Sunday, February 26, 2006

Officer wanted McKie "paid-off"

According to the Sunday Herald:
"THE police officer in charge of the Marion Ross murder investigation wanted Shirley McKie paid off and "gagged" by the Scottish Executive...

Documents seen by the Sunday Herald show that detective superintendent Stephen Heath raised in January the prospect of ministers giving McKie 'sufficient compensation' to stop her legal case going ahead and placing a 'gagging order' on her."
This is on top of the revelation a few days ago that convicted murderer Patrick Docherty had claimed responsibility for the killing. The Herald's correspondent writes that the documents "provide the first insight into the desperation that exists in the police for the controversy to be settled and buried."

I was going to say that it's unlikely that the Executive's strategy of putting its fingers in their ears and going, "La, la, la - we can't hear you" will work - but now I'm not sure. Never underestimate the ability of our political class to close ranks and pretend something isn't happening. The Lord Advocate said:
"It does not follow that because Ms McKie was acquitted that those who gave evidence against her must be guilty of perjury."
Well, no - not necessarily but if they didn't perjure themselves, the explanation of how they arrived at their conclusions in the Marion Ross case is still outstanding and if Cathy Jamieson was serious when she said, "I am determined that Scotland's fingerprint service should be recognised as world class", she should realise that this confusion and whiff of conspiracy is likely to thwart any ambitions she may have for the international reputation of Scottish criminal justice.

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