BBC Radio 5 live : Expert: "I believe" MI6 agent was dead and then put into bag

Expert: "I believe" MI6 agent was dead and then put into bag

Host: Phil Williams | November 14, 2013

Confined spaces expert Peter Faulding says the case of MI6 spy, Gareth Williams, who was found dead in padlocked sports bag in August 2010 "has never left my mind".

Mr Faulding explains why he believes Mr Williams, 31, from Anglesey, was killed before he was put into the bag that was found in a bath, including a lack of Mr Williams' DNA evidence being found on the bath or the outside of the bag.

In 2012 a coroner said it was likely Mr Williams had been unlawfully killed. On November 13th 2013, the Metropolitan Police said an evidence review had found "it was more probable" no other person was present when he died in his London flat.


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TRANSCRIPT

[transcribed by Winter Patriot; edited slightly for clarity]

PETER FAULDING: This is one of the jobs that's never left my mind, and I'm still, still thinking about it all the time, and thinking of possibilities.

PHIL WILLIAMS: And just to be clear to people listening, 'cause obviously this isn't television, you are a very almost identical build to Gareth Williams.

PETER FAULDING: Yes, that's right. I'm slightly shorter than Gareth. I'm 5 foot 6 and I think that Gareth was about 5 foot 8, but I'm slightly, maybe a slightly stockier build around the shoulders, but -- 'cause he was a keen cyclist -- but apart from that, pretty similar.

PHIL WILLIAMS: Deputy Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt says he has got to the position where he felt it was theoretically possible to have padlocked that bag from the inside. You tried it. What do you think?

PETER FAULDING: Well, let me just go through a few of the facts on this case, and when we started. First, when he was found, when the police found him, all the lights were out in the flat. The door was closed on the bathroom, the lights were out in the bathroom and the temp, the actual heating was turned up full -- in mid-summer, in August. And I tried to get into the bag. I could zip the bag closed, though I couldn't put the padlock on. And in court there was another method shown, they call it the baggage handlers' technique, where you could actually slide the lock, and then shortly after that, a 15-year-old girl managed to do it -- a very slight build -- to actually lock the thing. But that's not what it's about, There was no trace anywhere of any DNA, fingerprints, anything on the lock, the padlock. Now, everywhere we go, forensically, I'm forensically trained, we leave a trace where we've been, so if I touch something, unless I've got gloves on, there will be a trace, on the padlock, on the bag, on the bath. Now I've tried getting into the -- you have to get into the bag shoulders first, then you put your feet up at the end of the bath, slide in, and slide it underneath. There's all sorts of theories about him doing escapology tricks, and so on. But the room was dark. If he had -- he was a very clever man -- he certainly would have had a knife to cut himself free if he got into trouble.

PHIL WILLIAMS: And he wasn't wearing gloves.

PETER FAULDING: He wasn't wearing gloves and there's theories, he could have swallowed the gloves. Well they would be found at the post-mortem. So there's no way he could have done this. He could have locked himself in the bag. That can be done. But in the dark -- no one's ever done this in the dark, in a locked, in a closed room inside a bath. And when the body was found, there was not a trace anywhere of Gareth Williams in the bath or on the bag, on the outside of the bag, padlock, handles, so it was very peculiar. So that is an impossibility. That cannot be done without leaving a trace.

PHIL WILLIAMS: So what you're saying is that even if, so let's say he has done this himself, in order to just even place the holdall into the bath and then get into it, he would have left either a footprint, a fingerprint, or a hair, or something --

PETER FAULDING: Absolutely. He would have left something somewhere. We all leave a trace, so there was, there would have been a trace somewhere, but not only that. To actually -- I carried out the air tests on the bag, and pathologists said you'd last five minutes. Well, I was in the bag five minutes with it closed, under -- I may say this -- under controlled conditions, with paramedics on standby because it's not some -- please don't do this at home. But and I said that you would last up to thirty minutes depending on the size, but probably more realistically, he would have suffocated within ten to fifteen minutes. And that depends on the fitness levels. He was obviously a very fit gentleman. But there's no volume in the bag. I couldn't move. And the other thing what we gotta say is Gareth Williams was found in a foetal position with his hands across his chest, in a very calm manner. So I said at the coroner's inquest, I believe he was dead before he was put in there, and then lifted into the bath.

[audio here]

Daily Beast : Scotland Yard: Dead Spy in a Bag Probably an Accident

Scotland Yard: Dead Spy in a Bag Probably an Accident

Scotland Yard has concluded that British spy Gareth Williams, found padlocked naked inside a gym bag in his apartment, ‘probably’ died by accident.

By Nico Hines | November 14, 2013

A British intelligence agent was found dead, padlocked naked inside a gym bag, in the bathtub of his London apartment; there was no sign of a struggle, no witness, no fingerprints and no DNA evidence to explain how he died.

After three years of speculation about murder by foreign agents, targeting by the Russian mafia and an MI6 cover-up, Scotland Yard announced on Wednesday that they thought it was “probably” just an accident.

Their extraordinary conclusion directly contradicted the findings of Westminster Coroner’s Court which ruled last year that Gareth Williams, a 31-year-old code-breaker from Wales, was most likely killed unlawfully.

The police explanation that Williams had padlocked himself into the bag before dying alone in his apartment was met with widespread consternation. Martin Hewitt, the Deputy Assistant Commissioner at Scotland Yard, rejected suggestions that the police had been duped by intelligence services who wanted to ensure that the real reason for Williams’ death was never disclosed. “I do not believe that I have had the wool pulled over my eyes. I believe that what we are dealing with is a tragic unexplained death,” he said. “The Metropolitan Police’s position is that, on balance, it is a more probable conclusion that there was no other person present when Gareth died.”

He did admit, however, that they could not be sure what had happened in August 2010, when Williams went missing. “No evidence has been identified to establish the full circumstances of Gareth’s death beyond all reasonable doubt,” Hewitt said.

During last year’s coroners’ hearing, a lawyer acting on behalf of the Williams family said his death must have had a connection to his highly sensitive intelligence work. “There is a high probability that some third party was in the flat when Gareth was placed in the bag. Evidentially there seems to be no trace of an unknown party in the flat,” Anthony O‘Toole said in court. “Our impression is that the unknown third party was a member of some agency specializing in the dark arts or secret services.”

Williams was found in the curled up in the fetal position inside a red North Face bag in his bath. The bag had been padlocked shut but there was no evidence of anyone else being inside the flat. Police and family members said the trail may have gone cold because of the time that elapsed between the agent’s last sighting and the discovery of his body.

Officials at MI6, where he failed to show up for work, did not raise the alarm until August 23, a week later. A family statement released via the police on Wednesday said they were furious that the intelligence agency had not informed the police any sooner. “We still remain very disappointed over the failure of his employers at MI6 to take even the most basic inquiries concerning Gareth’s welfare when he failed to attend for work on August 16, 2010,” they said. “We believe that if proper steps had been taken in the same manner as any reasonable employer would have undertaken, further information relating to the cause of his death might have become apparent and not have been lost due to the length of time before Gareth’s body was found.”

Last year, Sir John Sawers, the head of MI6, apologized “unreservedly” for the agency’s “failure to act more swiftly.” The cause of that delay has never been fully explained.

After a secret meeting between the police and MI6 soon after the body was discovered, a team of counter-terrorism officers was asked to act as a buffer between the murder squad investigators and the security services.

Scotland Yard now admits that was wrong. “We didn’t get it right at the beginning and the way that we did it was cumbersome and didn’t allow us to do the investigation in the way that we wanted to,” Hewitt said, although he denied that any delay had allowed somebody to destroy evidence in Williams’ home.

“There is no evidence whatsoever to support the suggestion that Gareth’s flat had been subject to some form of ‘forensic clean’,” he said. “Indeed, finger marks and traces of DNA going back some years have been recovered, which tends to fundamentally disprove such a theory. Such a ‘selective’ clean would not be possible.”

Hewitt also appeared to downplay another of the theories that has surrounded Williams’ death. He said there was no clear evidence that the math prodigy’s interest in escapology or bondage, which he had searched for on the Internet, was linked to his death.

Last year’s inquest also heard evidence from his landlady that Williams was previously rescued from another awkward situation. Jennifer Elliot and her husband had let themselves in to Williams’ apartment when they heard cries for help at around 1:30am one night. They found him tied to his bed wearing nothing but boxer shorts. “He was embarrassed and panicky and apologized and said ‘I wanted to see if I could get myself free,’” she told the court.

Panorama (Armenia) : 'Spy found in bag not killed'

'Spy found in bag not killed'

November 14, 2013

Gareth Williams, the MI6 codebreaker found dead inside an externally locked bag in his apartment in 2010, was probably not killed as previously believed, London's Metropolitan Police said Wednesday, citing a lack of evidence otherwise, according to CNN.

Taking a different position from a coroner's report last year that said it was likely someone killed Gareth Williams, London's Metropolitan Police said its three-year investigation suggested that Williams most likely locked himself inside the large bag.

"We believe that it is a more probable conclusion that there was no other person present when Gareth died," Deputy Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt said.

But the Met said that despite its investigation, there remained insufficient evidence to be definitive on how Williams died.

"There are holes in what we understand about the circumstances of Gareth Williams' death," Hewitt said, admitting that some of the evidence is "odd."

This includes the lack of Williams' DNA on the padlock used to lock the large red bag his body was found in and the lack of hand prints on the edge of the bath where it was found, he said.

"What we are left with is either individual pieces of evidence, or a lack of such evidence, that can logically support one of a number of hypotheses," Hewitt said.

The case has gripped the British public since Williams, known for his mathematical genius and code-breaking talent, was found dead at age 31 in August 2010.

Among the theories aired by UK media were that Williams might have died at the hands of foreign intelligence agents or as a result of a kinky sexual encounter gone wrong. Added to that speculation was the discovery of women's clothes, wigs and cosmetics in Williams' apartment.

At the inquest into his death last year, coroner Fiona Wilcox shot down that speculation, saying she thought Williams bought them out of an interest in fashion, rather than any sexual motivation.

Other reports about the "body-in-a-bag spy" detailed how two experts spent days trying to figure out whether Williams could have contorted himself in such a way as to lock himself into the North Face holdall bag, with a key to the padlock inside.

Video of two experts trying to recreate the scene was showing to the court. One had tried 300 times without success, but neither ruled out definitively the possibility Williams could have somehow done it alone.

"It is now proven that it is theoretically possible for a person to lock themselves in that exact holdall, with the same type of lock, and in the configuration in which Gareth was found. It is important to note that this fact was found to be a possibility by the inquest," Hewitt said.

Meanwhile, family members suggested Williams had been murdered by killers versed in the "dark arts" of espionage.

Referring to speculation that Williams' flat might have been forensically cleaned by unknown people responsible for his death, Hewitt said Wednesday that a deep-clean would have removed all traces of Williams' DNA as well that of visitors to his flat.

He said 10 to 15 traces of DNA had been found that were too insignificant to use to build a full profile and said advances in forensic science could "present opportunities for progress." For the time being, however, there are "no active lines of enquiry that it is proportionate to pursue."

Williams' family expressed their regret that mystery still surrounds his death but said they agree with the coroner's verdict "on the basis of the facts at present known."

"We are naturally disappointed that it is still not possible to state with certainty how Gareth died and the fact that the circumstances of his death are still unknown adds to our grief," they said in a written statement.

The family reiterated their disappointment that Williams' employers at MI6 had not checked on his welfare when he failed to attend work on August 16, 2010.

Williams was finally reported missing by a co-worker on August 23, more than a week after the normally punctilious employee had last shown up at work.

"We believe that if proper steps had been taken in the same manner as any reasonable employer would have undertaken, further information relating to the cause of his death might have become apparent and not have been lost due to the length of time before Gareth's body was found," they said.

The family also noted that the Met's investigators "were at last able to interview directly members of (UK intelligence agencies) GCHQ and SIS."

Addressing media, Hewitt disputed a suggestion that police had been "blindsided" in their investigation by intelligence agencies but acknowledged that their method of interaction had improved during the investigation. "We didn't get it right at the beginning," he said.

Initially, he said, the only Met officers to deal with the intelligence agencies were those in SO15 -- or counterterrorism command. The SO15 officers had assessed Williams' vetting and personnel files and found nothing relevant to the case.

After the inquest, the senior investigating officer in the case personally requested and was granted access to the files and came to the same conclusion, Hewitt said.

"The investigation into Gareth's death will remain under review, and any new significant information or evidence will be robustly investigated," he said.

"If it is possible for us to give his family more answers we will do so."

Express : Family blast MI6 as police say spy died in 'bizarre accident after locking himself in bag'

Family blast MI6 as police say spy died in 'bizarre accident after locking himself in bag'

THE family of body-in-a-bag spy Gareth Williams blasted MI6 chiefs yesterday as a Scotland Yard investigation failed to solve the mystery of his death.

By: John Twomey | November 14, 2013

Despite extensive inquiries, detectives can only say the codebreaker “probably” died alone in a bizarre accident. But his grieving relatives still believe the 31-year-old fitness fanatic was murdered by an unknown assassin who left his naked body padlocked inside a sports holdall in his bath. They condemned his superiors at the spy agency for failing to raise the alarm until he had been missing for 10 days. By the time his body was discovered, his corpse was already decomposing and it has not been impossible to establish a cause of death.

His family said in a statement: “We are naturally disappointed that it is still not possible to state with certainty how Gareth died, and the fact that the circumstances of his death are still unknown adds to our grief.

Her verdict prompted a renewed inquiry by Scotland Yard and a senior detective released the findings yesterday after consulting Mr Williams’s family.

For the first time, murder squad detectives have had direct access to Mr Williams’s vetting and personnel files rather than having to go through a liaison officer from the Yard’s counter-terrorism command.

Since the inquest, officers have interviewed 27 members of MI6 or GCHQ.

There is no suggestion his death is linked to his work.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt said: “Despite extensive inquiries, no evidence has been identified to establish the full circumstances of Gareth’s death beyond reasonable doubt.”

But he added: “Our view is the most probable scenario is that Gareth was alone when this accident happened.”

Police suspect the spy locked himself into the red North Face holdall - possibly during a lone sex game or as an experiment in escapology - and suffocated when he could not get out.

Scotland Yard said yesterday Coroner Dr Wilcox now accepts that findings of the police and the conclusion that Mr Williams probably died alone by accident.

But there will be no new inquest and her original verdict still stands. Mr Williams’s family has previously said they believe some agency specialising in the “dark arts” is linked to his death.

They said yesterday: “We consider that, on the basis of the facts at present known, the coroner’s verdict accurately reflects the circumstances of Gareth’s death.”

A series of vital questions remained yesterday which the Yard investigation has failed to answer.

• If the spy locked himself inside the bag, why is there no trace of his DNA on the padlock?

• If he lowered himself into the bag in the bath, why didn’t he leave his palm prints on the bath rim?

• It is theoretically possible for a person to lock themselves inside into such a bag but where is the conclusive evidence that Mr Williams did so?

• Why was the heating switched on in the middle of summer?

• Up to 15 DNA traces found in the modest apartment remain unidentified so who left them?

Mr Hewitt dismissed reports that the flat had been subjected to some kind of “forensic clean” as fingermarks and DNA going back several years have been recovered.

The veteran detective also rejected the idea MI6 had “pulled the wool over his eyes” and said the spy agency had fully co-operated with the Yard.

Mr Williams, who worked for GCHQ and was on secondment to MI6, was deeply interested in women’s fashion and had a collection of women’s designer clothes worth around £15,000 in his flat.

Most of the garments were still in boxes and none of it had been worn. He had taken two college courses in clothing design.

Mr Hewitt said yesterday: “I am satisfied that the existence of the clothing has not direct bearing on the circumstances of Gareth’s death.”

Extensive examination of the spy’s phones and laptops failed to shed any light on the mystery.

Inquiries revealed Mr Williams as an intensely private person with few close friends.

But Mr Hewitt said: “The universal view of colleagues was of a conscientious and decent man with a few well known hobbies such as his cycling and climbing.

“There is no evidence of any animosity towards Gareth and it has not been possible to identify anyone with a motive for causing him harm.” Forensic work to identify the unknown DNA traces is continuing and the Yard says the case will be kept under regular review.

Columbus Dispatch : Police: ‘Spy in a bag’ death accidental

Police: ‘Spy in a bag’ death accidental

Gareth Williams’ naked body was found inside a locked sports bag in a dry bathtub.

By Stephen Castle | The New York Times | November 14, 2013

LONDON — The bizarre death of a British intelligence analyst whose body was discovered inside a sports bag in a bathtub was called a probable accident by the London police yesterday, an inconclusive ending to one of the most puzzling investigations in recent years.

Gareth Williams, 31, a Welsh-born mathematician involved in code-breaking work, was found dead on Aug. 23, 2010, by police who entered his London apartment. His naked body was curled in a fetal position inside a sports bag in an otherwise empty bathtub.

In a twist worthy of a spy movie, the bag was padlocked, but the keys to the lock were inside the bag, beneath the decomposing body.

Williams had led a very private existence, with few close friends. But with its glimpse into the world of espionage, the “spy in a bag” case drew interest from the news media, which speculated that Williams might have been assassinated or might have died as an accidental consequence of an interest in escapology or bondage.

An autopsy failed to identify a cause of death. A coroner’s inquest in 2012 found that someone else probably was involved in the death. However, the police now say they think that Williams was most likely alone and locked himself in the bag, although they cannot rule out the possibility that someone else was present.

“From the inquest, we set up our investigation in a different way, and this has led to greater clarity on some aspects of the case,” Deputy Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt, who oversaw the police investigation, said in a statement.

“Now, at the end of our investigation, based on the evidence, or where we have been unable to find positive evidence, we believe that it is a more probable conclusion that there was no other person present when Gareth died.”

Although the police did not demonstrate that it was possible for a person to lock himself inside a bag, Hewitt said, they saw video footage of this being done.

Why Williams would have done so was unclear. The 2012 coroner’s inquest heard evidence that he had visited websites dedicated to bondage and “claustrophilia,” which involves seeking sexual thrills from being shut in enclosed spaces.

Williams’ family said in a statement yesterday that they stood by the coroner’s findings — that he probably was the victim of an unlawful killing — rather than those of the police.

Las Vegas Guardian Express : Gareth Williams ‘Spy in a Bag’ Death Still a Mystery

Gareth Williams ‘Spy in a Bag’ Death Still a Mystery

By: Nicci Mende | November 14, 2013

Gareth Williams; a British spy found dead. His naked body was badly decomposed and stuffed inside a duffel bag. Whispers of assassination and sexual fetishes gone wrong filled the city of London. Remember this stranger-than-fiction story from August 2010? Well, it seems that police have found this case unsolvable after three years of investigation. He was a code breaker for the Government Communications Headquarters under the branch of the M16, the UK’s center for foreign espionage and tragically became known as the “spy in a bag.” After three years, his death is still a mystery.

In the summer of 2010, the body of 31-year-old Williams was found stuffed inside a zipped and padlocked duffel bag in his bathtub where he had been living in a so-called M16 safe house. His body had been there for a week before it was discovered.

Police never found DNA or fingerprints to link any suspects to the scene of the crime. There were no signs of alcohol or drugs in his body. What the police did find, however, led to a new wave of speculation. More than $32,000 worth of new women’s clothes, a wig, an internet history full of S&M, and a nude photo of Williams were found in his home. While the clues captivated the public, they didn’t shed any light onto the mysterious circumstances of Gareth Williams’ death. The investigation dragged on for years for no clear leads.

On top of not finding any leads through DNA and crime scene analysis, investigators were surprised to see that no fingerprints were left around the bathtub or on the lock. Even Williams’ own fingerprints were never found near his body.

His former landlord claimed that Williams had previously become trapped in an attempt to tie himself to his bed. Investigators continued to look into the possibility of an accidental death. Journalists and experts attempted to recreate the circumstances of his death. They tried hundreds of times to lock themselves into replicas of Williams’ bag. Not a single man of Williams’ size was able to close and lock the bag.

Last year, the coroner’s office concluded that Gareth Williams had “probably” been murdered. They called his death “unnatural and likely to have been criminally mediated.” Williams’ family accused the police of a cover-up. With no conclusive evidence, however, the speculation continued.

Scotland Yard has finally released a new statement on the 2010 crime. While they say that there is no evidence to support any one theory “beyond all reasonable doubt,” the Metropolitan Police’s re-investigation has concluded that his death was likely to have been an accident. The have now closed the case. After three years of investigation, they have found no reason to believe that he would have been murdered in connection with his work nor have they found any evidence that he had been planning to take his own life.

It seems the Williams’ family may never have the answers that they have been anxiously awaiting for all of these years. Even Coroner Fiona Wilcox admits that “most of the fundamental questions in relation to how Gareth died remain unanswered.” The death of Gareth Williams, the “spy in a bag,” remains a mystery. Now, the investigation has been closed, and his family has no answers.

IBT : Spy in the Bag Gareth Williams Accidental Death Claim Fails to Silence Conspiracy Theories

Spy in the Bag Gareth Williams Accidental Death Claim Fails to Silence Conspiracy Theories

By Ewan Palmer | November 14, 2013

The family lawyer of MI6 spy Gareth Williams has rekindled speculation that his death was not an accident with the claim that he was gagged at the original 2012 inquest into Williams' death.

Williams was found padlocked inside a sports bag in the bathtub of his Pimlico flat in August 2010. The 31-year-old former GCHQ worker is believed to have been there for nearly a week.

Despite the baffling circumstances about his death and a coroner ruling it likely that he had been killed unlawfully, police declared that it was a "more probable conclusion" that there was no other person present when Williams died.

The Metropolitan Police originally agreed with coroner Fiona Wilcox's verdict that someone else may have been involved in the spy's death. But the police U-turn came despite Deputy Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt admitting there was "gaps in [their] understanding" of the case and several questions that could not be answered.

Police were unable to explain why none of Williams' DNA was found in the bathtub nor the padlock on the bag.

The deceased's family said they were "disappointed" that the full circumstances surrounding his death were unknown and maintain that he was killed unlawfully.

Anthony O'Toole, their lawyer, has claimed that he was blocked from interviewing an MI6 agent during the original inquest death and was convinced that "dark arts" are at play.

He told the Daily Mirror: "I was not allowed by the coroner to say to the spook, 'You know how to get into the flats without keys, don't you?' I was told it was contrary to national security.

"My suggestion is that the dark arts were involved and there was a curious lack of evidence in there, almost like it had been swept clean."

O'Toole was convinced someone else was involved in the death and that all evidence of foul play had been removed.

O'Toole said: "The coroner said there was a third party, there is no doubt about it. The coroner also suggested there was an unlawful killing by a third party.

"There is no doubt there was somebody else there."

The lawyer also asked why more was not done to search for Williams after he was reported missing.

"The curious thing in the cross-examination of spooks was that his line manager went to his flat twice, before it all hit the fan, and merely knocked on the door," he said.

"Now these people by their profession can make entries anywhere, so you would have thought if someone had been missing five days and he was a spy they might have gone into the flat and had a look."

During the investigations, specialists found that it was theoretically possible for a person to lock themselves inside a bag, with the same type of lock, and in the position the spy was found in.

Police added there was "no evidence of any animosity towards [Williams], and it has not been possible to identify anyone with a motive for causing him harm".

To report problems or to leave feedback about this article, e-mail: e.palmer@ibtimes.co.uk
To contact the editor, e-mail: editor@ibtimes.co.uk

Wales Online : Lawyer of dead Welsh spy Gareth Williams' family claims he was gagged at inquest

Lawyer of dead Welsh spy Gareth Williams' family claims he was gagged at inquest

Anthony O'Toole believes there has been a security cover-up over Mr Williams' death after police yesterday insisted his death was probably accidental

By WalesOnline | November 14, 2013

The parents of spy Gareth Williams whose body was found in a bag rejected police claims yesterday that his death was accidental.

And their lawyer has said he was gagged at the 2012 inquest. Anthony O’Toole told the Daily Mirror there had been a security services cover-up, adding: “My suggestion is that the dark arts were involved.”

The body of MI6 codebreaker Gareth Williams, a 31-year-old maths genius, was found inside a padlocked sports holdall in a bath at a central London safehouse in August 2010.

It is believed he had been dead for more than a week.

Yesterday it was claimed that his grieving parents, Ian and Ellen, have been prevented from finding out the truth about how he died.

Mr O’ Toole, the family’s lawyer, revealed yesterday that he was banned from grilling an MI6 agent during the original inquest last year.

He said he was prevented from asking a key question of Mr Williams’ line manager – known only as Agent G – on how secret service officers could have entered his apartment.

Mr O’Toole said: “I was not allowed by the coroner to say to the spook, ‘You know how to get into the flats without keys, don’t you?’ I was told it was contrary to national security.”

He added: “My suggestion is that the dark arts were involved and there was a curious lack of evidence in there, almost like it had been swept clean.”

Mr O’Toole spoke out as Mr Williams’ family rejected a statement from Scotland Yard yesterday stating that his death was “probably an accident”.

The claim, following an 18-month review of the investigation, contradicts the findings of last year’s inquest, which pointed to the likely involvement of a “third party”.

Coroner Fiona Wilcox said in a narrative verdict that she was “satisfied that on the balance of probabilities that Gareth was killed unlawfully”.

His family fear that spies gained access to his apartment and removed crucial evidence before police found the body.

In a statement they said: “We are naturally disappointed that it is still not possible to state with certainty how Gareth died.

“And the fact that the circumstances of his death are still unknown adds to our grief.

“We note that the investigation has been conducted with further interviews upon some of the witnesses who gave evidence at the inquest, and that the investigation team were at last able to interview directly members of GCHQ and SIS.

“We consider that on the basis of the facts at present known, the coroner’s verdict accurately reflects the circumstances of Gareth’s death.”

They said they were “disappointed” over the failure of MI6 to make inquiries “concerning Gareth’s welfare” when he failed to show up for work.

The family added: “We believe that if proper steps had been taken in the same manner as any reasonable employer further information relating to the cause of his death might have become apparent and not have been lost due to the length of time before Gareth’s body was found.

“This lack of concern for Gareth’s well-being remains an overriding feature of our thoughts following the death of a dear son and brother.”

The initial police inquiry concluded, like the inquest, that someone else was probably present. But in a dramatic U-turn yesterday, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt said: “The Metropolitan Police’s position is that, on balance, it is a more probable conclusion that there was no other person present when Gareth died.”

But he admitted: “The reality is that for both hypotheses, there exist evidential contradictions and gaps in our understanding.”

Mr Hewitt said detectives still could not explain why none of Mr Williams’ DNA was found on the padlock of the holdall or why his palm prints were not on the rim of the bath. They also don’t know why the heating had been left on in the flat despite it being summer.

Up to 15 unidentified DNA samples were recovered from the flat, but there was no positive evidence of a third party being present at the time of death.

Mr Hewitt insisted it was “beyond credibility” that Scotland Yard had been duped by MI6 and GCHQ as part of a cover-up.

He said: “I do not believe that I have had the wool pulled over my eyes. I believe that what we are dealing with is a tragic unexplained death.”

He admitted mistakes had been made during the original inquiry including the failure to access Mr Williams’ MI6 vetting and personnel files for two years.

Irish Independent : MI6 spy probably locked himself into holdall

MI6 spy probably locked himself into holdall

Tom Whitehead | November 14, 2013

The MI6 spy found dead in a bag three years ago most likely locked himself in the holdall, police are expected to announce today.

A fresh Scotland Yard review of the so-called "spy in a bag" case has concluded Gareth Williams was able to climb into a sports bag unaided and there is little evidence of foul play.

The findings will contradict the conclusions of a coroner who last year said he had "probably" died at the hands of another.

The naked, decomposing body of Mr Williams, a codebreaker on secondment to MI6 from GCHQ, the signals intelligence agency, was found in a padlocked holdall in the bath of his flat in Pimlico, London, in August 2010.

Despite an intensive investigation, no one has been arrested and the circumstances surrounding his death have remained a mystery.

Following an eight-day inquest last year, coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox concluded that Mr Williams was probably "unlawfully killed" in a criminal act after experts found it impossible to climb into a bag by themselves.

But it is understood that it has now been concluded that it was possible for Mr Williams, who the inquest heard had an interest in escapology, to get in to the bag by himself and that was the most likely scenario.

A senior Whitehall source said: "It seems as though the coroner made a mistake in ruling out evidence that Williams could not have climbed into the holdall without outside help." (© Daily Telegraph, London)

Irish Independent

South West Business : GCHQ officer Gareth Williams probably died alone says new Met Police report

GCHQ officer Gareth Williams probably died alone says new Met Police report

by Aled Thomas, reporter, Gloucestershire Echo | November 14, 2013

Gareth Williams, the GCHQ officer who was found dead in a flat in London ‘probably died alone’ according to a new investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

Dr Williams was coming to the end of a three-year secondment to MI6 in London in August 2010, when he was reported missing by GCHQ, just days before he was due to return to Cheltenham.

Met Police officers went to his flat in Alderney Street, Pimlico, and found his body in an externally padlocked hold-all in the bath.

A post-mortem found the cause of death inconclusive and at the inquest, the coroner said that it was likely someone else was present at Dr Williams’ death.

Now a new report by the police says that may not be the case.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt, who ran the specialist crime and operations unit’s investigation, said: “Many questions remain unanswered as to the circumstances of Gareth’s untimely death. “What is clear is that this has been a tragedy for his family, friends and those who knew him.

“I understand the desire of Gareth’s family to have answers to some fundamental questions as to the circumstances of his death. For three years now we have done all we can to find those answers.”

DAC Hewitt said looking at the evidence again has led his team to a new conclusion: “After the inquest we reviewed all the evidence gathered up to that point and carried out additional enquiries.

“Learning from the inquest we set up our investigation in a different way, and this has led to greater clarity on some aspects of the case.

“Now at the end of our investigation, based on the evidence, or where we have been unable to find positive evidence, we believe that it is a more probable conclusion that there was no other person present when Gareth died.”

Dr Williams, who rented a flat in Bouncers Lane for many years and was a keen cyclist and member of Cheltenham and County Cycle Club was a brilliant mathematician originally from North Wales.

A statement from his family said they believed the coroner’s view “accurately reflects the circumstances of Gareth’s death.

“We remain very disappointed over the failure of his employers at MI6 to take even the most basic of enquiries concerning Gareth’s welfare when he failed to attend for work on 16th August 2010.

“This lack of concern for Gareth’s wellbeing remains an overriding feature of our thoughts following the death of a dear son and brother.”

Express : Family blast MI6 as police say spy died in 'bizarre accident after locking himself in bag'

Family blast MI6 as police say spy died in 'bizarre accident after locking himself in bag'

THE family of body-in-a-bag spy Gareth Williams blasted MI6 chiefs yesterday as a Scotland Yard investigation failed to solve the mystery of his death.

John Twomey | November 14, 2013

Despite extensive inquiries, detectives can only say the codebreaker “probably” died alone in a bizarre accident.But his grieving relatives still believe the 31-year-old fitness fanatic was murdered by an unknown assassin who left his naked body padlocked inside a sports holdall in his bath.They condemned his superiors at the spy agency for failing to raise the alarm until he had been missing for 10 days.By the time his body was discovered, his corpse was already decomposing and it has not been impossible to establish a cause of death.
His family said in a statement: “We are naturally disappointed that it is still not possible to state with certainty how Gareth died, and the fact that the circumstances of his death are still unknown adds to our grief.

Her verdict prompted a renewed inquiry by Scotland Yard and a senior detective released the findings yesterday after consulting Mr Williams’s family.

For the first time, murder squad detectives have had direct access to Mr Williams’s vetting and personnel files rather than having to go through a liaison officer from the Yard’s counter-terrorism command.

Since the inquest, officers have interviewed 27 members of MI6 or GCHQ.

There is no suggestion his death is linked to his work.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt said: “Despite extensive inquiries, no evidence has been identified to establish the full circumstances of Gareth’s death beyond reasonable doubt.”

But he added: “Our view is the most probable scenario is that Gareth was alone when this accident happened.”

Police suspect the spy locked himself into the red North Face holdall - possibly during a lone sex game or as an experiment in escapology - and suffocated when he could not get out.

Scotland Yard said yesterday Coroner Dr Wilcox now accepts that findings of the police and the conclusion that Mr Williams probably died alone by accident.

But there will be no new inquest and her original verdict still stands. Mr Williams’s family has previously said they believe some agency specialising in the “dark arts” is linked to his death.

They said yesterday: “We consider that, on the basis of the facts at present known, the coroner’s verdict accurately reflects the circumstances of Gareth’s death.”

A series of vital questions remained yesterday which the Yard investigation has failed to answer.

• If the spy locked himself inside the bag, why is there no trace of his DNA on the padlock?

• If he lowered himself into the bag in the bath, why didn’t he leave his palm prints on the bath rim?

• It is theoretically possible for a person to lock themselves inside into such a bag but where is the conclusive evidence that Mr Williams did so?

• Why was the heating switched on in the middle of summer?

• Up to 15 DNA traces found in the modest apartment remain unidentified so who left them?

Mr Hewitt dismissed reports that the flat had been subjected to some kind of “forensic clean” as fingermarks and DNA going back several years have been recovered.

The veteran detective also rejected the idea MI6 had “pulled the wool over his eyes” and said the spy agency had fully co-operated with the Yard.

Mr Williams, who worked for GCHQ and was on secondment to MI6, was deeply interested in women’s fashion and had a collection of women’s designer clothes worth around £15,000 in his flat.

Most of the garments were still in boxes and none of it had been worn. He had taken two college courses in clothing design.

Mr Hewitt said yesterday: “I am satisfied that the existence of the clothing has not direct bearing on the circumstances of Gareth’s death.”

Extensive examination of the spy’s phones and laptops failed to shed any light on the mystery.

Inquiries revealed Mr Williams as an intensely private person with few close friends.

But Mr Hewitt said: “The universal view of colleagues was of a conscientious and decent man with a few well known hobbies such as his cycling and climbing.

“There is no evidence of any animosity towards Gareth and it has not been possible to identify anyone with a motive for causing him harm.” Forensic work to identify the unknown DNA traces is continuing and the Yard says the case will be kept under regular review.

Sydney Morning Herald : 'Spy in a bag': Gareth Williams' family reject accidental death verdict

'Spy in a bag': Gareth Williams' family reject accidental death verdict

Tom Whitehead | The Telegraph, London | November 14, 2013

The family of Gareth Williams, the MI6 spy who was found dead in a locked bag, has rejected a police conclusion that he died in an accident.

Scotland Yard ended its three-year investigation on Wednesday (UK time) into the so-called ‘‘spy in a bag’’ case. It said Mr Williams, 31, probably got into a bag by himself and died when he could not get out.

His family still believe he was murdered and made a fresh attack on his spy masters for failures over his welfare.

The naked, decomposing body of Mr Williams, who was on secondment to MI6, was found in a padlocked holdall in the bath of his flat in Pimlico, central London, in August 2010.

An inquest last year concluded that he was ‘‘unlawfully killed’’ and put in the bath by another person. These findings have been contradicted by the Metropolitan Police inquiry.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt, who led the police investigation, said there was no evidence of third party involvement in the death. But he admitted that no evidence had been able to establish the exact ‘‘circumstances of Gareth’s death’’.

Police have effectively ended their inquires into the case but said they would keep it under review.

A statement issued on behalf of Mr Williams’s parents, Ian and Ellen, and his sister, Ceri Subbe, said: ‘‘We are naturally disappointed that it is still not possible to state with certainty how Gareth died, and the fact that the circumstances of his death are still unknown adds to our grief.

"We consider that, on the basis of the facts at present known, the coroner’s verdict accurately reflects the circumstances of Gareth’s death.’’

Dr Fiona Wilcox, the coroner, last year said the spy was probably ‘‘unlawfully killed’’, largely because none of his DNA was found on the rim of the bath or the padlock.

Mr Hewitt said the police’s ‘‘position is that, on balance, it is a more probable conclusion that there was no other person present when Gareth died’’.

The police inquiry concluded it was possible for one person to climb into and lock the bag without assistance.

There was also no evidence of a forced entry or struggle in the flat and suggestions that all DNA and fingerprints had been wiped in a sinister ‘‘deep clean’’ were a ‘‘fallacy’’, Mr Hewitt said.

He said there was no evidence that his death was connected to his work. ‘‘I do not believe that I have had the wool pulled over my eyes. I believe that what we are dealing with is a tragic unexplained death,’’ he added.

The inquest heard that Mr Williams had several items of women’s clothing in his flat, but the coroner said it was because of his interest in fashion.

Mr Hewitt said there was nothing to suggest other reasons, but he confirmed that the spy had visited several bondage websites, a fact that also emerged at the inquest.

‘‘Three years of extensive investigative activity have developed a very clear profile of Gareth,’’ said Mr Hewitt.

‘‘He was, without doubt, a private person who was very close to his family and had few other close friends. That said, the universal view of colleagues was of a conscientious and decent man with a few, well-known hobbies such as his cycling and climbing.

‘‘There is no evidence of any animosity towards Gareth, and it has not been possible to identify anyone with a motive for causing him harm.’’

Herald Scotland : Police believe accident killed spy found in bag

Police believe accident killed spy found in bag

November 14, 2013

SPY Gareth Williams, whose body was found in a holdall, probably died alone in an accident, police concluded.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt yesterday revealed his team disagree with the conclusion of a coroner last year that the codebreaker was probably killed unlawfully.

Mr Hewitt said the 31-year-old's death was "most ­probably" an accident,

He said: "With the ­conclusion of the ­investigation, the Metropolitan Police's position is that, on balance, it is a more ­probable conclusion that there was no other person present when Gareth died."

Mr Williams's family said they were "naturally disappointed" and said they still believe he was killed.

Mr Williams, originally from Anglesey, was found in the bag in the bath at his flat in Pimlico, central London, on August 23, 2010.

None of his DNA was found on the lock on the bag and his palm prints were not found on the rim of the bath.

KABC : Agent in a Bag

Agent in a Bag

November 14, 2013 ??

More than three years after the naked, decomposing body of British spy Gareth Williams was discovered stuffed inside a locked gym bag at the bottom of his bathtub, the mystery over his bizarre death still continues.

London’s Metropolitan Police said Wednesday that their investigation had found that Williams likely died in an accident with no one else involved.

ABC's Tom River's tells McIntyre in the Morning on KABC that everything in the home looked like it was suppose to according to investigators.

"No DNA on the gym bag not Williams not anyone else's not any DNA on the pad lock so this is a real mystery not even a palm prints on the bathroom tub," said Rivers.

Nobody knows if Williams crawled in there himself or if somebody put him in there according to police.

"Big mystery and big questions holes in this thing you can drive a truck throw them," said Rivers.

Another mystery in the case is there was women's clothing, wigs, and cosmetics in William's apartment. But Fiona Wilcox, Coroner, said she thought Williams bought these items out of an interest in fashion rather than a sexual motivation.

Rivers said there were articles at the time Williams was found that said he may have been prone to wearing women's clothes, but that was shot down by his family.

"We don't know, this just brings up another interesting aspect to this whole thing and I guess he didn't have a whole lot of friends in this fine community it raises all kinds of questions," said Rivers.

The big question still remains, why and it may have been something to do with the secret work he was involved in that nobody has a clue in, according to Rivers.

Canada dot Com : Spy dead in bag victim of accident, say police

Spy dead in bag victim of accident, say police

News Services | November 14, 2013

More than three years after the body of British spy Gareth Williams was discovered stuffed inside a locked gym bag at the bottom of his bathtub, the mystery over his bizarre death lingers, and a police investigation has done little to clear it up.

London's Metropolitan Police said Wednesday that their investigation had found that Williams likely died in an accident with no one else involved. But the tentative conclusion, which the police hedged by acknowledging many gaps haven't been filled in, is unlikely to calm conspiracy theories surrounding the case.

Williams, a cyberwarfare expert, worked for Britain's GCHQ eavesdropping service and was attached to the overseas espionage agency MI6 when he died.

© Copyright (c) Postmedia News

Daily Star : Family of MI6 spy say there is no way their son killed himself

Family of MI6 spy say there is no way their son killed himself

THE family of spy in the bag Gareth Williams were furious yesterday as police said he probably killed himself by accident.

By Jimmy McCloskey | November 14, 2013

The MI6 worker’s naked body was found in a padlocked holdall at his London flat in August, 2010.

A coroner ruled Gareth had been unlawfully killed, sparking fears of a plot by spooks.

But the Metropolitan Police yesterday revealed the results of a year-long review and claimed his death was a tragic accident.

Relatives of the 31-year-old spy are furious at the report. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewett said:

“The Metropolitan Police’s position is that, on balance, it is a more probable conclusion that there was no other person present when Gareth died.”

He said the death was “most probably” an accident.

But he admitted it was impossible “to establish the full circumstances of Gareth’s death beyond all reasonable doubt”.

Yesterday the spy’s family said in a statement: “We are naturally disappointed that it is still not possible to state with certainty how Gareth died.

“The fact that the circumstances of his death are still unknown adds to our grief.

“We consider that on the basis of the facts the coroner’s verdict accurately reflects the circumstances of Gareth’s death.”

Coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox last year said theories he had been killed by fellow spies “remained
a legitimate line of inquiry”.

But Commissioner Hewett dismissed claims his officers had been duped by MI6.

He said: “I do not believe that I have had the wool pulled over my eyes. I believe that what we are dealing with is a tragic unexplained death.”

Mirror : Spy-in-the-bag Gareth Williams' lawyer was banned from asking MI6 agent how secret service could have entered his flat

Spy-in-the-bag Gareth Williams' lawyer was banned from asking MI6 agent how secret service could have entered his flat

He revealed that he was banned from grilling the agent during the original inquest last year

November 14, 2013

The bizarre death of MI6 codebreaker Gareth Williams has baffled investigators for more than three years.

The 31-year-old maths genius was found inside a padlocked sports holdall in a bath at a Central London safehouse in August 2010.

It is believed he had been dead for more than a week.

And yesterday it was claimed that his grieving parents, Ian and Ellen, have been prevented from finding out the truth about how he died.

The family’s lawyer, Anthony O’Toole, revealed that he was banned from grilling an MI6 agent during the original inquest last year.

He said he was prevented from asking a key question of Mr Williams’ line manager – known only as Agent G – on how secret service officers could have entered his apartment.

Mr O’Toole said: “I was not allowed by the coroner to say to the spook, ‘You know how to get into the flats without keys, don’t you?’ I was told it was contrary to national security.”

He added: “My suggestion is that the dark arts were involved and there was a curious lack of evidence in there, almost like it had been swept clean.”

Mr O’Toole spoke out as Mr Williams’ family rejected a statement from Scotland Yard yesterday stating that his death was “probably an accident”.

The claim, following an 18-month review of the investigation , contradicts the findings of last year’s inquest, which pointed to the likely involvement of a “third party”.

Coroner Fiona Wilcox said in a narrative verdict that the death was “unnatural and likely to have been criminally mediated”.

She was “satisfied that on the balance of probabilities that Gareth was killed unlawfully”.

Mr O’Toole fears spies gained access to his apartment and removed crucial evidence before police found the body.

In a statement the family said:“We are naturally disappointed that it is still not possible to state with certainty how Gareth died.

“And the fact that the circumstances of his death are still unknown adds to our grief.

“We note that the investigation has been conducted with further interviews upon some of the witnesses who gave evidence at the inquest, and that the investigation team were at last able to interview directly members of GCHQ and SIS. We consider that on the basis of the facts at present known, the coroner’s verdict accurately reflects the circumstances of Gareth’s death.”

They went on to say they were “disappointed” over the failure of MI6 to make inquiries “concerning Gareth’s welfare” when he failed to show up for work.

The family added: “We believe that if proper steps had been taken in the same manner as any reasonable employer further information relating to the cause of his death might have become apparent and not have been lost due to the length of time before Gareth’s body was found.

“This lack of concern for Gareth’s well-being remains an overriding feature of our thoughts following the death of a dear son and brother.”

The initial police inquiry concluded, like the inquest, that someone else was probably present.

But in a dramatic U-turn yesterday, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt said: “The Metropolitan Police’s position is that, on balance, it is a more probable conclusion that there was no other person present when Gareth died.”

But he admitted: “The reality is that for both hypotheses, there exist evidential contradictions and gaps in our understanding.”

Mr Hewitt said detectives still could not explain why none of Mr Williams’ DNA was found on the padlock of the holdall or why his palm prints were not on the rim of the bath.

They also don’t know why the heating had been left on in the flat despite it being summer.

Up to 15 unidentified DNA samples were recovered from the flat, but there was no positive evidence of a third party being present at the time of death.

Mr Hewitt insisted it was “beyond credibility” that Scotland Yard had been duped by MI6 and GCHQ as part of a cover-up.

He said: “I do not believe that I have had the wool pulled over my eyes. I believe that what we are dealing with is a tragic unexplained death.”

He admitted mistakes had been made during the original inquiry including the failure to access Mr Williams’ MI6 vetting and personnel files for two years.

But during the latest probe officers were given full access to details of Mr Williams’ work, interviewing a total of 27 members of staff from the two agencies as part of their investigation.

Mr Williams, described as mild-mannered and a keen cyclist, had been on secondment to MI6 from GCHQ.

His line manager, Agent G, was severely criticised at the inquest for failing to issue an alert despite the agent not being at work for more than a week. Some believe this would have given the intelligence agencies more than enough time to remove any evidence that could be potentially embarrassing to the state.

Mr Williams’ job was said to involve tracking the flow of money from Russia to Europe. One theory is that he was killed by Russian agents.

Family lawyer Mr O’Toole remains convinced a “third party” was involved in Mr Williams’ death.

He said: “The coroner said there was a third party, there is no doubt about it. The coroner also suggested there was an unlawful killing by a third party.

“There is no doubt there was somebody else there.”

Asked if he believed an intelligence agency went into the flat before police found the body, he said: “The curious thing in cross-examination of spooks was that his line manager went to his flat twice, before it all hit the fan, and merely knocked on the door.

“Now these people by their profession can make entries anywhere, so you would have thought if someone had been missing five days and he was a spy they might have gone into the flat and had a look.”

There was also no physical evidence of any forced entry or any sign that Mr Williams was involved in a struggle.

Another theory is that agents may have returned to the apartment through a skylight to clean up evidence – even while police officers were on guard outside the flat.

Scotland Yard said Mr Williams’ interest in women’s clothing had fuelled speculation over his death. Around £20,000 worth of clothing was found in his flat, including many dresses still in their wrapping.

But the coroner had found these were a “fashion collection” and did not believe they were relevant.

The inquest heard the most likely cause of death was either oxygen depletion or hypercapnia – a build-up of carbon dioxide inside the holdall.

[video here]