Sun : Video of bag bulging with body of spy shown at inquest

Video of bag bulging with body of spy shown at inquest

By STAFF REPORTER | April 25, 2012

DISTURBING footage of a red holdall bulging with the curled-up body of MI6 spy Gareth Williams was played at his inquest today.

The video — taken by police officers who discovered the 31-year-old's body at his Pimlico, West London, home on August 23, 2010 — took the court on a walking tour of his immaculately kept flat.

It revealed carefully arranged piles of books, an extensive CD collection, some of the spy’s own paintings, as well as a red woman’s wig, lipstick and make-up.

And it zoomed in on the North Face bag holding the tragic codebreaker, showing impressions from his limbs inside and a brass padlock locking two zips together from the outside.

Police images of the death scene also showed a cutting from the Observer newspaper headlined “top five regrets of the dying”.

Mr Williams' sister, Ceri Subbe, watched the footage alone after her devastated parents left the court.

Officers found the spy's decomposing body locked inside the holdall in the bathroom of the flat after a cop on foot patrol received instructions to carry out a “welfare check” on Mr Williams, who had not been seen for around 12 days.

Despite exhaustive tests his cause of death remains a mystery.

There was no sign of a break-in — cash was left in a cupboard and a mobile phone was lying on the living room table.

But Detective Chief Inspector Jackie Sebire, the officer in charge of the case, today appeared to rule out the idea Mr Williams got in the bag himself.

She told Westminster Coroner’s Court: “My thought or my opinion since I went into the scene is that a third party had been involved in the death or by putting the body in the bag. So my primary focus was looking at the bathroom.”

Specks of mystery DNA were discovered on the bag, the inquest heard.

DCI Sebire said “two minor components of another contributor’s DNA” were found on the zip toggle and padlock.

She also revealed Mr Williams was found in the foetal position, there were no signs of struggle and his body position appeared “calm”.

She added that she would have expected to find fingerprints left by Mr Williams on the bathroom tiles.

She said: “Certainly there were no prints of anybody’s in the lower-tiled wall.

“He was in the foetal position. His legs were folded up towards his chest, his arms were bent slightly inwards.

“In my opinion he was very calm. His face was very calm. His hands were resting on his chest.”

The last evidence he was alive was left on August 16 when he looked at a cycling time trial website.

The inquest had already heard there was £20,000 worth of women’s clothing in the flat, described as “immaculate” and “in pristine condition”.

Ms Sebire described the “high-value” items found in the smaller bedroom, which included 26 shoes and boots, mainly bearing designer labels such as Christian Louboutin, Stella McCartney, Christian Dior and Chloe.

There were also wigs wrapped in net packaging, which “appear to be unused” including one Mr Williams had bought on his recent trip to the US.

Make-up items including nail varnish and eye shadow were “all new” and apparently unused.

Asked by Coroner Fiona Wilcox whether she thought the clothes would have fitted Mr Williams, the detective replied: “Possibly.”

Independent : Family see graphic footage of Gareth Williams’ death scene as 'mystery DNA' is found on bag containing body

Family see graphic footage of Gareth Williams’ death scene as 'mystery DNA' is found on bag containing body

Kim Sengupta | April 24, 2012

Video footage of Gareth Williams’ death scene was shown in a court today, unseen by members of his family who could not bear to view the footage which included shots of a bag with the body of Gareth Williams still inside.

Examination of the red North Face sports holdall also showed traces of the DNA of another person in the zip toggle and the padlock, the inquest into the computer specialist’s death was told. Detective Chief Inspector Jackie Sebire, who led the murder inquiry said “They were two minor components of another contributor's DNA. My thought or my opinion since I went into the scene is that a third party had been involved in the death or by putting the body in the bag.”

A graphic impression showed the way 34 year old Mr Williams was found inside the bag - in a foetal position lying on his back, naked, with his knees raised and arms folded across his chest. The key to the padlock was under his right buttock, making in “incredibly difficult” for him to have reached it in an attempt, somehow, to escape. In any event, said DCI Sebire, “there were no signs that he was trying to get out, no damage to his fingernails or hands, no tear in the lining inside the bag. He was very muscular, he trained regularly. I would at least expect some tearing to the netting. He was very calm, his face was very calm.”

An examination of the holdall in court showed that it would have been seemingly impossible for Mr Williams to have locked himself into the bag and then moved it into a bathtub where it was found, the coroner, Dr Fiona Wilcox, pointed out. Yet, apart from the speck of DNA on the bag, detectives had been perplexed by any sign of the presence of a ‘third party’ anywhere else in the MI6 officer’s home in Pimlico, south west London.

The police had found no evidence that attempts had been made to wipe out incriminating evidence. "There was no sign of the place being cleaned so there were no signs of bleach to destroy it” said DCI Sabire. "There was no evidence the bag itself had been cleaned or washed down or the lock or handles had been cleaned to remove traces of DNA evidence."

What the police did find in the flat was £20,000 worth of designer clothes for women all "immaculate" and "in pristine condition" and many in tissue paper; make-up items including nail varnish and eye shadow that were "all new" and apparently unused; wigs wrapped in net packaging, which "appear to be unused", including one Mr Williams had bought on his recent trip to the US and 26 pairs of boot and shoes most bearing designer labels such as Christian Louboutin, Stella McCartney, Christian Dior and Chloe, some which appear to have been worn.

The video footage, taken on the evening of 23rd August 2010, when Mr Williams’ body was discovered, revealed no sign of a break-in at his home, with cash left in a cupboard and a mobile phone on the living room table. The place was in a pristime condition apart from the bedroom where a blue toweling dressing gown, which had shown traces of Mr Williams’ semen, the inquest was told, and a duvet cover had been flung on the floor. The wardrobe door was open and a white shirt, still in its laundry wrapping.

Giving evidence later, Sian Jones, who described herself as a “close friend” of Mr Williams, denied that he was a transvestite. “We talked about all kinds of things, personal matters. I feel he would have been able to confide in me, I wouldn’t have been judgmental” she said.

The inquest continues

Sky : Spy inquest hears DNA found

Spy inquest hears DNA found

April 24, 2012

A senior detective has revealed at an inquest that small "components" of another person's DNA were found on the padlocked bag containing the body of MI6 codebreaker Gareth Williams.

The spy's naked and decomposing body was found in a holdall in the bath of his home in Pimlico, central London, on August 23, 2010.

On the second day of evidence at Westminster Coroner's Court, a police video of the crime scene was shown - which included footage of the bag in the flat.

DCI Jackie Sebire gave details to the inquest about the investigation into Mr Williams' death and the forensic evidence found at the scene.

The codebreaker was found lying on his back inside the red North Face bag, with his legs folded up to his chest.

She said it was believed the codebreaker did not attempt to get out of the bag, as there were no signs of distress on his body or marks inside the holdall.

While weak blood stains from Mr Williams were found on the holdall's handles - "two minor components of another contributor's DNA" were found on the bag and padlock.

DCI Sebire said: "My thought or my opinion since I went into the scene is that a third party had been involved in the death or by putting the body in the bag."

The holdall had been padlocked on the outside and the inquest heard how two zip eyelets would have been drawn together before the padlock bar was slipped through both, then turned and pushed closed.

The police video of the Pimlico flat, shot the day after Mr Williams' body was found, showed it was tidy, but very sparse.

Items which can be seen inside include a bright orange wig hanging on the back of a chair in the living room, and a red T-shirt - similar to the one the spy was wearing in the last known CCTV images of him.

Video of the flat also showed a cutting from the Observer newspaper headlined "Top Five Regrets Of The Dying".

On Monday the inquest heard there was still a "real possibility" of bringing criminal charges over Mr Williams' death - as his sister revealed he had complained of "friction" at work and had become disillusioned with life in London.

The inquest continues.

UKPA : Mystery DNA at spy's death scene

Mystery DNA at spy's death scene

April 24, 2012

A mysterious DNA discovery at the central London death scene of MI6 spy Gareth Williams was revealed as a detective said she believed there was third party involvement.

Unidentified forensic traces were left on the bag encasing his curled-up body in a bath, Detective Chief Inspector Jackie Sebire said.

The leading officer in the case came close to ruling out suicide as she said "two minor components of another contributor's DNA" were found on the zip toggle and padlock.

Her evidence came as footage of a red holdall bulging with his body shape was played in public for the first time.

Ms Sebire said her officers had looked at all possibilities. But she told Westminster Coroner's Court: "My thought or my opinion since I went into the scene is that a third party had been involved in the death or by putting the body in the bag."

Items on display in footage of Mr Williams' immaculately kept flat included a newspaper cutting headlined "top five regrets of the dying".

The police video took the inquest on a walking tour of his Pimlico home, showing a woman's red wig, lipstick and make-up, in the condition that it was found.

Footage then showed close-up images of the white bathroom suite where Mr Williams's body was found. The film zoomed in on the red North Face bag, showing bulges from his limbs inside and a brass padlock locking two zips together from the outside.

There was no sign of a break-in at the flat, with cash left in a cupboard and a mobile phone on the living room table.

Mr Williams's sister, Ceri Subbe, sat in the hearing without her parents, who walked out this morning over delays in evidence. The inquest was adjourned until Wednesday, when friends of Mr Williams will give evidence.

Copyright © 2012 The Press Association. All rights reserved.

Mirror : Body-in-a-bag DNA riddle: Traces of stranger's DNA found on zip and padlock on holdall... but nowhere else in MI6 spy's flat

Body-in-a-bag DNA riddle: Traces of stranger's DNA found on zip and padlock on holdall... but nowhere else in MI6 spy's flat

Traces of unidentified DNA were found on the lock and zip toggle of the sports holdall left in the MI6 officer’s bath

By Tom Pettifor | April 24, 2012

Spy Gareth Williams was placed inside his own bag by a mystery person who may also have killed him, his inquest heard today.

Traces of unidentified DNA were found on the lock and zip toggle of the sports holdall left in the MI6 officer’s bath.

Det Ch Insp Jackie Sebire – leading the inquiry into the bizarre death of the MI6 codebreaker – dismissed claims that the spy had locked himself into his bag.

She told his inquest today: “My thought since I went into the scene is that a third party had been involved in the death or putting the bag in the bath, so my primary focus was to identify anyone who had been in the bathroom.”

However, no traces of any stranger was found anywhere else in the flat.

The spy’s parents both left the inquest today before graphic images of their son’s death scene were shown.

Details also emerged of £20,000 worth of women’s designer clothing which were found in his flat, along with several women’s wigs and 26 pairs of women’s shoes.

The inquest was also told how MI6 failed to inform police when the meticulous timekeeper went missing after a working trip to the States.

His body was eventually found in his flat a week later by police only after his sister Ceri Subbe raised the alarm.

Footage of the red holdall bulging with his curled-up body was played to the inquest today.

Computer-generated images were also shown of Mr Williams lying inside on his back with his knees, hands and chin pressed into his chest.

DCI Sebire said: “In my opinion he was very calm, his face was calm, his hands were lying on his chest.

“It would have been very hot and uncomfortable within the bag.”

The inquest heard that there were two keys which fitted the padlock found inside the bag under his right buttock.

DCI Sebire also confirmed there were “two minor components of another person’s DNA” on the zip toggle and a “small component of another contributor’s DNA” on the padlock.

But she said the traces were very small and no match could be made.

Mr Williams’ grief-stricken parents, Ellen and Ian, walked out of before video footage of his flat was played.

Images showed a Sunday newspaper cutting found on a table, headlined: “Top five regrets of the dying.”

The wish list included: “I wish I had the courage to live life true to myself and not what others expected of me”, “I wish I had the courage to express my feelings” and “I wish I had let myself be happy.”

The video took the inquest on a walking tour of Mr Williams’ immaculately kept flat in Pimlico, Central London.

Around £20,000 worth of designer women’s clothing were found, along with several women’s wigs and 26 pairs of women’s shoes, including pairs by Stella McCartney and Christian Louboutin.

The shoes were all in a size six or a six-and-a-half, which would have fitted the cycling enthusiast, Westminster coroner’s court was told.

Four pairs appeared to have been worn. There was also make-up, including nail vanish, concealer and eye shadow.

But Sian Jones – a friend of Mr Williams from school in Wales – told the hearing she didn’t believe he was a transvestite.

She said: “I feel like he’d have been able to confide in me... and I wouldn’t have judged him.”

Ms Jones said she would see him every couple of days and he would shower her with gifts.

“He did say he was not happy in London,” she said. “He said that he found it quite lonely and within work it was very cliquey.

"I would say that we were childhood sweethearts when we were in school and I’d say Gareth was very fond of me.

“He was a very kind-hearted person, very lovely, very inspiring to be around and very down to earth.”

The hearing heard how Mr Williams had travelled to the US to meet intelligence agents before flying back to Gatwick on August 11, 2010.

Various receipts and CCTV footage showed that he spent some of the following four days shopping in London.

On August 13 he went on his own to see “tranny superstar” Jonny Woo performing in Bethnal Green, East London.

His final known journey was captured by a string of cameras on August 15 as he shopped in Harrods before walking home via Victoria bus station.

DCI Sebire said that the brilliant mathematician – seconded to MI6 from GCHQ – looked relaxed and did not appear to be followed.

The last known time he is believed to have been alive was 1.03am on August 16 when his computer was used to log on to a cycling website.

Four intelligence agents are due to give evidence at the hearing from behind a screen later this week.

The inquest continues.

Daily Record : 'Mystery DNA' found on bag which contained body of MI6 spy, inquest hears

'Mystery DNA' found on bag which contained body of MI6 spy, inquest hears

April 24, 2012

SPECKS of mystery DNA were discovered on the bag which held the dead body of MI6 spy Gareth Williams, an inquest heard today.

Detective Chief Inspector Jackie Sebire said "two minor components of another contributor's DNA" were found on the zip toggle and padlock.

The evidence was revealed as she appeared to rule out that Mr Williams did not get in the bag himself.

DCI Sebire stated that officers had looked at "all aspects" of possibilities, as footage of the red holdall bulging with his body shape was played for the first time.

She told Westminster Coroner's Court: "My thought or my opinion since I went into the scene is that a third party had been involved in the death or by putting the body in the bag. So my primary focus was looking at the bathroom."

A video of the flat where Mr Williams lived took the inquest on a walking tour of his Pimlico home, showing a woman's red wig, lipstick and make-up, in the condition that it was found.

Footage then showed close-up images of the white bathroom suite where the spy's body was found.

The film zoomed in on the red North Face bag, showing bulges from his limbs inside and a brass padlock locking two zips together from the outside.

Mr Williams was found in the foetal position in the bag, there were no signs of struggle and his body position appeared "calm", Ms Sebire said.

Ms Sebire said she would have expected to find fingerprints left by Mr Williams on the bathroom tiles.

"Certainly there were no prints of anybody's in the lower-tiled wall," she added.

"He was in the foetal position. His legs were folded up towards his chest, his arms were bent slightly inwards."

She added: "In my opinion he was very calm. His face was very calm. His hands were resting on his chest."

Mr Williams had not damaged the bag or sustained injuries to his hands, the detective said.

"He was very muscular, he trained regularly. It is only my opinion but I would at least expect some tearing to the netting."

Ms Sebire, who described how the top-floor flat was hot and stuffy, said her inquiry had explored all possibilities over 21 months.

The officer, who received 200 items of information from the public, added: "It was a very extensive inquiry. We have looked at all aspects of it."

Ms Sebire said she allowed a counter-terrorism officer from SO15 - the only command at Scotland Yard with regular contact with MI6 - into the flat.

But she said she was solely responsible for investigations into the death.

The last computer evidence of him being alive was Mr Williams looking at a cycling time trial website on August 16, the officer added.

Mr Williams's sister, Ceri Subbe, sat in the hearing without her parents as images showed the scene which greeted detectives as they arrived at his flat on August 23 2010.

The flat gave an insight into the codebreaker's mind, showing carefully arranged piles of books and an extensive CD collection.

There was no sign of a break-in at the flat, with footage showing Mr Williams had left cash in a cupboard and a mobile phone on the living room table. There was little clutter and mess in the flat except for a dressing gown and quilt discarded on the bedroom floor.

Ms Sebire said: "I also found it difficult to explain because of his general tidiness. In my opinion, it was not something that was easily explainable."

Ms Sebire detailed the forensic evidence found there, including blood and semen.

The communal front door was secured by a mortise lock and union lock, and a spot of someone else's blood was found in the communal hallway, the inquest heard.

Inside the flat itself, an "old" and "very small" spot of Mr Williams's blood, which could have been from a cut, was found on the carpet near the stairs, Ms Sebire said.

She accepted that the blood could have dried over the course of a week.

Two shoeprints detected in his kitchen were too "partial" for the size or wearer to be identified, she went on.

In the larger of his two bathrooms, the only "significant finding" was traces of semen staining on the floor by the sink, which tested positive for Mr Williams, the detective said.

Traces of his semen were also found in the main bedroom, including on his quilt, she added.

Ms Sebire also described the "high-value" items found in the flat's smaller bedroom, which included 26 shoes and boots, mainly bearing designer labels such as Christian Louboutin, Stella McCartney, Christian Dior and Chloe; wigs wrapped in net packaging, which "appear to be unused", including one Mr Williams had bought on his recent trip to the US; small and medium-sized female clothing worth an estimated £20,000, all "immaculate" and "in pristine condition" and often in tissue paper; and make-up items including nail varnish and eye shadow that were "all new" and apparently unused.

The only used items appeared to be four pairs of the size 6 and 6.5 shoes, which was Mr Williams's size, Ms Sebire said.

Asked by Coroner Fiona Wilcox whether she thought the clothes would have fitted Mr Williams, the detective replied: "Possibly."

The clothes were found in a North Face holdall and on the bed, she said.

Receipts suggested they had been collected around 2008 and 2009.

Rutland and Stamford Mercury : Mystery DNA at spy's death scene

Mystery DNA at spy's death scene

April 24, 2012

A mysterious DNA discovery at the death scene of MI6 spy Gareth Williams was revealed as a detective said she believed there was third party involvement.

Unidentified forensic traces were left on the bag encasing his curled-up body in a bath, Detective Chief Inspector Jackie Sebire said.

The leading officer in the case came close to ruling out suicide as she said "two minor components of another contributor's DNA" were found on the zip toggle and padlock. Her evidence came as footage of a red holdall bulging with his body shape was played in public for the first time.

Ms Sebire said her officers had looked at all possibilities. But she told Westminster Coroner's Court: "My thought or my opinion since I went into the scene is that a third party had been involved in the death or by putting the body in the bag."

Items on display in footage of Mr Williams' immaculately kept flat included a newspaper cutting headlined "top five regrets of the dying".

The police video took the inquest on a walking tour of his Pimlico home, showing a woman's red wig, lipstick and make-up, in the condition that it was found. Footage then showed close-up images of the white bathroom suite where Mr Williams's body was found.

The film zoomed in on the red North Face bag, showing bulges from his limbs inside and a brass padlock locking two zips together from the outside. Mr Williams was found in the foetal position in the bag, there were no signs of struggle and his body position appeared "calm", Ms Sebire said.

The officer said she would have expected to find fingerprints left by Mr Williams on the bathroom tiles. She added: "In my opinion he was very calm. His face was very calm. His hands were resting on his chest."

The flat gave an insight into the codebreaker's mind, showing carefully arranged piles of books and an extensive CD collection. There was no sign of a break-in at the flat, with cash left in a cupboard and a mobile phone on the living room table. There was little clutter except for a dressing gown and quilt discarded on the bedroom floor.

The inquest was adjourned until Wednesday, when friends of Mr Williams will give evidence.

Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2012, All Rights Reserved.

ITV : Spy death inquest shown footage of death scene

Spy death inquest shown footage of death scene

April 24, 2012 | last updated May 3, 2012

The inquest into the death of an Anglesey MI6 spy has been shown dramatic footage of the red holdall containing his body, after it was discovered.

Video was also shown of the immaculately kept apartment in up-market Pimlico in London, as well as a cutting from the Observer newspaper with the headline “top five regrets of the dying”, which was found in the flat.

Gareth Williams’ body was found on August 23, 2010 after he failed to turn up for a number of appointments.

Mr Williams' sister, Ceri Subbe, sat in the hearing without her parents as images showed the scene which greeted detectives when they arrived.

The video took the inquest on a walking tour of his home - showing a red woman's wig, lipstick and make-up - in the condition that it was found.

Footage showed close-up images of the white bathroom suite where Mr Williams's body was found.

The film zoomed in on the red North Face bag, showing bulges from his limbs inside, and a brass padlock locking two zips together from the outside.

Detectives found the Observer article detailing regrets of the dying in the living room near a book by Alan Warner and some of Mr Williams's own paintings.

There was no sign of a break-in at the flat with footage showing Mr Williams had left cash in a cupboard and a mobile phone on the living room table.

Detective Chief Inspector Jackie Sebire said there was little clutter and mess in the flat except for a dressing gown and quilt discarded on the bedroom floor.

Ms Sebire said: "I also found it difficult to explain because of his general tidiness. In my opinion it was not something that was easily explainable."

Daily Record : Footage of dead MI6 spy Gareth Williams' body is shown to inquest after mother walks out

Footage of dead MI6 spy Gareth Williams' body is shown to inquest after mother walks out

April 24, 2012

THE mother of MI6 spy Gareth Williams, who was found dead in his London flat two years ago, has walked out of inquest proceedings today.

Ellen Williams left the courtroom frustrated about legal submissions holding up the hearing into her son's death, her lawyer said.

Mrs Williams was absent as Detective Chief Inspector Jackie Sebire attempted to dash speculation that secret services removed evidence after Mr Williams was found dead in a sports holdall.

She said nobody was allowed in Mr Williams' London apartment without her knowledge after August 23, 2010.

"To the best of my knowledge I am sure that no one else got in," the detective told the hearing at Westminster Coroner's Court.

During the inquest, dramatic footage of a red holdall bulging with the curled-up body of MI6 spy Gareth Williams was played.

Video of the immaculate flat at the centre of the mysterious death was played for the first time after his parents walked out on proceedings.

Police images of the death scene also showed a cutting from the Observer newspaper headlined "top five regrets of the dying".

Forensic scene recordings were played after the detective in charge said she allowed a counter-terror officer into the crime scene.

But SO15 - the only command at Scotland Yard with regular contact with MI6 - was not in charge of the investigation, she said.

Mr Williams's sister, Ceri Subbe, sat in the hearing without her parents as images showed the scene which greeted detectives as they arrived at his flat on August 23, 2010.

The video took the inquest on a walking tour of his Pimlico home - showing a red woman's wig, lipstick and make-up - in the condition that it was found.

Footage showed close-up images of the white bathroom suite where Mr Williams's body was found.

The film zoomed in on the red North Face bag, showing bulges from his limbs inside, and a brass padlock locking two zips together from the outside.

The flat gave an insight into the codebreaker's mind, showing carefully arranged piles of books and an extensive CD collection.

Detectives found the Observer article detailing regrets of the dying in the living room near a book by Alan Warner and some of Mr Williams's own paintings.

There was no sign of a break-in at the flat with footage showing Mr Williams had left cash in a cupboard and a mobile phone on the living room table.

Detective Chief Inspector Jackie Sebire said there was little clutter and mess in the flat except for a dressing gown and quilt discarded on the bedroom floor.

Ms Sebire said: "I also found it difficult to explain because of his general tidyness. In my opinion it was not something that was easily explainable."

CCTV images were also shown to the inquest with Detective Sebire and coroner Fiona Wilcox agreeing that at no point in the footage, did anyone seem to be following him.

Image of the spy's final days show him to be relaxed as he shops at various upmarket stores in west London. On August 15, the day he was last seen alive, Mr Williams is seen shopping at Harrods and Waitrose before entering Alderney Street, where he lived at 3.05pm.

Mr Williams was due to move back to the West Country a week after his naked body was discovered padlocked inside a holdall in the bath of his flat in Pimlico, west London, on August 23, 2010.

Metro : Gareth Williams inquest sees 'body bag' as parents walk out

Gareth Williams inquest sees 'body bag' as parents walk out

By METRO NEWS REPORTER | April 24, 2012

A video showing a sports bag bulging with the body of MI6 spy Gareth Williams has been shown at the inquest into his death as his parents walked out following further delays to evidence being disclosed.

The body of Mr Williams, 31, from Anglesey, north Wales, was found in a padlocked red North Face holdall in the bath of his flat in Pimlico, central London, in August 2010.

Today the inquest overseen by coroner Fiona Wilcox was shown a forensic scene recording of the flat, taken after the discovery of Mr Williams' naked decomposing body.

The video showed a cutting from the Observer newspaper headlined 'top five regrets of the dying'.

As the inquest was taken on a walking tour of his home on Alderney Street a woman's wig, red lipstick and other make-up were all shown.

There was no sign of a break-in at the flat, with cash left in a cupboard and a mobile phone on the living room table.

The flat was completely immaculate apart from a dressing gown and quilt discarded on the bedroom floor, Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Inspector Jackie Sebire said.

'I also found it difficult to explain because of his general tidiness,' DCI Sebire said.

'In my opinion it was not something that was easily explainable.'

DCI Sebire confirmed that a counterterrorism officer from SO15 - the only command at Scotland Yard in regular contact with MI6 - was admitted to the flat but insisted security services had not interfered in a 21-month investigation that has so far drawn a blank.

A host of expensive clothing and shoes were found in Mr Williams' bedroom, including £20,000 worth of women's clothing that did not appear to have been worn and nail varnish and eye shadow.

When asked by Ms Wilcox whether the clothes would have fitted Mr Williams, DCI Sebire replied 'possibly'.

CCTV images were also shown to the inquest with Mr Williams seen walking around west London in a relaxed manner in the days leading up to his death.

August 15 2010 is the final day his movements are known, when he is seen entering Alderney Street at around 3.05pm.

He was expected to return to work the following day but Ms Wilcox said 'it became apparent he was not around'.

Mr Williams' sister Ceri Subbe was left watching proceedings without her parents after they walked out over further delays to the submission of certain evidence.

DCI Sebire added that, 'to the best of my knowledge', no one had tampered with any evidence in the flat.

UKPA : Spy inquest sees video of flat

Spy inquest sees video of flat

April 24, 2012

Dramatic footage of a red holdall bulging with the curled-up body of MI6 spy Gareth Williams, who was found dead in London, has been played to an inquest.

Video of the immaculately kept flat at the centre of his death riddle was played for the first time after his parents walked out on proceedings.

Police images of the death scene also showed a cutting from the Observer newspaper headlined "top five regrets of the dying".

Forensic scene recordings were played after the detective in charge said she allowed a counter-terror officer into the crime scene.

Mr Williams's sister, Ceri Subbe, sat in the hearing without her parents as images showed the scene which greeted detectives as they arrived at his flat on August 23, 2010.

The video took the inquest on a walking tour of his Pimlico home - showing a red woman's wig, lipstick and make-up - in the condition that it was found.

Footage showed close-up images of the white bathroom suite where Mr Williams's body was found. The film zoomed in on the red North Face bag, showing bulges from his limbs inside, and a brass padlock locking two zips together from the outside.

Detectives found the Observer article detailing regrets of the dying in the living room near a book by Alan Warner and some of Mr Williams's own paintings.

There was no sign of a break-in at the flat with footage showing Mr Williams had left cash in a cupboard and a mobile phone on the living room table.

Detective Chief Inspector Jackie Sebire said there was little clutter and mess in the flat except for a dressing gown and quilt discarded on the bedroom floor. Ms Sebire said: "I also found it difficult to explain because of his general tidyness. In my opinion it was not something that was easily explainable."

Copyright © 2012 The Press Association. All rights reserved.

Channel 4 : MI6 officer inquest sees film of bag holding body

MI6 officer inquest sees film of bag holding body

April 24, 2012

The inquest into the death of MI6 officer Gareth Williams is shown police footage for the first time of his flat and of the red holdhall where his body was found.

Detective Chief Inspector Jackie Sebire told the inquest "two minor components of another contributor's DNA" were found on the zip toggle and padlock.

The evidence came to light as she appeared to rule out that Mr Williams had got into the bag himself.

The naked and decomposing body of the MI6 agent was found in a padlocked bag in the bath of his home in Pimlico, central London, in August 2010.

Ms Sebire told Westminster coroner's court: "My thought or my opinion since I went into the scene is that a third party had been involved in the death or by putting the body in the bag. So my primary focus was looking at the bathroom."

Found in the foetal position

Video of the immaculately kept flat where Gareth Williams' body was found showed a cutting from the Observer newspaper headlined: "Top five regrets of the dying".

The video took the inquest on a walking tour of his Pimlico home, showing a woman's red wig, lipstick and make-up, in the condition that it was found.

Footage then showed close-up images of the white bathroom suite where Mr Williams' body was found.

Mr Williams was found in the foetal position in the bag. There were no signs of struggle and his body position appeared "calm", Ms Sebire said.

She said: "In my opinion he was very calm. His face was very calm. His hands were resting on his chest."

'High-value items'

Ms Sebire also described the "high-value" items found in the flat's smaller bedroom, which included 26 shoes and boots, mainly bearing designer labels such as Christian Louboutin, Stella McCartney, Christian Dior and Chloe.

In addition, there were wigs wrapped in net packaging, which "appear to be unused", including one Mr Williams had bought on his recent trip to the US; small and medium-sized female clothing worth an estimated £20,000, all "immaculate" and "in pristine condition" and often in tissue paper; and make-up items, including nail varnish and eye shadow that were apparently unused.

The only used items appeared to be four pairs of the size 6 and 6.5 shoes, which was Mr Williams' size, Ms Sebire said.

No sign of a break-in

Asked by coroner Fiona Wilcox whether she thought the clothes would have fitted Mr Williams, the detective replied: "Possibly."

Mr Williams had not damaged the bag or sustained injuries to his hands, the detective said.

"He was very muscular, he trained regularly. It is only my opinion but I would at least expect some tearing to the netting."

There was no sign of a break-in at the flat, with footage showing Mr Williams had left cash in a cupboard and a mobile phone on the living room table. There was little clutter and mess in the flat except for a dressing gown and quilt discarded on the bedroom floor.

Ms Sebire said: "I also found it difficult to explain because of his general tidiness. In my opinion, it was not something that was easily explainable."

The inquest continues.

Guardian : MI6 spy inquest shown footage of holdall containing his body

MI6 spy inquest shown footage of holdall containing his body

Police video goes from room to room of Gareth Williams's Pimlico home, in which designer women's clothes were found

Press Association | April 24, 2012

Footage of a red holdall containing the curled-up body of MI6 spy Gareth Williams has been shown at the inquest into his death.

Video of the immaculately kept flat where Williams was found was played for the first time on Tuesday.

Police images also showed a cutting from the Observer headlined "Top five regrets of the dying". Forensic scene recordings were played after the detective in charge said she allowed a counter-terror officer into the crime scene.

But SO15 – the only command at Scotland Yard with regular contact with MI6 – was not in charge of the investigation, she said.

Williams's sister, Ceri Subbe, sat in the hearing as images showed the scene that greeted detectives as they arrived at his flat on 23 August 2010.

The video went from room to room of his Pimlico home – showing a woman's red wig, lipstick and makeup – in the condition that it was found.

Footage showed closeup images of the white bathroom suite where Williams's body was found.

The film zoomed in on the red North Face bag, showing bulges from his limbs inside, and a brass padlock locking two zips together from the outside.

The flat gave an insight into the codebreaker's private life, showing carefully arranged piles of books and an extensive CD collection.

Detectives found the Observer article in the living room near a book by Alan Warner and some of Williams's own paintings.

There was no sign of a break-in at the flat, with footage showing Williams had left cash in a cupboard and a mobile phone on the living room table.

Detective Chief Inspector Jackie Sebire said there was little clutter in the flat except for a dressing gown and quilt discarded on the bedroom floor.

Sebire said: "I also found it difficult to explain because of his general tidiness. In my opinion it was not something that was easily explainable."

As the court viewed images of Williams's flat, Sebire detailed the forensic evidence found there, including blood and semen.

The communal front door was secured by a mortice lock and union lock, and a spot of someone else's blood was found in the communal hallway, the inquest heard.

Inside the flat itself, an "old" and "very small" spot of Williams's blood, which could have been from a cut, was found on the carpet near the stairs, Sebire said.

She accepted the blood could have dried over the course of a week.

Two shoe prints detected in his kitchen were too "partial" for the size or wearer to be identified, she went on.

In the larger of his two bathrooms, the only "significant finding" was traces of semen staining on the floor by the sink, which was identified as belonging to Williams, the detective said.

Traces of his semen were also found in the main bedroom, including on his quilt, she added.

Sebire also described the "high value" items found in the flat's smaller bedroom, which included 26 shoes and boots, mainly bearing designer labels such as Christian Louboutin, Stella McCartney, Christian Dior and Chloe; wigs wrapped in net packaging, which "appear to be unused", including one Mr Williams had bought on a recent trip to the US; small and medium-sized female clothing worth an estimated £20,000, all "immaculate" and "in pristine condition" and often in tissue paper; and makeup items including nail varnish and eye shadow that were new and apparently unused.

The only used items appeared to be four pairs of the size six and 6.5 shoes, which was Williams's size, Sebire said.

Asked by the coroner, Fiona Wilcox, whether she thought the clothes would have fitted Williams, the detective replied: "Possibly."

The clothes were found in the holdall and on the bed, she said.

Receipts suggested they had been collected around 2008 and 2009.