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Alice Gross: not enough evidence for Latvian police to arrest suspect Alice Gross: not enough evidence for Latvian police to arrest suspect
(7 days later)
The convicted murderer named by Scotland Yard as their prime suspect in the disappearance of teenager Alice Gross cannot be arrested if he has fled abroad, police have said.The convicted murderer named by Scotland Yard as their prime suspect in the disappearance of teenager Alice Gross cannot be arrested if he has fled abroad, police have said.
Arnis Zalkalns would be a free man because officers do not have enough evidence to charge him, meaning they fall short of the threshold for a European arrest warrant.Arnis Zalkalns would be a free man because officers do not have enough evidence to charge him, meaning they fall short of the threshold for a European arrest warrant.
Amid criticism over the investigation, Scotland Yard tried to explain why they had not applied for a European arrest warrant, which would mean Zalkalns could be arrested in his native Latvia, if he had indeed fled to the country, where he has family and children.Amid criticism over the investigation, Scotland Yard tried to explain why they had not applied for a European arrest warrant, which would mean Zalkalns could be arrested in his native Latvia, if he had indeed fled to the country, where he has family and children.
Alice, 14, who went missing nearly a month ago in west London. The Metropolitan polce have named Zalkalns as a suspect and revealed he had a conviction for murdering his wife in Latvia. He was last seen on 3 September, a week after Alice disappeared. Detectives believe he came across the teenager shortly before the last known sighting of her.Alice, 14, who went missing nearly a month ago in west London. The Metropolitan polce have named Zalkalns as a suspect and revealed he had a conviction for murdering his wife in Latvia. He was last seen on 3 September, a week after Alice disappeared. Detectives believe he came across the teenager shortly before the last known sighting of her.
On Wednesday the Met commander, Graham McNulty, said that unless police were ready to charge a suspect, they could not seek a European arrest warrant. This means that even if Zalkalns walked into a police station in Latvia, officers could not arrest him in connection with Alice’s disappearance because he is not wanted for any offence in that jurisdiction.On Wednesday the Met commander, Graham McNulty, said that unless police were ready to charge a suspect, they could not seek a European arrest warrant. This means that even if Zalkalns walked into a police station in Latvia, officers could not arrest him in connection with Alice’s disappearance because he is not wanted for any offence in that jurisdiction.
McNulty said: “We are not at the point of charge, which means we can not effect a European arrest warrant, which means we would not be able to arrest somebody abroad at this point in time.”McNulty said: “We are not at the point of charge, which means we can not effect a European arrest warrant, which means we would not be able to arrest somebody abroad at this point in time.”
Also hampering any application for a European arrest warrant is the fact police cannot be sure any crime has actually been committed. McNulty said: “There is no evidence that Alice has come to harm, but we are clearly very concerned for her welfare. I would urge everyone to be cautious about speculating on the exact involvement of Arnis Zalkalns, or any other individual, in relation to this investigation.”Also hampering any application for a European arrest warrant is the fact police cannot be sure any crime has actually been committed. McNulty said: “There is no evidence that Alice has come to harm, but we are clearly very concerned for her welfare. I would urge everyone to be cautious about speculating on the exact involvement of Arnis Zalkalns, or any other individual, in relation to this investigation.”
He said Alice’s family were supportive of the police. “They are in a really difficult position but they are understanding of the framework in which we have to operate,” he said.He said Alice’s family were supportive of the police. “They are in a really difficult position but they are understanding of the framework in which we have to operate,” he said.
If Zalkalns were found in the UK police could arrest him on suspicion. But a European arrest warrant, which enables a foreign force to detain a suspect, needs evidence strong enough to bring a criminal charge. In the UK the standard is beyond reasonable doubt. If Zalkalns were found in the UK police could arrest him on suspicion. But a European arrest warrant, which enables a foreign force to detain a suspect, needs evidence strong enough to bring a criminal charge. In the UK, the standard is that there must be “sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction”, according to the code followed by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Steve Pound, MP for Ealing North, told the GetWestLondon website: “The whole investigation is just a litany of one disaster after another. Every day seems to bring more bad news in respect to how the police are conducting this investigation. Alice and her family deserve more and I am determined to get some answers.”Steve Pound, MP for Ealing North, told the GetWestLondon website: “The whole investigation is just a litany of one disaster after another. Every day seems to bring more bad news in respect to how the police are conducting this investigation. Alice and her family deserve more and I am determined to get some answers.”
Met officers arrived in Latvia on Tuesday to sit in on police questioning of friends and family of Zalkalns in the hope that they might give insight into his whereabouts.Met officers arrived in Latvia on Tuesday to sit in on police questioning of friends and family of Zalkalns in the hope that they might give insight into his whereabouts.
Toms Sadovskis, a spokesman for the Latvian state police, said there was no evidence Zalkalns was in the country or had tried to enter.Toms Sadovskis, a spokesman for the Latvian state police, said there was no evidence Zalkalns was in the country or had tried to enter.
Scotland Yard announced two reviews of its investigation. One will look at the early part of the inquiry, after Alice went missing and Zalkalns went missing.Scotland Yard announced two reviews of its investigation. One will look at the early part of the inquiry, after Alice went missing and Zalkalns went missing.
McNulty said Zalklans was last seen on 3 September, and reported missing on 5 September. By 11 September the Met had contacted their Latvian counterparts, and checks through Interpol revealed the suspect’s murder conviction. But it was not until 17 September that detectives scouring CCTV of the area near where Alice had been walking on the day she disappeared, spotted a cyclist who resembled Zalkalns.McNulty said Zalklans was last seen on 3 September, and reported missing on 5 September. By 11 September the Met had contacted their Latvian counterparts, and checks through Interpol revealed the suspect’s murder conviction. But it was not until 17 September that detectives scouring CCTV of the area near where Alice had been walking on the day she disappeared, spotted a cyclist who resembled Zalkalns.
Alice went missing after going for a walk by a canal in west London on 28 August. CCTV shows Zalkalns riding a bicycle past the same spot 15 minutes later. Police believe he would have encountered the teenager.Alice went missing after going for a walk by a canal in west London on 28 August. CCTV shows Zalkalns riding a bicycle past the same spot 15 minutes later. Police believe he would have encountered the teenager.
Zalkalns, 41, served an eight-year prison sentence in his native Latvia, where he was jailed in 1998. In 2009, he was arrested over an alleged indecent assault on a teenage girl in Ealing, west London, but the case was dropped because the alleged victim declined to make a statement.Zalkalns, 41, served an eight-year prison sentence in his native Latvia, where he was jailed in 1998. In 2009, he was arrested over an alleged indecent assault on a teenage girl in Ealing, west London, but the case was dropped because the alleged victim declined to make a statement.
On Thursday police will mark four weeks since Alice’s disappearance by carrying out a reconstruction of her last known moments.On Thursday police will mark four weeks since Alice’s disappearance by carrying out a reconstruction of her last known moments.
• This article was amended on 30 September 2014. An earlier version said that “In the UK the standard [of evidence required to bring a criminal charge] is beyond reasonable doubt”. This has been corrected.