July 2001 Archived News

Friday 13 July 2001
INQUIRY HIRES PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS

THE public inquiry into the abuse and murder of eight-year-old Victoria Climbié has employed a team of private investigators to track down evidence from witnesses proving difficult to find.

All witness statements are required for the start of the Inquiry's public hearings on Wednesday 26 September.

Some people, who have been asked for witness statements, have refused to respond to letters from Lord Laming's inquiry team, while others have moved address more than once, with some moving as far afield as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

The Inquiry took on the private investigators last month when 30 of the 220 witnesses, from whom the Inquiry wants to take evidence, proved difficult to trace. Investigators have now traced 25 people, but around five are still being tracked down.

Apart from those still being tracked down, the Inquiry is now waiting for statements from witnesses who have been given extensions. Lord Laming has said that if any of the last tranche of witnesses fail to produce their statements, on time, summonses may be served.

Among those yet to produce their witness statements are Victoria's killers, her great aunt, Marie Therese Kouao, and Kouao's boyfriend, Carl Manning - who have been given extensions.

Once all the witness statements have been received, it will be for Counsel to the Inquiry, Mr Neil Garnham QC, to decide who is called to give evidence in person.

As well as contacting witnesses, the Inquiry has also collected 1,500 documents, as evidence, which together run to 12,500 pages.

Contacts:

Paul Rees, Communications Manager
Tel: 020 7972 1999
Fax: 020 7972 1981
Mobile: 07884 473 355
paul.rees@victoriaclimbie.org

                or

Lara Williams, Press Officer
Tel: 020 7972 2018
Fax: 020 7972 1981
Mobile: 07884 473 468
lara.williams@victoriaclimbie.org