The Judas Murders

by Bill Williams

  It was eleven o’clock when Kinsella and Doris arrived at the front gates of Shrewsbury prison. A press on the bell brought the small door inserted within the larger to open and the head of a uniformed guard appeared.

  “Yes, who are you?”

  “I am detective Inspector Scott-Ling and with me is Detective Superintendent Kinsella of the Chester City Police. We have an appointment here to day to interview inmates Mr and Mrs Gittins."

  “Wait there,” replied the officer, he then duly closed the door. The officers stood waiting, Doris looking at Kinsella saw her hands writhing as she gazed at the sky above her. Clearly she was annoyed at this delay and she being kept waiting. Doris took it all with a pinch of salt for she had been here many times; it was nothing personal, just prison regulations. Kinsella on the other hand had clearly not attended such an establishment save more than likely whilst on her police training course, for a look around. The governor appeared on those occasions, she herself being a university direct entrant was only too willing to impress fellow students.

  The small door opened again as the small door reopened and the same voice called, “Warrant cards and where is your vehicle?”

  The warrant cards produced, the index number of the car given, the officer looked at both, the video camera above their head now swivelling to view the car park and their vehicle on it.

  The officer spoke again, “Step inside,”

  They did so, to see two more officers standing waiting, one holding a German shepherd dog which proceeded to sniff around the visitors. The other called, “open your bags for inspection.”

  “I beg your pardon; the contents are confidential police business subject to the Official Secrets Act, and in any event they are not bags, but briefcases.”

  The dog now sensing aggression from Kinsella began to growl. Having seen demonstrations of police dogs Susan Kinsella thought better of it and opened her case, Doris did likewise.

  The officer peered inside, touched nothing but nodded that all was Ok.

  He then smiled and said, “We have signed the Official Secrets Act what do you think this place is? A holiday camp for down and outs. We have to check for security reasons, weapons drugs and the like, being a copper these days does not exempt you. After all, we have more than one copper in here now. If you want to enter walk through the metal detectors, otherwise turn and leave.”

  Kinsella, taken aback, complied with the officer’s instructions without further comment. Doris looked up and saw the smirk on the faces of the prison officers; she returned the gesture, discreetly of course.

  All now complied with, the internal large gates were opened and one of the officers led the way into the prison, around to the right and eventually to some porta-cabins marked interview rooms.

  The duo was shown to a table, one of many in the large room. There was no one else present.

  It was some five minute before voices could be heard together with the clanging of doors.

  Looking up, Doris was surprised to see the two accused, Ron and Kyle Gittins arrive, their solicitor Hayes with them, as were two officers.

  They were shown over and sat at the table opposite to Kinsella and Doris.

  Hayes took a seat between the two accused. The officers walked away out of earshot but within view and then sat on chairs, one at each end of the room.

  Hayes was the first to speak, “Superintendent, I am told by the prison authorities that you wish to interview my clients together, a very unusual procedure, nevertheless I have no objection to this.”

  “Thank you Mr Hayes, you are very generous. My request was to save valuable time. I think as this interview progresses you will understand my decision.”

  Hayes realised she was being sarcastic but failed to react, just looked down at his pad and recorder all ready and waiting.

  Doris said nothing but was more than a little surprised, Kinsella had said nothing to her about it nor that she had been in touch the with prison authorities. She was surprised that the Crown Prosecution Service would have agreed, still it was done.

  Reaching over and placing a tape into the recorder on the table, provided for such by the prison authority’s and also checking that the lights were lit on the room video recorder, Kinsella looked and then nodded at Doris, to commence.

  She did so, “For the record, the persons present at this interview are the accused Kyle and Ron Gittins, Mr Hayes their solicitor, Detective Superintendent Susan Kinsella and myself, Inspector Doris Scott-Ling. Mr Ron Gittins and Mrs Kyle Gittins I must tell you that these proceedings are being recorded and may well be used in evidence. You are already charged with the murder of one Iris Carter and therefore no other questions may be put to you on this matter save to clear up any point of ambiguity. We are here to day to put questions to you concerning the deaths of other persons. These matters will shortly be made clear to you. I must advise 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. Do you both understand this?”

  Both the accused replied simply, “yes.”

  It was now Kinsella’s time, her notes ready, she commenced.

  “I will now refer to a Madeline Rosman whom I believe you both knew, Mrs Gittins as a nurse, Mr Gittins as a gardener, cum handyman, is this correct?”

  Both the accused replied simply “yes,” clearly Hayes had advised them well.

  “An allegation has been made to the police that Mrs Rosman left you both the sum of £10,000 in her will, is that correct.”

  “Yes,” replied both the accused.

  “The police have been told that Madeline Rosman was eighty six years of age; she had been in failing health for some time. Amongst other things she was a diabetic. Tragedy struck some time before she died. She lost her leg and of course lost much but not all of her sight. You Nurse Gittins visited her daily you got on so well with your patient. The highlight of her day we are informed was the visit of the nurse. The deceased made it known she believed you to be a kind, generous nurse and more like a friend really, is this correct?”

  “It is,” replied Kyle.

  “As for you Mr Gittins, the garden of Mrs Rosman had become rather overgrown and so, Kyle, your wife arranged for you to do some work in the garden, you also always wore your old police overcoat, is that correct?”

  “Yes Superintendent, exactly correct,” replied Ron.

  “Police enquiries reveal that you were both in attendance on the day of the death of Mrs Rosman, is this correct?”

  Both nodded in the affirmative.

  “Nurse Gittins, medical records indicate that one of your duties was to administer the drug insulin to Mrs Rosman, is this correct, and if so did you administered this drug to this deceased on the day of her death?”

  “The answer is yes to both questions Superintendent.” I administered this always by injection.”

  Kinsella was now ready for her first low ball, “Nurse you will be aware the first cause of death as certified by the General Medical Practitioner of Mrs Rosman was that she had died as a result of a heart attack. In fact since then a post-mortem examination has been carried out. As a result of which, tests have proved beyond doubt, the cause of death was in fact an overdose of Insulin.”

  “Police enquiries reveal that the medical records of Mrs Rosman show that some time ago you reported that the patient had been experiencing difficulty having an injection and so tablets were issued as a substitute. Some days later you made a note that the injections were now acceptable and so further phials were issued to you. You alleged that the tablets had been mislaid, is this all correct?”

  Kyle hesitated and looked at Hayes; he nodded for her to reply.

  She looked at Kinsella with a smile and replied, “Yes that is all correct, it is a mystery where the pills went to. I spoke with carers, all foreign, but all denied any knowledge of them. I eventually assumed one of them had taken the tablets and
were using their broken English to avoid answering my questions or rather making believe they did not understand me.”

  “I see,” replied Kinsella, “Mr Gittins did you have access to the interior of the house of Mrs Rosman and if so did you ever enter the place.”

  “I did have access and entered on many occasions mainly to wash my hands after work.”

  “Mr Gittins did you ever assist your wife administering medication requiring you to approach close to the deceased and yes, touch her?”

  “Why certainly not, I am not medically trained.”

  Kinsella now with the glimpse of a snigger continued.

  “I ask you this Mr Gittins, for in addition to the overdose of Insulin, the forensic tests on Mrs Rosman showed fibres from her chair pillow inside her. Fibres from a black garment were also found on the side of her chair. These have been checked against the overcoat you wore whilst visiting this house, they match, why would that be pray?”

  Ron now hesitated. Kinsella came back, “Nurse Gittins I put it to you that you not only gave the injection of Insulin to Mrs Rosman on the day in question but you first of all gave her the tablets, she was too old and infirm to understand. The tablets in fact had not been lost but retained by you for the purpose of overdosing your patient.”

  “I did no such thing, the pills, tablets or whatever they were had been lost,” said Kyle.

  “Indeed,” replied Kinsella, adding, “we can picture the scene, this elderly lady seated having been given her insulin tablets more than likely in excess in any event, she becomes dull in sense that is from the drugs and her age and infirmity. You put into operation your plans to acquire the money to be left to you. You then gave the strong injections whilst the patient was more or less unconscious. It was all so easy for you nurse, if that is what you are, to do such a thing.”

  Hayes stepped in, “that is enough officer, I have noted your comments and in particular your attitude, it is overbearing and prejudicial to an unbiased investigation.”

  “Mr Gittins,” said Kinsella, “I put it to you that once your wife had overdosed Mrs Rosman you entered the house and then brought the end closer by placing her chair cushion over her face. As a result this is how your DNA came to be on the pillow and fibres from your ex police overcoat, on the side of the chair.

  “This is outrageous, now I think of it; I have lifted Mrs Rosman before now when she had slipped down,” said Ron.

  Kinsella made no comment to that but continued on her next theme.

  “I would now turn to another matter. Is it correct that your Mrs Gittins attended upon one Captain Algernon Lambert of Christleton as a patient and you Mr Gittins as a gardener?”

  Both replied, “Yes” but nothing else.

  Kinsella proceeded whilst Hayes was note taking.

  “The police have been informed by Mr Peter Lambert son of the deceased as follows and I quote.

  “Father was found dead by the gardener Ron Gittins, as it happens, this fellow had arrived it seemed for his weekly session in the garden, clearing weeds he said at the time. The nurse was also visiting to treat Dad for an ulcer on his leg. He suffered with a bad heart and other bits and pieces. He was after all nearly ninety. Yes it was here the nurse came after she had no response at the house. Father was lying by the garden shed when Ron and his wife arrived, so I was told. His pewter beer mug still on the table, he made home made beer kept in an old barrel. He was no doubt having a pint as they say and then just keeled over. The doctor arrived and in view of Dad’s age and infirmity the GP signed a certificate that father died, or at least we thought he had died, from a heart attack.”

  “That is accurate,” replied Ron.

  Kinsella methodically plodded on, “You agree Mr Gittins that amongst your duties was that of weed killing. I have to inform you that the initial cause of death of the Captain Lambert has now been overturned as a result of a post-mortem examination on his body. This examination and later forensic tests clearly shows that in fact the Captain died as a result of consuming a garden weed killer known as Paraquat, in particular a variety called Gramoxone. This is not available to the general public but only for commercial use. To obtain a supply the purchaser must sign a form. Police enquiries reveal that you purchased five litres of this substance some time ago and signed for same. A search of the garden shed at your home revealed a five litre carton of the poison now nearly empty. A further search of the garden shed of the Captain revealed a beer cask, it was dark beer and home brewed. Any additive would easily be disguised. Tests have been carried out on this and as a result I can confirm this beer contained sufficient Gramoxone to kill even if a small portion was drunk. I put it to you Mr Gittins that you laced this beer with Paraquat from which your client, Captain Lambert, later died.”

  “This is outrageous, no way. I recall now I did leave the weed killer there for a while between jobs,” said Ron.

  “Outrageous Mr Gittins I will tell you what is outrageous, Kinsella now becoming very highly motivated, “I can picture the scene, you were working in the garden, you visit the garden shed you tip the weed killer into the barrel of ale. To hand this to this poor unsuspecting man who trusted you implicitly. You stood and watched him drink the pints of beer, the weed killer disguised in taste and colour by the dark ale. You stood calmly and watched him consume this, that is what I call outrageous."

  Hayes again spoke, “Really Superintendent, please calm yourself, if you continue in this tone I will obliged to make an official complaint regarding your conduct here.”

  Kinsella was on a roll, nothing would stop her, Hayes was convinced she had not taken in his warning, his experience now told him never to interrupt your enemy when they are making a mistake, he would object ,yes but he would later use all this in court.

  “I will now turn to yet another atrocity,” came back Kinsella, on a high, clearly all was going her way the evidence was massive against both accused.

  Hayes meanwhile now sat impassively; he spent his whole working life defending impossible positions.

  “Pray, Superintendent, please continue your questioning of my clients, he said.

  “I have no problem in doing that believe me,” she replied, “Noah Pemberton of the village of Tarvin was yet another instance where I believe you both worked, is that true?”

  Both Ron and Kyle replied simply, “yes.”

  Kinsella looked up from reading her file, “Police enquiries reveal that you had both visited Mr Pemberton for some considerable time. Again, it was you Kyle who introduced Ron here into the scenario. Our information from the next of kin of Noah is that you were outwardly very efficient nurse Kyle, even bringing shopping for your patient and to you Ron not only kept the flower beds and lawns tidy but even grew vegetable. All this of course was I believe fostering a false sense of security from your victim to be.”

  Hayes looked and shook his head, both accused made no reply.

  “On the day Mr Pemberton passed away you were I believe working at the house, you Kyle, recorded that you injected morphine into Noah, such was his pain.”

  Kinsella looked up and into the face of Kyle who replied, “Yes I gave him the injection almost daily, such was his suffering.”

  “Yes Mrs Gittins so you did. Now here is an interesting feature. As in the previous case of death an overdose of Insulin medical records show something very interesting. Some six weeks prior to his death you alleged, or so medical records at the surgery show, that you somehow lost two phials of morphine and thus the doctor prescribed a further two, one for Mr Pemberton and one for another patient.”

  “You are correct officer,” said Kyle, “I recall this now. Noah was much better on that day and did not require an injection. I received a telephone call and was distracted when I left my drug box at the house. I admit I was negligent not returning to collect it until the following day. When I did so Noah was again much better and required no morphine. I picked up my small box when I left and I again failed to check inside. It was the next day when t
reating another patient when I opened the box I discovered two broken phials in my bag. I assumed they were the ones left over from Mr Pemberton.”

  “Interesting,” came back Kinsella. “There is no record you reported this so called accidental loss at the surgery, clearly regulations require you to have reported the matter. The control of morphine is strict, it being a class one drug, did you report it?”

  Kyle hesitated, then said, “No I regret I did not, surely in the circumstances it is not a major crime now."

  “Well you see nurse; the post mortem investigation into the death of Noah Pemberton clearly shows that his death was caused from an overdose of Morphine, two phials in fact. I put it to you that you planned this by failing to give the doses when needed and then gave the overdose on the day the death occurred.”

  “That is totally untrue,” replied Kyle.