Did Bamber call Witham police station ?

[adam]

Policemen testified he told them on the massacre night, he phoned Witham police station. But got no answer.  However when testifying Bamber he said he did not phone Witham police station.

The judge rightly poured scorn on this in his summing up.

One thing is for sure, Witham police station said they received no phone call from Bamber. However Chelmsford police station got through to Witham police station straight away.

Either the police are lying, or Bamber did tell them he had phoned Witham police station. Probably to justify why he was phoning Chelmsford police station, which was 30 odd miles away.

It is likely that Bamber volunteered this information to the police. The police are hardly likely to say 'why are you calling us ?'

I know he was in panic after Neville's call, but he must know who he had phoned a few minutes earlier. Which makes him denying it under oath strange.

Perhaps Bamber got inside knowledge that the Witham police station phone was manned all that night. So saying he called would just be proved to be wrong. Either way he was in a tangle.

There is nothing on the Official Site on this. Be good to know Bamber's stance now.

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[scipio_usmc]

Why woudl he have told police he called Witham first unless he did and how coudl he know they had been out of the station and no one to answer unless he did try to call?

He either forgot he called Witham first or he intentionally decided to leave it out because it makes things look worse for him. He was pressed as to why he didn't call 999. He shoudl have dialed 999 not looke dup police stations because that loses precious time.  But if you do look up a police station and find it empty you will fear they are all going to be empty at night and surely at that point should dial 999.  So it sounds better to leave it out than to say he looked up the number of multiple police stations.

[adam]

Why woudl he have told police he called Witham first unless he did and how coudl he know they had been out of the station and no one to answer unless he did try to call?

He either forgot he called Witham first or he intentionally decided to leave it out because it makes things look worse for him. He was pressed as to why he didn't call 999. He shoudl have dialed 999 not looke dup police stations because that loses precious time.  But if you do look up a police station and find it empty you will fear they are all going to be empty at night and surely at that point should dial 999.  So it sounds better to leave it out than to say he looked up the number of multiple police stations.

The reason he volunteered this information to the police on the night, was to justify why he had called Chelmsford. Which was nearly 30 miles away. There were three police stations which were nearer. Bamber was trying to delay things as long as possible.

He assumed it would not become an issue. However at trial he made a complete U turn and said he did not call Witham. Probably because officers at Witham could confirm the phone was manned all night, highlighted by Chelmsford getting through to them straight away.

[scipio_usmc]

The reason he volunteered this information to the police on the night, was to justify why he had called Chelmsford. Which was nearly 30 miles away. There were three police stations which were nearer. Bamber was trying to delay things as long as possible.

He assumed it would not become an issue. However at trial he made a complete U turn and said he did call Witham. Probably because officers at Witham could confirm the phone was manned all night, highlighted by Chelmsford getting through to them straight away.

Chelmsford got through because they returned ot the staiton by the time Chelmsford called.  They were not availabel to answer the phone prior when Jeremy claimed he called.  How would he have known they were not their to answer was he a msystic?  If so he could have made up alot better things and avoided staging too many bullets.

His delay was a delay in calling police.  There isn't evidence he intentioanlly chose to call a station far away so they would take longer to respond.

[adam]

Chelmsford got through because they returned ot the staiton by the time Chelmsford called.  They were not availabel to answer the phone prior when Jeremy claimed he called.  How would he have known they were not their to answer was he a msystic?  If so he could have made up alot better things and avoided staging too many bullets.

His delay was a delay in calling police.  There isn't evidence he intentioanlly chose to call a station far away so they would take longer to respond.

Have you got a source from an officer from Witham saying they were out of the station 2 - 5 minutes prior to Chelmsford phoning them and getting through ?

Seems like one of the judges curious coincidences that Bamber got no answer but Chelmsford did.

Why would Bamber say to police on the night he phoned Witham, and then testify at court that he didn't ?

[scipio_usmc]

Have you got a source from an officer from Witham saying they were out of the station 2 - 5 minutes prior to Chelmsford phoning them and getting through ?

Seems like one of the judges curious coincidences that Bamber got no answer but Chelmsford did.

Why would Bamber say to police on the night he phoned Witham, and then testify at court that he didn't ?

They were quoted as saying they recently got back to the station from patrolling when the call came in from Chelmsford.

[John]

I believe he did phone Witham and got no reply.  Chelmsford got through to them easily using the police radio.

[adam]

They were quoted as saying they recently got back to the station from patrolling when the call came in from Chelmsford.

As my previous post says, have you got a source ?

And why would Bamber make a 360 degree turn and testify he did not phone Witham ?

[adam]

I believe he did phone Witham and got no reply.  Chelmsford got through to them easily using the police radio.

Was Witham police station open ? Thought police stations were open 24/7.

There were certainly police cars despatched to WHF from Witham. Assumed the phone would be constantly manned, it was certainly answered after Chelmsford called. Which was very soon after Bamber's alleged unanswered call.

[scipio_usmc]

Was Witham police station open ? Thought police stations were open 24/7.

There were certainly police cars despatched to WHF from Witham. Assumed the phone would be constantly manned, it was certainly answered after Chelmsford called. Which was very soon after Bamber's alleged unanswered call.

The police statements are the source. They stated they got back to Witham from patrolling and a very short time after getting back is when one of them personally fielded the call from Chelmsford. They then apparently left the station empty again upon leaving.  A dispatcher didn't answer they did.  I can't imagine why they would have answered the phone if there was a 24/7 dispatcher on duty.

[John]

You would think that any calls to an unmanned police station would be automatically diverted to police headquarters, possibly not a feature of the old BT system in 1985.

[scipio_usmc]

You would think that any calls to an unmanned police station would be automatically diverted to police headquarters, possibly not a feature of the old BT system in 1985.

Even now that is not the case in the US.  If a dispatcher is too busy to answer you get an automated message saying if it is an emergency then dial 911 or press button to be transferred to 911. More or less you call a station when you have a non-emergency and 911 if you have an emergency situation.

[John]

Jeremy probably knew that Witham was normally manned at night.  Unfortunately, the officers were out when he called.

[scipio_usmc]

Jeremy probably knew that Witham was normally manned at night.  Unfortunately, the officers were out when he called.

He probably just assumed the phone would be manned 24/7 at all police stations.  It seems that a lot of people assume that. 

[adam]

Time/Miles as per AA route planner to Tolleshunt D'Arcy:

                          Minutes:                Miles:

Chelmsford      0.39                         21.1
Maldon             0.20                         7.2
Tiptree              0.10                         3.8
Witham             0.27                        11.1



The other options    -   999
                                       Call relatives.
                                        Call the Foakes's.
                                        Go 'quickly' to WHF. As asked.
                                       Call directory enquiries.
                                       A combination of these.
       

It does seem strange that he ended up speaking to Chelmsford if he assumed all police stations would be manned.

The main explanation being that he was trying to delay things as much as possible. Or that he knew Chelmsford went near his cottage and could pick him up. Enhancing his alibi attempt.

It is even stranger he told police he phoned Witham then said he did not phone them under oath a year later.