I think the above is a suggestion than it is MORE than a theory/hunch when in fact it's a complete hunch. Now you're implying that they employed such tactics as bugging devices when there is absolutely no evidence of such. Were they to employ these tactics, it would have been to catch out Bamber, not JM's friends.
So why waste time and effort on coercing JM's friends?
You usually have pretty strong arguments (although I may not always agree with them) but this one is a none starter.
The fact you see it as a non-starter doesn't make it so.
JM's WS's refer to JB's cottage being bugged on morning of 7th Aug. We know for sure JB was placed under surveillance around mid-Sept. The WS's of JM and SB also refer to the drug squad. Imo the reference to bugging and drug squad originate from EP not JM/SB. If the police suspected JM of knowing more than she was letting on they may well have bugged the telephone and/or the house in general she shared with SB et al.
Inconsistencies over the way various witnesses were treated with regards to producing, possessing and selling drugs and other more minor criminal offences are imo pivitol to the case:
- One of the first things JB does upon being told by EP his family are all dead is walk off to the field growing the opium poppies and return clutching a bunch telling Dr Craig the farm has a licence to grow them for the pharma industry. This doesn't makes sense. Firstly the first UK pharma company to receive gov authorization for growing opium poppies was early 21st century. Secondly a licence is not required by farmers to grow opium poppies for the pharma industry. The pharma company requires it as they are responsible for turning a benign plant into a powerful pain killing drug via a chemical process.
- If JB was lying for whatever reason(s) about this then why wouldn't EP take him to task and use it at trial?
- Dr Craig, Chief Sup Harris and DI Miller were all aware opium poppies were growing at WHF. No doubt other officers were aware too. Dr Craig and Chief Sup Harris make reference to such in WS's and actually take a look at the field/poppies. DI Miller mentioned to MM that JB grew opium poppies.
- In JM's WS's she makes ref to smoking marijuana on the night of 6th Aug when JB called at circa 10pm. Other references to recreational drugs include:
- Taking cocaine in a hotel room with a friend called Stephanie and a couple of guys.
- JB growing cannabis inside and outside his cottage
- Tending to JB's cannabis plants ie watering
- JB growing cannabis between the barns at WHF
- MM bringing over seeds for JB to cultivate
- JB looking for distributors
- JM selling on campus
- JM stating the drugs squad had been to JB's cottage pre murders to take a look at his cannabis plants and he destroyed.
- Importing from Holland with JB and BC albeit small quantities
Despite all the above it appears EP did not take any action but did over OCP with JB charged at the local magistrates court. It doesn't even appear JB was asked about drugs during his interviews under caution despite the fact when he was arrested he had cannabis on his person and immediately handed it over. At trial jurors heard about JB's/JM's involvement in the OCP burglary and JM's cheque fraud but nothing about the drugs.
Conversely when MM was interviewed under caution he was asked extensively about his involvement with drugs. He told DI Miller he purchased some cannabis from work colleagues and was told this in itself was a criminal offence. He was also told his cannabis plants had been taken from his home for analysis and he may face criminal charges. He was asked/told about JB growing opium. He was asked whether or not Christine Bacon used cannabis and if so when. She clearly had nothing to do with the murders and yet had her home searched and was taken in for questioning and kept in custody overnight. She then testified against JB at trial by general character assassination.
Imo the likes of JM eta al along with the likes of Christine Bacon were all coerced by EP into believing a) JB was responsible and b) if they didn't cooperate they would face drug related charges.
