Forgive Me Father DAVID

Always remember that

David had seen Susan pull out of their driveway, but before he got to the front door, he felt a tap on his shoulder ″Are you Mr David Mattimore?″ said the officer, ″Yes why?″, he replied. ″Mr Mattimore, I am arresting you on suspicion of murder.

You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something, which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence″ said Detective Sergeant Longford cautioning him.

Detective Sergeant Longford and PC Kaitlin drove back to Pitsea Police Station and took David straight to the custody suite. ″What’s the reason for the arrest?″ asked the charging officer. Suspicion of murder sarge″ said PC Kaitlin. ″Do you have anything that could cause harm to yourself or to others?″ asked the officer, ″No″ replied David, ″Do you have any injuries or mental illness that we need to be aware of?″, ″No″ answered David. ″I must remind you of your right to free and independent legal advice under the duty solicitor scheme. I must advise you that you are entitled to free legal advice at any time. Do you understand? I must also advise you that you may speak to a legal representative on the telephone. Do you wish to do so?’′ said PC Kaitlin

″OK Mr Mattimore, you’re all booked in, an officer will take you to a cell and will speak to you shortly″.

PC Kaitlin took David to cell number 3, removed his shoes and belt and then closed the cell door.

David had assumed the surname of Mattimore to avoid detection, he had moved from Grimesby and spent a short period of time in New South Wales, and so he was not discovered until Susan had been done for speeding.

In 2007, David Mattimore’s house in Essex was searched in connection with the disappearance of Kathleen Snell aged 44, who was last seen in 2003 on Sidings Road, Grimesby. Mattimore was believed to have left Grimesby for New South Wales, a few weeks after her disappearance.

As they waited for the duty solicitor to arrive, PC Kaitlin prepared her written suspect interview plan. This was a tool often used to assess

All available evidence, and the the purpose of the interview

The aims and objectives

The structure of the interview for example: questioning types officers’ roles and possible suspect reactions

The points to prove for the offence(s) in question

Any defences that are available

Using exhibits and other evidence

The value of planning with another officer

The time you will require

Having stationery and any exhibits available

Make the necessary arrangements for an appropriate adult to attend if appropriate

Consider the benefit of sketch plans either prepared by you or drawn by the suspect

PC Kaitlin also prepared the notes she wished to introduce which she had made of her earlier conversation with David

At the start of the recorded interview PC Kaitlin removed the manufacturer’s wrapping from 2 new tapes explaining to David her actions and the purpose of the equipment. She loaded the tapes into the recorder and pressed the ‘record’ button making the alarm sound while the tape started

PC Kaitlin said ″Today is September 24th 2003, and the time by my watch is 1913. Present during this interview is myself PC Kaitlin. Also present is Detective Sergeant Longford , state your full name and address for the tape please she said to David ″David Mattimore, 19a Coldnailhurst Avenue″ answered David , ″legal representative Mr Shawn Johnson″ said David’s solicitor. ″There are no other persons present.

We are in an interview room at Essex Police - Pitsea Police Station. David, I must remind you that you do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something, which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence. I’m also advising you that you will be issued a copy of Notice to person whose interview has been recorded at the end of the interview. This interview is being audio recorded″.

Detective Sergeant Longford ″David, first of all I’d like to make this interview as relaxed as possible. Are you comfortable right now?″

David ″Yes″

Detective Sergeant Longford ″Can you explain, how did you meet Kathleen Snell?″

David ″It was when I returned from a short break from work that. I found out my house keeper, Mrs Murphy, had collapsed and died of a heart attack, thats when I met Kathleen. After I advertised now a new house keeper″

Detective Sergeant Longford ″Were you and Kathleen on good terms?″

David ″We was divorced″

Detective Sergeant Longford ″I’m sorry to hear that, what caused your marriage to breakdown?″

David ″ My wife had found out I had been watching a neighbour who lived directly across from our home. Kathleen had thought I was over the sex addiction, which I don’t have, she knew I still watched porn. I promised her that that’s all I did.

PC Kaitlin ″I don’t understand! You promised her that that’s all you did? What else was you doing?″

David ″After catching me ogling the neighbour, Kath found photographs of her that I had taken″

Detective Sergeant Longford ″Was the photos of you and your neighbour?″

David ″No, just her. Our bedroom window faced hers, so I was able to watch her most evenings, getting herself ready for bed. I had been fantasising about it a lot″

Detective Sergeant Longford ″Is that why you killed Kathleen? Because you wanted your neighbour?″

David ″No, err I didn’t mean it like that″

Detective Sergeant Longford ″For the tape, I am showing Mr Mattimore a photograph of exhibit DC13. David, human bones was found in the back garden of 3A Sidings Road. You lived there previously didn’t you?″

David ″Yes but Kathleen moved out when we divorced″

Detective Sergeant Longford ″What do you do for a living?″

David ″I work in a nursing home, I maintain the building and the grounds″

Detective Sergeant Longford ″When did you last see Kathleen Snell?″

David ″On the day of the court case to finalise the divorce″

PC Kaitlin ″Where were you at the time of the murder?

David ″I’ve no idea, it’s a long time since I last saw Kath?″

PC Kaitlin ″David, tell us about your childhood″

David ″What do you want to know?″

PC Kaitlin ″How was your relationship with your parents?″

David ″My parents moved to Kent when I was 13, I don’t remember anything before then. We had only been living there a few months when I started hearing the cries of my mother and father shagging. It was the same every night after that. Then my dad died in a work accident. I came home one day to find out my mother was sending me to a seminary with Father Mathew. Then I was called to the office of Father Gregory just to find him naked and with a hard on, holding a multi tailed whip made of leather thronging each with a knot in the tail . He handed the whip to me and laid face down on the bed telling me to scourge him of his sins which I was ordered to do a few times each week. On my 17th birthday, I woke up to feel a mouth covering my cock to find it was my fuckin mother sucking the tip. I was full of rage against my mother but I swear I would never hurt anyone

Detective Sergeant Longford ″We have a statement from Bishop O’Malley. He told us how you would confess to him about your sins. You wanted to confess to him about killing Kathleen didn’t you?″

David ″I never meant to hurt Kathleen, I only ever once confided in him when I was unsure about leaving the priesthood″

Detective Sergeant Longford ″You often had affairs didn’t you David?″

David ″Not at all, having a quick glance at the neighbour is by no means an affair″

Detective Sergeant Longford ″Tell me about your relationship with Joan Cartwright and Mavis″

David ″They worked at the church″

Detective Sergeant Longford ″We know you had an affair with both of these women, didn’t you?″

David ″No, I fucked them a couple of times, that was it″

Detective Sergeant Longford ″Do you know anyone who would want to kill Kathleen? What about Monica?

David ″Monica trapped Kathleen, she wanted a relationship with me and got into a fight with Kath. Kath said Monica was aroused by the fight and threatened to tell people about it″

PC Kaitlin ″Let’s move on David. How did you meet Patricia Vincent?″

David ″Sister Vincent and I met when I had to give the last rights to Ruth Lieberwitz, a patient of hers. Tricia was a fully qualified SRN and in her own right, a ward sister trained in emergency medicine, and midwifery. So when Kathleen went into labour, Trisha helped care for her during labour″

Detective Sergeant Longford ″Now David, we all know that’s not true is it? Let me tell you what happened and why you are here

Your sexual lust for women started when you was 13, more likely caused by the abuse of your mother. You lived with Mrs Snell and was subjected to some horrific incidents which only escalated your sexual behaviour years later.

During your time at the Seminary, you was forced to perform sexual acts on Father Gregory. I believe this formed an opinion in you that sex had to be paid in pain

You openly admitted that you, David, was full of rage against his mother

I believe you when you say you fell in love with Kathleen but your sexual urges became overpowering when you was confronted by Ms Joan Cartwright and Mavis

I believe David, that you had already made plans to get rid of Kathleen when you confided in Bishop O’Malley

Isn’t it correct that you was already having an affair with Patricia Vincent and you had already made plans to kill Kathleen as soon as you married her so that you could take her surname?

You believed didn’t you David, that once you had changed your surname, you wouldn’t get caught?

David ″That’s not how it was at all, and you know it Sir. I took my wife’s name because I wanted to rid any memories I had of my mother. Yes, I agree I hated her, but wouldn’t you if your mother had abused you and then sent you off to what I can only describe as a prison?″

Detective Sergeant Longford ″Isn’t it correct David, that you are responsible for the murders of Kathleen Snell, Patricia Vincent and April Sinclair? For the tape, I am showing Mr Mattimore exhibit DC03 which is a photograph of the rope which bound the hands and wrists of April Sinclair. Do you recognise this rope David?″

David ″No″

Detective Sergeant Longford ″David, this is the rope you used to bind Ms Sinclair. This very same rope was tested against the rope on your yacht. It was a perfect match. How do you explain that?

David ″No comment″

Detective Sergeant Longford ″For the tape, I am showing Mr Mattimore exhibit DC12 which is a photograph of a large black suitcase, with a logo of a green diamond on the front. Do you recognise this suitcase David?″

David ″No comment″

Detective Sergeant Longford ″We have a witness statement from your friend Greg. Greg states that he saw you with that suitcase, and after being evicted from Greg’s home, you left the suitcase there by accident. Did you mean to leave the suitcase at Greg’s house? Was you hoping that Greg would take the blame for April’s murder?″

David ″No comment″

Detective Sergeant Longford ″David, the evidence is really stacked against you, it would be in your best interest to tell us what you know. Do you recognise this suitcase?′

′

David ″No comment″

Detective Sergeant Longford ″For the tape, I am showing Mr Mattimore exhibit DC7 which is a photograph of a hacksaw, with a red handle. Do you recognise this hacksaw David?″

David ″No comment″

Detective Sergeant Longford ″Forensic analysis was carried on this hacksaw, human skin tissue was found which matched the DNA of April Sinclair. You are responsible for the murder of April aren’t you?″

David ″No comment″

Detective Sergeant Longford ″We have a statement from Alan Cardle, a friend of Patricia. According to his statement, Patricia Vincent had invited him to your birthday party. Is this true?″

David ″No comment″

Detective Sergeant Longford ″Isn’t it true David that Patricia had rented a 45ft Houseboat, the Scarborough at Lake Macquarie for your birthday?

David ″No comment″

Detective Sergeant Longford ″You overheard a conversation between Patricia and Alan didn’t you? You heard Patricia asking Alan ″Do we leave it here?″ and then Alan responded with″What do you want?″ Patricia then replied ″I don’t think I can. I don’t think I want to leave it here″. Alan replied ″That’s settled then we keep going no matter what″. Isn’t that right David?″

David ″No comment″

Detective Sergeant Longford ″You made sure that Patricia drank just enough alcohol to make her incoherent, and then you pushed her off the yacht into the water didn’t you?″

Shawn Johnson ″You don’t have to answer that Mr Mattimore″

David ″No comment″

Shawn Johnson ″My client needs a break and would like a drink of tea″

Detective Sergeant Longford ″Yes no problem. Is there anything else you would like David? A sandwich etc?

David ″No, just a drink will do. Thank you″

Shawn Johnson ″OK David, PC Kaitlin is going to take you back to the cell so you can rest for a while. I’ll go and speak with an officer and find out if they intend to keep you here. I’ll be back in half hour″

David ″Can I have some note paper, the officer hasn’t got Susan’s details″

Shawn Johnson ″Sure, here you go″

‘Susan, my love. I love you and always have. I did what I did to be with you. Please always remember that’ David wrote, and with that, he took off his jeans, tore off the waist band using his teeth, made a figure of eight knot and hung himself.