A solicitor who represented Jeremy Bamber at his original trial in 1985 has told an appeal court that vital evidence was not made available to the defence team.

Lawyers for Bamber, now 41, have reached the eighth day of what is expected to be a three-week appeal into his conviction for the murder of five members of his family at their Tolleshunt D'Arcy farmhouse in 1985.

Michael Turner QC, counsel for Bamber, had sought to show, through a series of grounds, that vital evidence and information crucial to the defence's case was not made available to them at the original trial.

In seeking to consolidate this, he successfully applied to judges Lord Justice Kay, Mr Justice Wright and Mr Justice Henriques to bring Bamber's original solicitor Paul Terzeon to the stand for cross-examination.

The appeal had already heard that information had come to light which showed a disturbance in the kitchen, thought to have been caused by Nevill Bamber and his assailant, could have been caused by the Tactical Force Group (TFG) when they arrived at the scene.

The hearing also heard that a letter from Colin Caffell to Nevill Bamber, which was never sent, had also come to light. Photographs of a bloodstained Bible were also not made available.

The appeal also heard crucial evidence had also been withheld surrounding whether or not a vital phone call was made from the farmhouse by Nevill Bamber to Jeremy Bamber.

Yesterday, Mr Turner told the appeal that information had come to light showing a member of the TFG may have used a phone with a digital display unit after arriving at the scene - wiping out a crucial record of the last number that was phoned in - which could have proved the call was made by Nevill Bamber to his son.

The appeal continues.

Published Tuesday October 29, 2002

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette