opposite number in Baghdad re the two cases you found in the Iraqi newspapers. He has also had some email correspondence with Alastair Surtees re O’Connell/MacKenzie. Nothing conclusive, but interesting evasion from Surtees.
You asked if I kept a copy of my report on the Sierra Leonean murders. I did and I’m attaching it. I’ve also forwarded it to Jerry Greenhough (Bill’s oppo in Baghdad) if only to point out similarities in the killer’s/killers’ MO. Finally, I’ve been given a contact in the Kinshasa police who’s agreed to check for similar murders there in1998. It’s a long shot—Kinshasa has 15,000 street children who die/go missing all the time—and teenage girls are particularly vulnerable. I’ll let you know if I hear from him, but don’t hold your breath. He paid lip service to international cooperation by answering my email, but I suspect my request was shelved. Old cases are hard/tedious work, particularly when there’s no financial incentive.
My wife and family are well. Thank you for asking.
Finally, don’t hesitate to write/call if there’s anything I can help you with. Is there a reason why the only contact detail you’ve given me is your new email address? Or why you’re choosing to act as a middleman between me, Bill Fraser and your boss?
Kind regards,
Alan
DI Alan Collins, Greater Manchester Police
(Extracts from attachments)
Email from Bill Fraser to Alan Collins
…My oppo in Baghdad is an NYPD Captain called Jerry Greenhough. He did a stint in Afghanistan two years ago and was seconded to Baghdad in May. He’s a decent enough bloke but I’m afraid he has reservations about Connie Burns. He wasn’t in on her debriefing, but after listening to the tape he found her “evasive and unconvincing.” On several counts: a) she told police virtually nothing, claiming her blindfold as the reason for her ignorance; b) she insisted that her boss, Dan Fry, sit in on the questioning with instructions to halt proceedings if she showed signs of distress—which she never invoked; c) she was examined by a doctor who found no evidence of rough handling or forceful restraint. This has led to some scepticism about the whole episode, particularly as her imprisonment was only 3 days’ duration.
It’s a difficult one, Alan. I don’t necessarily share the scepticism—I can think of a number of reasons why a woman wouldn’t want to talk about an experience like that—but, according to Jerry, there were too many inconsistencies in her answers. Nor did the abduction follow a recognized pattern. I passed on your suggestion re MacKenzie, but that has no takers either. Connie was “self-possessed” and “in control” throughout the interview, and adamant that nothing untoward had happened during her captivity. This seems to be backed by the doctor giving her a clean bill of health. I hear what you say about MacKenzie’s MO, but releasing a woman unharmed isn’t his recognized pattern of behavioureither.
Interestingly, I’ve had more success re Connie’s suggestion that the two murders in Baghdad were a) linked; b) linked to similar murders in Sierra Leone; and c) might be the work of Keith MacKenzie aka John Harwood aka Kenneth O’Connell. Jerry has worked with the FBI on two serial rape cases and is at least willing to embrace the possibility. Any chance of sending him your report on the Sierra Leone victims? The downside is that investigations like this are complex and sophisticated, and I can’t see raw recruits coping unless they have continuity and commitment at the top. FYI: I have less than six weeks left of my tour and Jerry goes home at the end of September, and even the most able Iraqis won’t have the finances to conduct a cross-border inquiry.
I’m attaching a couple of emails from Alastair Surtees (Baycombe Group). I haven’t met the guy but BG have about 500 security personnel on the ground and their reputation’s better than some. My gut feeling
You asked if I kept a copy of my report on the Sierra Leonean murders. I did and I’m attaching it. I’ve also forwarded it to Jerry Greenhough (Bill’s oppo in Baghdad) if only to point out similarities in the killer’s/killers’ MO. Finally, I’ve been given a contact in the Kinshasa police who’s agreed to check for similar murders there in1998. It’s a long shot—Kinshasa has 15,000 street children who die/go missing all the time—and teenage girls are particularly vulnerable. I’ll let you know if I hear from him, but don’t hold your breath. He paid lip service to international cooperation by answering my email, but I suspect my request was shelved. Old cases are hard/tedious work, particularly when there’s no financial incentive.
My wife and family are well. Thank you for asking.
Finally, don’t hesitate to write/call if there’s anything I can help you with. Is there a reason why the only contact detail you’ve given me is your new email address? Or why you’re choosing to act as a middleman between me, Bill Fraser and your boss?
Kind regards,
Alan
DI Alan Collins, Greater Manchester Police
(Extracts from attachments)
Email from Bill Fraser to Alan Collins
…My oppo in Baghdad is an NYPD Captain called Jerry Greenhough. He did a stint in Afghanistan two years ago and was seconded to Baghdad in May. He’s a decent enough bloke but I’m afraid he has reservations about Connie Burns. He wasn’t in on her debriefing, but after listening to the tape he found her “evasive and unconvincing.” On several counts: a) she told police virtually nothing, claiming her blindfold as the reason for her ignorance; b) she insisted that her boss, Dan Fry, sit in on the questioning with instructions to halt proceedings if she showed signs of distress—which she never invoked; c) she was examined by a doctor who found no evidence of rough handling or forceful restraint. This has led to some scepticism about the whole episode, particularly as her imprisonment was only 3 days’ duration.
It’s a difficult one, Alan. I don’t necessarily share the scepticism—I can think of a number of reasons why a woman wouldn’t want to talk about an experience like that—but, according to Jerry, there were too many inconsistencies in her answers. Nor did the abduction follow a recognized pattern. I passed on your suggestion re MacKenzie, but that has no takers either. Connie was “self-possessed” and “in control” throughout the interview, and adamant that nothing untoward had happened during her captivity. This seems to be backed by the doctor giving her a clean bill of health. I hear what you say about MacKenzie’s MO, but releasing a woman unharmed isn’t his recognized pattern of behavioureither.
Interestingly, I’ve had more success re Connie’s suggestion that the two murders in Baghdad were a) linked; b) linked to similar murders in Sierra Leone; and c) might be the work of Keith MacKenzie aka John Harwood aka Kenneth O’Connell. Jerry has worked with the FBI on two serial rape cases and is at least willing to embrace the possibility. Any chance of sending him your report on the Sierra Leone victims? The downside is that investigations like this are complex and sophisticated, and I can’t see raw recruits coping unless they have continuity and commitment at the top. FYI: I have less than six weeks left of my tour and Jerry goes home at the end of September, and even the most able Iraqis won’t have the finances to conduct a cross-border inquiry.
I’m attaching a couple of emails from Alastair Surtees (Baycombe Group). I haven’t met the guy but BG have about 500 security personnel on the ground and their reputation’s better than some. My gut feeling
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