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[[Wales|Welshman]] '''Gareth Williams''', an employee of [[Government Communications Headquarters|GCHQ]] seconded to the [[Secret Intelligence Service]] (MI6), was found dead in suspicious circumstances at a Security Services [[safe house]] flat in [[Pimlico]], [[London]], on August 15, 2010.<ref>Gordon Rayner, Chief Reporter [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9175962/Was-MI6-spy-in-a-bag-Gareth-Williams-killed-by-secret-service-dark-arts.html "Was MI6 spy-in-a-bag Gareth Williams killed by 'secret service dark arts'?"], ''The Telegraph'', 30 March 2012</ref> Williams' decomposing remains were discovered locked into a sports bag<ref name=bbc-20100901>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11152467 |title=Body of MI6 worker Gareth Williams 'locked in bag' |publisher=BBC News |date=1 September 2010 |accessdate=1 September 2010}}</ref> on 23 August 2010 at around 16:40<ref>Helen Pidd [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/25/british-spy-dead-in-bath "'British spy' found dead in bath"], ''The Guardian'', 25 August 2010</ref> after the police forced an entry into his top floor flat in Alderney Street, Pimlico. His family believe that cruicial DNA was interfered with and that fingerprints left at the scene were wiped off as part of a cover-up.<ref>Gordon Rayner, Chief Reporter [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9175962/Was-MI6-spy-in-a-bag-Gareth-Williams-killed-by-secret-service-dark-arts.html "Was MI6 spy-in-a-bag Gareth Williams killed by 'secret service dark arts'?"], ''The Telegraph'', 30 March 2012</ref>
[[Wales|Welshman]] '''Gareth Williams''', an employee of [[Government Communications Headquarters|GCHQ]] seconded to the [[Secret Intelligence Service]] (MI6), was found dead in suspicious circumstances at a Security Services [[safe house]] flat in [[Pimlico]], [[London]], on August 15, 2010.<ref>Gordon Rayner, Chief Reporter [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9175962/Was-MI6-spy-in-a-bag-Gareth-Williams-killed-by-secret-service-dark-arts.html "Was MI6 spy-in-a-bag Gareth Williams killed by 'secret service dark arts'?"], ''The Telegraph'', 30 March 2012</ref> Williams' decomposing remains were discovered locked into a sports bag<ref name=bbc-20100901>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11152467 |title=Body of MI6 worker Gareth Williams 'locked in bag' |publisher=BBC News |date=1 September 2010 |accessdate=1 September 2010}}</ref> on 23 August 2010 at around 16:40<ref>Helen Pidd [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/25/british-spy-dead-in-bath "'British spy' found dead in bath"], ''The Guardian'', 25 August 2010</ref> after the police forced an entry into his top floor flat in Alderney Street, Pimlico. His family believe that crucial DNA was interfered with and that fingerprints left at the scene were wiped off as part of a cover-up.<ref>Gordon Rayner, Chief Reporter [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9175962/Was-MI6-spy-in-a-bag-Gareth-Williams-killed-by-secret-service-dark-arts.html "Was MI6 spy-in-a-bag Gareth Williams killed by 'secret service dark arts'?"], ''The Telegraph'', 30 March 2012</ref>


==Background==
==Background==

Revision as of 09:09, 1 April 2012

Welshman Gareth Williams, an employee of GCHQ seconded to the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), was found dead in suspicious circumstances at a Security Services safe house flat in Pimlico, London, on August 15, 2010.[1] Williams' decomposing remains were discovered locked into a sports bag[2] on 23 August 2010 at around 16:40[3] after the police forced an entry into his top floor flat in Alderney Street, Pimlico. His family believe that crucial DNA was interfered with and that fingerprints left at the scene were wiped off as part of a cover-up.[4]

Background

Originally from Anglesey, North Wales,[5] Williams, who spoke Welsh as a first language and born c.1979, began studying mathematics part-time at University of Wales, Bangor, while still at Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern school and graduated with a first-class degree at age 17.[6] After gaining a PhD at University of Manchester, he dropped out from a subsequent post-graduate course at St Catharine's College, Cambridge, and took up employment with GCHQ in Cheltenham, renting a room for a decade in Prestbury. Reportedly an intensely private man and a keen cyclist, Williams was due to return to Cheltenham at the beginning of September 2010 after his annual leave.[7] Williams was buried in Holyhead on 26 September, in a private family service attended by the head of MI6, Sir John Sawers.

Investigation

Williams' body was found in a red North Face bag, padlocked from the outside, in the bath of an en-suite bathroom of the main bedroom during the afternoon of Monday 23 August 2010, eight days after he had last been seen alive.[2][8] Police visited Williams' home as a "welfare check" after colleagues noted he had been out of contact for several days.[9] Vincent Williams from the Metropolitan Police informed the Westminster Coroner's Court that experts were agreed that this was impossible.

After launching an investigation "a cause of death has not yet been determined",[10] Dr Fiona Wilcocks, the Coroner, said that there were no injuries on his body and no signs that he had been involved in a struggle; his body was also free of alcohol and common recreational drugs.[10][11][12] The Metropolitan Police consider his death "suspicious and unexplained".[13] The FBI have also conducted their own investigation into the case.[14]

In December 2010, police released further details, stating that Williams had visited a number of bondage websites. An expert brought in to examine the bag in which Williams body was found, concluded Williams could not have locked it. A police spokes person stated that: "If he was alive, he got into it voluntarily or, if not, he was unconscious and placed in the bag."[15] Forensic experts calculated that the temperature inside the bag would have risen to 30°C within three minutes, and Williams would have suffocated within half-an-hour. Williams date of death was estimated to have been in the early hours of 16 August, one week before he was found. Consequently, the police released an efit photo of the two people they were seeking, who were seen to enter the communal entrance of his home in June or July 2010.[15]

Coroner's Inquest

Lawyer for the family Anthony O’Toole, at the Coroner's Inquest in March 2012, said that a third person was either present when Gareth died, or someone broke in afterwards and stole items. There is no forensic evidence to support this view.

No sign of forced entry could be found, but it was also noted that the door and locks had been removed by the time experts had become involved.

DNA found on the hand of Mr Williams turned out to be contamination from one of the forensic scientists and the Mediterranean couple sought by Police had nothing to do with the inquiry. LGC, a forensic company apologized that the error had caused the family such pain, and that a numerical code had been wrongly fed into his computer. [16]

In relation to the body being found in a bag, it has been noted that it would have been virtually impossible for Mr Williams to have locked himself in. As a result and the lack of forensic evidence, the family are convinced they are looking for a third party involved in state security.[17]

Dr Fiona Wilcox, the Coroner, said that she would "follow the evidence" wherever it lead.[18]

References

  1. ^ Gordon Rayner, Chief Reporter "Was MI6 spy-in-a-bag Gareth Williams killed by 'secret service dark arts'?", The Telegraph, 30 March 2012
  2. ^ a b "Body of MI6 worker Gareth Williams 'locked in bag'". BBC News. 1 September 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  3. ^ Helen Pidd "'British spy' found dead in bath", The Guardian, 25 August 2010
  4. ^ Gordon Rayner, Chief Reporter "Was MI6 spy-in-a-bag Gareth Williams killed by 'secret service dark arts'?", The Telegraph, 30 March 2012
  5. ^ Wales Tonight (ITV Wales) - ITV Local
  6. ^ "MI6 worker Gareth Williams was an 'exceptional' pupil". BBC North West Wales. 26 August 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  7. ^ Vikram Dodd, et al "MI6 worker murdered, stuffed in a bag and dumped in a bath", The Guardian, 25 August 2010
  8. ^ "Spy last seen alive eight days before body was found in bag", The Guardian (Press Association), 28 August 2010
  9. ^ "Exclusive: new details on MI6 spy's death", Channel 4 News, 28 August 2010
  10. ^ a b Police appeal for information in MI6 worker, Gareth Williams, death inquiry « ITV Wales
  11. ^ Sam Jones and Matthew Taylor "Gareth Williams's parents identify body", The Guardian, 26 August 2010
  12. ^ "Police issue CCTV footage of dead MI6 worker"
  13. ^ "More tests due on body of MI6 worker Gareth Williams", BBC News, 26 August 2010
  14. ^ Thomas, Gordon; Sawer, Patrick (25 September 2010). "FBI joins investigation into MI6 spy's death". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  15. ^ a b "Dead MI6 spy Gareth Williams 'visited bondage websites'". BBC News. 22 December 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-22.
  16. ^ Gordon Rayner, Chief Reporter "Was MI6 spy-in-a-bag Gareth Williams killed by 'secret service dark arts'?", The Telegraph, 30 March 2012
  17. ^ "Secret agents specialising in dark arts may have covered up death of MI6 spy found in holdall"
  18. ^ Gordon Rayner, Chief Reporter "Was MI6 spy-in-a-bag Gareth Williams killed by 'secret service dark arts'?", The Telegraph, 30 March 2012
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