After a lengthy consultation the first interview started in a predictable way at 2.30 p.m. In another change for Bishop, all interviews were now videoed. Even if his words did not betray his arrogance, his body language bellowed it loud and clear. The preamble out of the way, his solicitor, Mark Styles, read a statement on Bishop’s behalf.
‘I, Russell Bishop, make the following statement in relation to the allegation that I was responsible for the murder of Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows. I completely and utterly deny any involvement in the deaths of Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows. I was tried for these offences in 1987 and found not guilty by a jury after only two hours’ deliberation. Evidence in relation to the Pinto sweatshirt and other clothing, as well as evidence relating to a red Mini, was put to the jury at my trial in 1987. I was found not guilty.’
DCs Gary Pattison and Richard Slaughter, two mild-mannered, quietly spoken yet utterly forensic interviewers, set about slowly yet courteously turning the screw. Bishop made the mistake of falling for their gentlemanly ‘good cop, good cop’ routine and did not spot he was throwing away his own cell key.
The problem for suspects lies not so much in not answering questions, although on certain matters they need to come up with something, it is thinking of an excuse later at the trial. Bishop might have thought by answering ‘no comment’ that it would protect him. It would not.
DC Gary Pattison reeled him in.
He began: ‘If you had any contact with those girls on 9 October, tell us about what happened to those girls.’
Bishop: ‘I’ve got no comment.’
DC Pattison: ‘Did you touch any of their bodies?’
Bishop: ‘I’ve got no comment.’
DC Pattison: ‘Just focusing on Nicola . . . what areas of the body did you touch on that date?’
Bishop: ‘I’ve got no comment.’
And so, the questions went on, Gary trying to elicit any indication that Bishop had touched either Nicola or Karen, each question rebuffed with a rhythmic ‘No comment’.
That first interview lasted for just half an hour. Jeff Riley should have been watching on a remote link, appraising each question and answer, working out ways forward, but infuriatingly it was broken. He had to pace the room waiting for breaks so he could be given updates then direct Gary and Richard on where he wanted them to press. He cursed his phone when, again and again, CPS solicitors called for updates. In his heart he knew this was as big a day for them as him, but he really would have preferred to just get on with his job.
After a half-hour break, Gary and Richard resumed. This time Bishop had had enough of the incessant questions and his solicitor’s expectation that he remain silent. Banging the table, he ranted, ‘The only evidence on that Pinto from them victims are the fibres. The Pinto and the children’s clothing was examined on the same table at the same time by a police officer, who admitted it under oath, it’s all on record, now go away and look at it, end of subject. This case has nothing to do with me, nothing to do with me whatsoever, I cleared my name by a jury of my peers and you come in here saying there’s new evidence, there’s no new evidence, it’s all been before the jury, all these tapings of this that and the other, it’s all been before the jury, all the hairs, been before the jury, been before the jury, it’s not new, unless it’s been planted and I hope that’s not the case. But I’m telling you now, there is no case to answer, I’m sorry, I want the case solved but you’re looking in the wrong place. Now I’ve got no comment to make, please. Please bring this to a close.’
He flounced back in his chair, hoping he’d had the final word.
Gary and Richard suspended the interview and regrouped. No doubt Mr Styles was doing his best to shut Bishop up. Just over an hour later, the third interview was under way. The two detectives knew they had their man on the ropes, but they were not going to let him know that. Gary introduced the DNA evidence and gently probed for an explanation.
DC Pattison: ‘If you go back to the start here, so we’re talking about a mixed DNA profile that has been obtained from a taping taken from the left forearm of Karen during the post mortem examination on 10 October 1986.’
Bishop: ‘Carried out by Dr West.’
DC Pattison: ‘That’s correct.’
Bishop went to carry on but his solicitor reminded him of the rules.
Bishop: ‘I’m sorry, I’ve got no more comment.’
DC Pattison: ‘So how can you account for . . .’
Bishop: ‘I’ve got no more comment . . . Seriously, no more comment, I know you’ve got to, yeah, go on . . . I know what you’re gonna say.’
DC Pattison: ‘So you’ve asked me who took the taping and I’ve explained to you that it was taken at the post mortem examination, which is in the disclosure document on 10 October ’86 . . . and you said no more comment. What’s the reason for that?’
Bishop: ‘I have no more comment.’
Bishop reverted back to his no comment mantra but Gary had to put the questions to him.
DC Pattison: ‘What would you like to say about this disclosure that you’ve gone through?’
Bishop: ‘I’ve got no comment at this stage.’
DC Pattison: ‘In relation to this new evidence IEW/10?’ (This was the swab from Karen’s forearm.)
Bishop: ‘I’ve got no comment whatsoever at this stage.’
DC Pattison: ‘Have you got any reasonable explanation as to why your DNA could be found on Karen’s left arm?’
Bishop: ‘As I say, I’ve got no comment at this stage . . . I totally understand, but I have no comment at this stage and I can assure you now I’m totally innocent of this offence and, but I’ve got no comment.’
DC Pattison: ‘But you keep saying you’re innocent . . . so help us establish that you’re innocent.’
Bishop: ‘I wish I could, but I can’t so . . . I can’t give that information at this moment in time, I apologize for that, but I’ve got no comment.’
DC Pattison: ‘At this moment in time?’
Mr Styles could see his client was struggling, so tried to come to his aid, give him some breathing space and relieve the pressure.
Mr Styles: ‘He’s being asked to comment at the moment, he’s had questions put to him this afternoon and this evening particularly in relation to quite advanced DNA analysis techniques, at the moment that is what the question surrounds a DNA sample upon Karen Hadaway. He’s only able to provide an expert answer to that.’
As any good detective would do, Gary ignored the interjection and homed in on Bishop.
DC Pattison: ‘If there’s any innocent explanation as to why your DNA is found on Karen’s left forearm, then we’re interested in listening to you.’
Bishop: ‘I’ve got no comment whatsoever.’
He was back into no comment mode. Gary came at the question in different ways but they all boiled down to the same simple thing. Was there any explanation for Bishop’s DNA being on Karen’s arm? Each time he refused to answer, although he did hint that he might have an explanation ‘at some time in the future’. He could have got away with that in the 1980s, but this was 2016 and that would not wash.
Later, Richard took over. Perhaps a different voice might lever some answers. At first, his questions were blanked like Gary’s, but he did not have to wait long for another outburst.
Bishop: ‘I’ve got nothing to say, I’m not responsible for this, I had nothing to do with it, I’m innocent, I’ve been tried and now I’ve got no comment to make whatsoever, there are some fucking stuff genied up thirty years later, I’m sorry but I’ve got no comment whatsoever.’
Richard’s passive reply must have riled him: ‘But, I understand what you’re saying there Russell . . . As I said, on putting the technical side of this to one side and you’ve told us to refer back to what was said before, but we’re asking you now. That’s not clear to us where your position stands on touching Karen’s forearm.’
With finality Bishop barked: ‘I didn’t touch no one, so I’m innocent and as I said I’ve got no comment to make.’
There it was. Job done. ‘It may harm your defence if you do not mention, when questioned, something which you later rely on in court.’ Any variation in the witness box from ‘I didn’t touch no one’ would be suicide for Bishop, so he would have to think long and hard about why Roy Green found his DNA. Through his arrogance and stupidity, he had boxed himself into a corner and there seemed no way out.
All that needed to be done now was for a mouth swab to be taken for that important DNA sample the DPP had authorized. Jeff ordered it be driven straight down to the lab to ensure it contained a usable profile.
Satisfied it was viable, Bishop was not charged but technically bailed from custody. Normally bail involves restoring a detainee’s freedom but he was going nowhere other than the short drive back to HMP Frankland and a long wait to hear his fate.