The Carr Family

[Holly Goodhead]

James (known as Jim) was the patriarch and a manager at OCP.  It seems he suspected JB of the OCP burglary from the off and made his views known long before JM 'came forward'.

Robert (aka Rob) was Jim's son and at the time of the tragedy a serving officer with the MET.

Louise was Jim's daughter.  As it happened she was in Australia when JB visited and the pair shared some accommodation for a while. 

It seems the Carrs disliked JB and went out of their way to make their views known.  I have no idea whether their views were justified and JB was an unlikeable character or these people were just busy bodies and/or resented JB for whatever reason(s) or had some other reason(s) to talk badly about him.   Regardless like most lay witnesses they could offer nothing of evidential value.

More to follow...

[Holly Goodhead]

I've taken the following from CAL's book.  For those that have the book you will need to refer to 'Carr' in the index and then look up the pages.  I'm reading from a Kindle version and I think the page numbers differ based on size of screen.

It seems DS Jones interviewed JC on Tue 13th Aug.  It isn't clear who instigated this interview.  JC told DS Jones he disliked JB and suspected him of the OCP burglary.

Following the interview JC passed his suspicions on to RWB.  Surprised he hadn't done so before.  Anyway he also advised RWB that he had heard a rumour that registered letters from Scotland regularly arrived at Bourtree Cottage containing cash for drugs.  I would be surprised if JC didn't advise DS Jones of this.  So again by the time JM was interviewed in Sept it seems DS Jones was armed with details of OCP and drugs which he was able to put to JM rather than JM spilling the beans.

More to follow...

[adam]

I think everyone suspected Bamber of the caravan burglary. Didn't RB say 'we all know who that was'. Bamber said himself he would be the number 1 suspect.

The COA says Julie told the police about the caravan break in -

On 10 September she made a further statement. In the course of the taking of that statement, she spoke about smoking cannabis that the appellant had purchased. She then spoke of other things that she suggested the appellant had done and she went on to say:

"I would like to tell you about the burglary I committed with Jeremy."

[Holly Goodhead]

On Wed 14th Aug Robert Carr (RC) a Sargent with the MET attended a pre-arranged meeting at Witham with DI's Miller, Cook and DS Jones.  He discussed his concerns about JB as someone who had known the Bambers most of his life but admitted much of it was speculation.

The following day JC wrote to RWB feeding back RC's meeting with the officers which can be read here:

http://miscarriageofjustice.co/index.php?topic=580.msg17683#msg17683

Immediately after the meeting the 3 officers scrutinised the soc photos.  Someone noticed the paint on the silencer was a similar colour to the Aga surround and they decided to visit the farm that evening to investigate, on the pretext of measuring up for floor plans.

[Holly Goodhead]

I think everyone suspected Bamber of the caravan burglary. Didn't RB say 'we all know who that was'. Bamber said himself he would be the number 1 suspect.

The COA says Julie told the police about the caravan break in -

On 10 September she made a further statement. In the course of the taking of that statement, she spoke about smoking cannabis that the appellant had purchased. She then spoke of other things that she suggested the appellant had done and she went on to say:

"I would like to tell you about the burglary I committed with Jeremy."

It must be right then.  I can't see the CoA getting it wrong! 

[Holly Goodhead]

In July 1980 JB departed for Australia.  Staying first at a flat in Sydney whose occupants included Louise Carr.  She disliked sharing her home with JB. 

"He was not interested in normal tourist pursuits or in finding work, his only interests seemed to be the sunny weather and money".

Jeremy then left for Brisbane securing several months work on a sugar plantation in Queensland before flying to New Zealand where he stayed with relatives for a month.  The relative being NB's cousin: Cris Nevill.  As it happened CN was in the UK when the tragedy happened.   

[adam]

It must be right then.  I can't see the CoA getting it wrong! 

Yes supporters do not like the COA. Or Wilkes's book.

The COA is an independent body & Wilkes's book is an unbiased book. However both brutally highlight Bamber's guilt with a mountain of incriminating evidence.

Wilkes's book introduction says there is 'overwhelming' evidence against Bamber. The COA said 'the more they look at the case, the more they believe the jury were right'

[Holly Goodhead]

Yes supporters do not like the COA. Or Wilkes's book.

The COA is an independent body & Wilkes's book is an unbiased book. However both brutally highlight Bamber's guilt with a mountain of incriminating evidence.

Wilkes's book introduction says there is 'overwhelming' evidence against Bamber. The COA said 'the more they look at the case, the more they believe the jury were right'

If the CoA is further supported by the likes of Roger Wilkes it must be right then!

It's widely accepted across the globe that England has the best judicial system in the world.  A system that has served as a blueprint for the former colonies and  others.  Must be right then!

[Holly Goodhead]

James (known as Jim) was the patriarch and a manager at OCP.  It seems he suspected JB of the OCP burglary from the off and made his views known long before JM 'came forward'.

Robert (aka Rob) was Jim's son and at the time of the tragedy a serving officer with the MET.

Louise was Jim's daughter.  As it happened she was in Australia when JB visited and the pair shared some accommodation for a while. 

It seems the Carrs disliked JB and went out of their way to make their views known.  I have no idea whether their views were justified and JB was an unlikeable character or these people were just busy bodies and/or resented JB for whatever reason(s) or had some other reason(s) to talk badly about him.   Regardless like most lay witnesses they could offer nothing of evidential value.

More to follow...

JC's wife, Dorothy Carr nee Barker, was a wartime friend of June's.

June often invited the 3 Carr children (Robert, Louise and ?) to the farm as company for her son but they came to dread being asked.  'Jeremy was a moody, bossy and sometimes cruel child,' Robert Carr recalled.  '[He] could be very cruel to animals and he used to take great delight in throwing stones at water hen chicks and hitting farm animals with sticks. He did not have a warm relationship with his parents.  Robert much preferred Sheila, a timid but very pleasant-natured girl' who 'always used to get upset whenever [Jeremy] used to be cruel to the animals, and he used to take great delight in carrying on and leaving her in tears'.

[Holly Goodhead]

And from JC:

'He was growing up to be quite a nasty piece of work.  For any time I wanted him to do something, if he did not want to, at his young age he would tell me I was just an employee and he would tell his father how I behaved'.

So were the Carrs views of JB a fair assessment of his character?  Or were their judgements clouded by something?  Maybe envy if they perceived JB had an easy life with everything handed to him on a plate by his parents?

[John]

I would say that Jim Carr got to know the young Jeremy Bamber pretty well and disliked him intensely.

Just out of interest Holly, has anyone gone on record to say what a fine young gentleman he was?

[Holly Goodhead]

I would say that Jim Carr got to know the young Jeremy Bamber pretty well and disliked him intensely.

Just out of interest Holly, has anyone gone on record to say what a fine young gentleman he was?

Lookout!   

[APRIL]

I would say that Jim Carr got to know the young Jeremy Bamber pretty well and disliked him intensely.

Just out of interest Holly, has anyone gone on record to say what a fine young gentleman he was?

John, I'm inclined to believe that Jim Carr's view of Jeremy -based on his long term knowledge of him- is probably a fair reflection of how MOST of the people in this area, who had any contact with him, see him. I only know of one person -a co in-law of my cousin and a local vicar- who is more generous.....................and even she has never gone as far as describing him as being "a fine young gentleman". 

[Holly Goodhead]

I would say that Jim Carr got to know the young Jeremy Bamber pretty well and disliked him intensely.

Just out of interest Holly, has anyone gone on record to say what a fine young gentleman he was?

Plenty of people were supportive of him whilst on remand/during trial:

The Howies.  The female was a cousin of June's who along with her sister was orphaned at a young age and went on to be brought up by June's parents alongside June and PB.  The cousin whose name escapes me went on to marry local farmer Thomas Howie.  The family were very supportive wanting to put up bail. 

Jean Boutell, June's long serving housekeeper. 

Proprietors/managers of places JB hung out in:

Burnham Country Club
The Chequers
Snooker hall

Past and present girlfriends:

Suzette Ford (and her 3 children all very fond of JB)
Greaves sisters: Veronica and Anji

The bottom line is none of these people ie above or those who appear to have disliked JB were able to offer anything of evidential value. 

[Holly Goodhead]

John, I'm inclined to believe that Jim Carr's view of Jeremy -based on his long term knowledge of him- is probably a fair reflection of how MOST of the people in this area, who had any contact with him, see him. I only know of one person -a co in-law of my cousin and a local vicar- who is more generous.....................and even she has never gone as far as describing him as being "a fine young gentleman".

But how well did any of these people know JB?  How much time did they spend in each others company?  He was sent to Board at Greshams/Norfolk from the age of 8 only returning during hols to live on a remote farm.  When he returned to the area he was in the main either travelling abroad or working remotely on the farm. 

The Carrs appear to have been a family of average means.  Did envy play a part:

- JB privately educated
- JB attractive looking
- JB had own pad/car funded by the farm albeit for putting in a shift but safe in the knowledge more would be coming his way regardless of his family's untimely deaths.

I remember covering prejudice on my psychology course and experiments and research showed some people are consciously and sub-consciously prejudiced against anyone remotely different.  In the minds of some different = bad! 

Remember the case of Christopher Jefferies who was a perfectly decent law abiding person and yet was suddenly deemed a monster by all including the media when Joanne Yates went missing.