them. |
But the court has also heard claims Bishop touched the bodies and checked for a pulse, which may explain the DNA evidence that has presented in the case, the second time he has been tried over their deaths. | But the court has also heard claims Bishop touched the bodies and checked for a pulse, which may explain the DNA evidence that has presented in the case, the second time he has been tried over their deaths. |
'Totally sickened' | 'Totally sickened' |
Jurors heard both Bishop and his father faced wrongful arrests before the Babes in the Wood murder investigation - Bishop told the court he was wrongfully detained over the Grand Hotel bombing in Brighton in 1984. | Jurors heard both Bishop and his father faced wrongful arrests before the Babes in the Wood murder investigation - Bishop told the court he was wrongfully detained over the Grand Hotel bombing in Brighton in 1984. |
Giving evidence, Bishop described how he had joined the search for the girl but was warned by his father - who had himself previously been wrongly arrested for murder - not to get involved. | Giving evidence, Bishop described how he had joined the search for the girl but was warned by his father - who had himself previously been wrongly arrested for murder - not to get involved. |
He said when a man raised the alarm the girls had been found, he was told to go up the scene and keep people away. | He said when a man raised the alarm the girls had been found, he was told to go up the scene and keep people away. |
"I went straight to the victims, felt for a pulse, neck on Nicola and Karen on the right arm," he said. | "I went straight to the victims, felt for a pulse, neck on Nicola and Karen on the right arm," he said. |
Bishop told jurors he felt "shocked, totally sickened". | Bishop told jurors he felt "shocked, totally sickened". |
He went on to tell the court he was interviewed by police for 13 hours without a solicitor. | He went on to tell the court he was interviewed by police for 13 hours without a solicitor. |
He said: "I started getting all frustrated, confused, tied up in knots." | He said: "I started getting all frustrated, confused, tied up in knots." |
He claimed officers showed him pictures of the dead girls and the area where they were found. | He claimed officers showed him pictures of the dead girls and the area where they were found. |
Defending, Joel Bennathan QC said: "By the end of this process, you signed a witness statement that said you did not take the pulse of the two girls." | Defending, Joel Bennathan QC said: "By the end of this process, you signed a witness statement that said you did not take the pulse of the two girls." |
Bishop said: "I was just telling them what they wanted to hear. It was obvious they were not going to believe me over what those two boys were saying. | Bishop said: "I was just telling them what they wanted to hear. It was obvious they were not going to believe me over what those two boys were saying. |
"I was being called a liar. They had been downright nasty. I was being kept a prisoner. | "I was being called a liar. They had been downright nasty. I was being kept a prisoner. |
"I was having two police officers bullying and totally destroying me in that room. | "I was having two police officers bullying and totally destroying me in that room. |
"I'm dyslexic and I could not read or write. I had poor problem-solving skills." | "I'm dyslexic and I could not read or write. I had poor problem-solving skills." |
The day they disappeared | The day they disappeared |
In the witness stand, Bishop told jurors what he did on 9 October 1986, the day the girls disappeared: | In the witness stand, Bishop told jurors what he did on 9 October 1986, the day the girls disappeared: |
Mr Bennathan earlier told the court that if Bishop touched the bodies there is an explanation for DNA evidence on a Pinto sweatshirt linking Bishop with the girls. | Mr Bennathan earlier told the court that if Bishop touched the bodies there is an explanation for DNA evidence on a Pinto sweatshirt linking Bishop with the girls. |
The barrister said: "Did Russell Bishop touch the bodies of the girls when they were discovered on October 10 - because if he did take their pulses then there is an obvious simple explanation why he knew what they looked like and the DNA." | The barrister said: "Did Russell Bishop touch the bodies of the girls when they were discovered on October 10 - because if he did take their pulses then there is an obvious simple explanation why he knew what they looked like and the DNA." |
Bishop was tried for the murders in 1987, but acquitted. He now faces a second trial. | Bishop was tried for the murders in 1987, but acquitted. He now faces a second trial. |
Over the attack on the girl he was jailed for, he told the jury he was "deeply ashamed" of what he had done. | Over the attack on the girl he was jailed for, he told the jury he was "deeply ashamed" of what he had done. |
Mr Bennathan said Bishop had spent 28 years behind bars for the 1990 attack, adding: "Russell Bishop admittedly committed awful shameful offences in 1990. He's not trial for them." | |
'No-one else sought' | 'No-one else sought' |
Bishop told the court he nearly threw himself and his two children off Beachy Head after the first trial. | Bishop told the court he nearly threw himself and his two children off Beachy Head after the first trial. |
He said he had numerous bricks lobbed through his windows and firebombs through the letter box after his acquittal, adding: "There was never a day something did not happen." | He said he had numerous bricks lobbed through his windows and firebombs through the letter box after his acquittal, adding: "There was never a day something did not happen." |
After he was cleared, Sussex Police had said they were not looking for anyone else, implying "the jury got it wrong", Bishop said. | After he was cleared, Sussex Police had said they were not looking for anyone else, implying "the jury got it wrong", Bishop said. |
He said weeks before he attacked the seven-year-old girl, he set off for the Sussex cliffs with his children, but he said: "My son said something in the car which made me rethink and drive away. | He said weeks before he attacked the seven-year-old girl, he set off for the Sussex cliffs with his children, but he said: "My son said something in the car which made me rethink and drive away. |
"I went to the beach to clear my head. Went for a walk with the children. | "I went to the beach to clear my head. Went for a walk with the children. |
"It's hard to put into words, symptoms of mental illness. There was no sleeping. There was no resting. I was living in fear." | "It's hard to put into words, symptoms of mental illness. There was no sleeping. There was no resting. I was living in fear." |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |