Dead at First Sight

75 Wednesday 10 October

‘Operation Lisbon has now been extended from the enquiry into the death of Susan Adele Driver to include the enquiry into the serious assault last night on Toby Antoine Seward,’ Roy Grace informed his team. ‘At the moment I’m treating this offence as GBH with Intent and we have strong evidence linking the offenders to both crimes.’

He went on to recap the events of the past twenty-four hours, the CCTV and the witness statement from Toby Seward. He also informed his team that surgeons were confident the operation to reattach Seward’s hand would be successful, but it would be some time before they would know for sure if so and whether he’d ever have full use of it again. ‘I’m also satisfied we have sufficient evidence to link the murders of Lena Welch in Munich with that of her sister, Suzy Driver, here in our city. CCTV footage, analysed by Haydn Kelly, gives us the positive identity of one man spotted at the scene of both crimes, whom we believe goes under the names of both Tunde Oganjimi and Jules de Copeland.’ He pointed at photographs printed from the videotapes that were on one of the whiteboards behind him, alongside the passport photograph pages with the two different names.

He continued, ‘This evidence together with the crime scene assessment and the postmortem result on Suzy Driver indicates she was murdered and did not commit suicide. I believe they panicked that their real identities would be disclosed, which is why they killed these women. We know, normally, that these types of fraudsters don’t meet up with their victims.’

‘They’re not really that smart, are they, boss?’ Simon Snape said.

‘Copeland’s smarter than his colleague who we’re holding in custody at the moment,’ Grace replied. ‘Kofi Okonjo, also known as Dunstan Ogwang, also known as Donald Duck.’ Again he pointed at the whiteboard, which showed photos lifted from the Munich CCTV, the man’s Brighton and Hove Custody photograph and the two passport photo pages.

‘Doesn’t look much like the Donald Duck I remember from my childhood,’ DC Boutwood said.

‘I’m sure he’ll quack up after a few days in a cell,’ Norman Potting said.

There were several groans. As he always did after one of his jokes, Potting looked around for approval. He didn’t see any.

‘Any more gems where that came from, Norman?’ Grace asked.

‘There’s probably one about the Old Bill in there somewhere, chief, but it’s eluding me.’

‘Luckily for all of us,’ Snape murmured.

‘Jack Alexander’s Outside Enquiry Team has obtained two separate CCTV images of Copeland hurrying through Brighton, in the vicinity of North Gardens, straight after the attack — the timing fits. We have two prime suspects, who as we now know are the subjects of international arrest warrants for atrocities committed in the Sierra Leone war for independence at the start of this century.’

He turned to Glenn Branson. ‘I’m holding a press conference later today at which I will be issuing the photographs we have of Tunde Oganjimi, alias Jules de Copeland, who is currently at large, appealing to the public for any sightings of him or for anyone who may know his whereabouts.’

He paused to drain his coffee cup before continuing. ‘Our man in custody has gone “no comment” on us and is frankly pratting about. As soon as we get back the DNA analysis from Forensics, which I’m hoping will confirm the blood on the machete is a match with Seward, I intend that we charge him for the offence of Grievous Bodily Harm with Intent.’

‘What name are you going to charge him under, chief?’ Potting asked. ‘Donald Duck?’

‘I’m suggesting we charge him under the name he first used to come into this country, Kofi Okonjo. We can explain to the court that he is using at least two other names and I’ll apply for him to be remanded in custody as a flight risk. With the international warrant out for him as well, I don’t think we’ll have a problem. Hopefully he’ll be remanded to Lewes, which will make it logistically easy for interviewing him further regarding the murder of Suzy Driver — and, of course, the German police might want to speak to him in connection with their investigation into the death of Lena Welch. But it’s possible in view of the international warrant he’ll be moved to a high-security category-A prison — probably Belmarsh.’

Grace paused again to check his notes. ‘Thanks to Haydn Kelly, we have something further to add to — and complicate — the mix. I’m sure you will all remember our very dear friend Mr Tooth? A gentleman as slippery as the saw-scale viper snake that bit him some months ago?’

There were several nods.

‘He’s done his best to mask his identity, but Haydn is one hundred per cent certain from his forensic gait analysis that this is the same man. Would any of you like to speculate on what he was doing in Withdean Road last night, close to our prime suspect’s residence, risking instant arrest and life imprisonment on a string of charges?’

No one responded.

‘Me neither,’ Grace said, ‘but he was.’ He paused. ‘This is a professional hitman. A former US military sniper who survived the war in Afghanistan. This man is a survivor. I can safely say he wasn’t prowling around Withdean Road late last night for any good reason and I’m guessing it wasn’t a late-night stroll for his health. My hypothesis is that he is linked in some manner with our man in custody and Jules de Copeland. He must know the risks of being here. What’s made it worthwhile for him?’

‘Because he’s all heart, gov?’ Potting said.

‘Yep, well since he nearly blew you to pieces with a car bomb, that’s very generous of you, Norman.’

‘That’s cos I’m all heart, too, gov.’

‘And if he’d had his way,’ said Grace, ‘you’d be liver, intestines and kidneys as well, all scattered around the road and pavement.’

‘But not too much in the way of brains,’ Glenn Branson chipped in. ‘Would have needed the old Specialist Search Unit to find any trace of them.’

The whole team laughed.

‘Right, this is what we have so far,’ Grace said. ‘A short time after Donald Duck or Kofi Okonjo or Dunstan Ogwang’s arrest — let’s go with Kofi Okonjo — a call comes into his phone, which is answered by Aiden Gilbert at Digital Forensics. The caller hangs up. Under RIPA powers, Gilbert requests from the phone provider, O2, a trace on the call. O2 reported that triangulation put the phone in the vicinity of Withdean Place in Withdean Road.’

‘Could the caller have been Tooth, sir?’ Simon Snape asked.

‘Possibly, Simon,’ Grace replied. ‘Or someone inside the house. O2 have put a marker on the phone number and, from an update a short while ago, it has not transmitted any further signals since the time of that call, 21.33 p.m. That means it’s been switched off or otherwise disabled. We have eliminated the immediate neighbouring houses from our enquiries as well as the ones on the other side of the road. We also have a confirmed sighting of Mr Tooth in the vicinity of Withdean Place, so yes, it is possible he made that call.’ He turned to DC Davies. ‘Alec, do you have anything new to report on the Polo?’

‘Yes, sir, I do. Last night I asked Oscar-1 to put out an alert on its index. A response car spotted the vehicle on the forecourt of a house in Onslow Road, Hove, some while later. Turns out to be the home of a judge, His Honour Anthony Northcliffe, who wasn’t too impressed about being woken at 3 a.m.’

‘That bastard!’ grumbled Potting. ‘Serves him right, he gave me a right bollocking in Lewes Crown Court over my evidence a few years ago!’

‘Norman!’ Grace said. ‘Is that comment helpful?’

Potting mumbled an apology.

Continuing, Alec Davies said, ‘It looks like Tooth may have switched number plates with His Honour’s wife’s car. We requested an ANPR plot on that index and interestingly we got a similar route to the one taken by the Polo earlier. There were no further cameras pinged in any direction, which means he stopped pretty much within a mile or so of the Marine Parade camera and parked up — either outside or in a garage.’

‘Back to the same area both times? Late at night?’ Grace said, pensively. ‘I’d say that indicates he might be staying somewhere in that area. Alec, we need the house-to-house team to check with all hotels and boarding houses in that locale to see if there is any guest fitting his description.’

‘There are hundreds, sir. Small hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, it will take days.’

‘Make a start on it. Draft in some Specials if you need to.’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘OK,’ Roy Grace said. ‘So what we have so far is an address in Withdean Road that is linked to our suspects for three offences. And it is also linked to a person, Mr Tooth, who is pretty much at the top of our wanted person list. All the victims so far are connected to internet romance fraud. Are these suspects lining up another victim — or victims? We need to take an urgent look at this property.’ He turned to Branson. ‘Glenn, I’m putting you in charge of the raid.’

‘Yes, boss.’

‘DS Alexander will assist you. I’m tasking you with getting a warrant and putting together a plan for going in. We’re going to need a Firearms Unit because of the potential for serious violence, the Local Support Team, Digital Forensics, a Police Search Advisor and search team. Surveillance is already in place. Something’s up there that we need to know about, urgently. OK?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Do it in fast time. I want everyone ready in three hours. I’ll speak to Gold to get someone appointed to lead the search for Tooth, working alongside our team.’

‘Understood, sir.’

‘Meantime, I’ll handle our suspect. I want to speak to him myself.’