In the 1980s, before a case could be heard at the Crown Court it needed to clear an ‘Old Style Committal’. This involved bringing all the witnesses along to the magistrates’ court for the Justices of the Peace to hear their evidence and decide whether there was a case to answer. Then, and only then, could it be heard at the higher court. In the meantime, the defendant had to be brought, often weekly, to appear just for progress to be monitored and the committal hearing set. All this generated an eye-watering mountain of paperwork and huge inconvenience and stress to civilian witnesses. Thankfully these events are confined to the judicial history books. Now murder charges are invariably ‘sent’ to the Crown Court the day after the charge is laid and the defendant appears there a few days later. Thereafter, all appearances are by video link saving time and cost for the hard-pressed criminal justice agencies.
In February 1987, Bishop appeared for the start of his committal hearing. All the prosecution evidence was laid out, tested and evaluated, a process that strung out over a whole month until the magistrates, quite predictably, decided there was sufficient evidence for Bishop to be tried. Meanwhile Ralph Haeems, the lawyer, was going to great lengths to muddy the waters. He regularly appeared in the media appealing for various anonymous people who had called his office to get back in touch. They never did, or if they did they were never called as defence witnesses. We will never know whether they actually existed.
In the small hours of one morning, while Bishop was on remand, Detective Superintendent Bernie Wells was woken by his ringing phone. The inspector on the other end sheepishly told him that Ralph Haeems had turned up unannounced at the police station demanding to see him. He was with two witnesses who had spoken to a third who could unequivocally testify to Barrie Fellows being the killer.
Sceptical as he was, Bernie knew he had to turn out. This was bound to be yet another smokescreen to cast doubt on Bishop’s guilt but to ignore a line of enquiry recommended by the defence would be judicial suicide. So, Bernie called DCI Chris Page and told him to meet him at the police station. They arrived around the same time and walked into the interview room together. They were met by an angry Haeems, with two teenage girls sitting meekly beside him.
‘I told you, you had the wrong man. These girls know someone who knows it was Fellows. I demand you interview them then arrange for my client to be released.’
‘We will interview them,’ Bernie assured the seething solicitor.
‘And I’ll be present while you do.’
‘No, you won’t. Mr Page will interview one and I will interview the other. They are our witnesses.’
Haeems tried to protest but Bernie was adamant. Both girls came out with the same bland story. They had been chatting to a girl who said that she had seen Fellows kill the two girls and could prove it. Bernie and Chris told Haeems they would see this other girl straightaway. His assumption that he would be allowed to go with them was quickly quashed.
Having tracked her down, at around four in the morning, they soon realized that this was either a set-up or she was a fantasist. It was immediately very clear to Bernie she had learning difficulties. Thankfully her parents were there so, with them by her side, he gently probed.
‘I’m told you know who killed Karen and Nicola.’
‘Yes, Barrie Fellows,’ she barked.
‘Oh, did he? How do you know that?’
‘Because he’s ugly,’ she snapped.
‘I see,’ said Bernie, turning his gaze to the parents who looked as confused as he did.
‘Any other way you know he killed them?’
‘It’s obvious isn’t it. He’s ugly. He must have done it.’
‘Did you see him kill them?’
‘No but he must have. He’s ugly.’
Bernie and Chris made their excuses, apologized and left promptly.
When they returned to the police station, Haeems was eagerly waiting to hear the news. Bernie built him up by solemnly inviting him into his office.
‘You’re right, Mr Haeems, it seems it was Barrie Fellows after all,’ he said, poker-faced.
‘I told you, Superintendent. I knew all along. What did she say?’
‘She said . . . “It’s obvious. He’s ugly”,’ Wells roared as he watched Haeems crumple before scurrying out and away.
With the pre-trial preparations still occupying a huge team, Bernie was told he was being considered for promotion to Chief Superintendent. However, as was the way in the 1980s, he would need to move to a uniformed posting before that could happen. Having been a detective for most of his service, the thought of working in uniform in a more rural division did not appeal. But the prize at the end of it was tempting so, just before Bishop stood trial, Detective Superintendent Wells became Superintendent Wells and began running policing in Horsham. A change of leadership at such a crucial stage never bodes well, however proficient the replacement.
While Bishop was enduring a private hell in prison, the Fellows and Hadaway families were suffering far more on the outside. It was nearly four months before the girls could be laid to rest. Wednesday 4 February 1987 will be etched in the families’ hearts forever. The whole community turned out to say goodbye. The cortège set off from Newick Road, flowers adorning the hearses’ roofs. As they crept the short distance to Bear Road Cemetery, onlookers stood silent.
The eulogies broke every heart and Barrie, Sue, Michelle and Lee were comforted by friends and family, while they consoled their own distraught children. The floral tributes talked of sleeping well, precious daughters and the love and pain that had been left behind. Their white coffins were buried in graves side by side, so they could comfort each other as they rested in peace, a white stone angel between them.