Convicted murderer, 62, thinks a police watchdog ruling could see him released after 38 years in prison for the White House Farm murders
Jeremy Bamber, who was convicted of murdering his family, claimed last night the ‘endgame’ was near in his 38-year battle to prove he was innocent of the White House Farm murders after a police watchdog ruled against the force that secured his conviction.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has concluded that Essex Police breached its statutory duty by not referring 29 serious complaints to the IOPC about how senior officers handled the case.
Bamber, 62, is serving a whole-life tariff for the murders of his adoptive parents Nevill and June Bamber, both 61, his adoptive sister Sheila Caffell, 28, and her six-year-old twins, Daniel and Nicholas. All were shot at White House Farm in Tolleshunt D’Arcy, Essex, on August 7, 1985.
Bamber has always said he is innocent and claims Sheila, who was a paranoid schizophrenic, carried out the murders before shooting herself.
He is the only whole-life prisoner in the British prison system to maintain his innocence.
Serial killer Jeremy Bamber claimed last night the ‘endgame’ was near in his 38-year battle to prove he was innocent of the White House Farm murders
Bamber, 62, is serving a whole-life tariff for the murders of his adoptive parents Nevill and June Bamber, both 61, his adoptive sister Sheila Caffell, 28, and her six-year-old twins, Daniel and Nicholas. All were shot at White House Farm in Tolleshunt D’Arcy, Essex, on August 7, 1985
Bamber says officers concealed evidence and tampered with the crime scene.
The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) is looking at fresh evidence that was submitted by Bamber’s lawyers last October.
In a letter to Bamber, seen by The Mail on Sunday, the IOPC said: ‘Having considered the nature of your complaints, there are matters raised in relation to allegations that officers lied about evidence, altered witness statements, passed evidence to a third party, withheld and concealed evidence and tampered with a crime scene.
‘These complaints could amount to allegations of serious corruption based on the wording alone, as defined by our Statutory Guidance.
‘As such… your complaint falls within the mandatory referral criteria and therefore should have been referred to the IOPC for assessment following recording in the first instance.’
It is the first time that a major authority such as the IOPC has criticised Essex Police.
Bamber told The Mail on Sunday: ‘It’s going to be very difficult for the CCRC not to act very quickly once they have the IOPC report stating that Essex Police failed in their statutory duty. I think this is the endgame.’
Essex Police said it was a matter for the IOPC. The watchdog did not respond to a request to comment.
