Criminal Law News: Issue 87 January 2016 Cold Case proposal: the 1994 death of British MP Stephen David Wyatt Milligan pgs 236 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 1 Cold case: the 1994 death of British MP Stephen David Wyatt Milligan by Sally Ramage On what evidence can this cold case be prioritised? In the December 2015 Issue of the Police Journal1 Sam Poyser and Rebecca Milne addressed the subject of miscarriages of justice. Cold case investigations can address some of these wrongs. The salient points for attention are those just before his sudden death: Milligan was appointed Private Secretary to Jonathan Aitken, the then Minister of Arms in the Conservative government in 1994. The known facts are as follows: 1 Now published by SAGE and formerly by Vathek. Sam Poyser and Rebecca Milne, 'No grounds for complacency and plenty for continued vigilance: miscarriages of justice as drivers for research on reforming the investigative interviewing process', Police Journal, SAGE, (ISSN 0032-258X in print and 1740-5599 Online), Volume 88 (4), December 2015, at pages 265-280. Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 1. Stephen David Wyatt Milligan was found deceased on Tuesday 8th February 1994 at his Chiswick, West London house where he lived alone. His body was found by his secretary Vera Taggart who was told by Julie Kirkbride where a spare key to his London house2 was kept and who decided to go to his house that day because he was not answering his telephone. Police said he had made one last telephone call on Saturday evening at 9.00pm. 2. Stephen David Wyatt Milligan had been the elected Member of Parliament ('MP') for Eastleigh in Hampshire since 1992. 3. The important topics this MP was addressing in 1994 at the time of his death included: (i) rail privatization plans and the impact through job losses on communities, especially his own constituency of Eastleigh; (ii) arms dealings with Saudi Arabia, especially with his previous intelligence gathered as an economics journalist for esteemed publications; (iii) the UK military industry; (iv) homosexuality among senior government Ministers, as revealed by British footballer Fasanu; 2 One query that springs to mind is that his secretary allegedly found his milk delivery still outside on the doorstep. If, as was reported, he hardly frequented his London house, why would there be a milk delivery every day? Who actually lived there? Why did his secretary have a key to his London house and not his fiancée Julie Kirkbride? Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 2 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 (v) personal relationship and planned marriage to his fiancée (Julie Kirkbride) who at the time was a political journalist. 4. Stephen Milligan was also appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Jonathan Aitken, Arms Minister and this position must have required that he came 'up to speed' on international arms trade and indeed its relation to bribery and corruption across jurisdictions. Milligan's experience and knowledge as a former high-level political and economics journalist must have been of huge benefit to government minister Jonathan Aitken. 5. Regarding Stephen Milligan's death in 1994, the Guardian newspaper3 in their immediate obituary said that 'The death of one of the government's most outspoken and loyal supporters will pose a stiff electoral test for the Tories to surmount. He was on the left of the Tory party he had even had a brief flirtation with the SDP when it was formed and was a noted Euroenthusiast... the death of one of the government's most outspoken and loyal supporters will pose a stiff electoral test for the Tories to surmount. He was on the left of the Tory party he had even had a brief flirtation with the SDP when it was formed and was a noted Euroenthusiast....' Regarding Stephen Milligan's sudden and unexpected death in 1994, MP David Willetts (Conservative, Havant) said in March 2015, in his address in the House of Commons4 said this: '...The inevitable ups and downs and triumphs and disasters of politics are among the great features of this place. There are colleagues in all parts of the House who are tolerant and understanding. There are friendships that keep the downs as well as the ups of politics in perspective. Having entered the House in 3 Editor, Stephen Milligan, brightest of the back-benchers', Guardian, 8 February 1994. See http://www.theguardian.com/politics/1994/feb/08/obituaries.stephenbates, accessed 31-1-16. 4 Hansard Column 1666, 25 March 2015. See http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/cm150326/debtext/150326-0003.htm accessed 26 January 2016. Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 3 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 1992, I think particularly of two good friends, Judith Chaplin5 and Stephen Milligan, who both died within two years of being elected; that loss stayed with me for a long time...' 6. On 28 February 2000, in the House of Commons, at Column 106, Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth) said, on the deaths of Michael Colvin and of Stephen Milligan MP: Member of Parliament the Right Honourable Mike Handcock 'I knew Michael Colvin for nearly 30 years, from when he was first elected to Hampshire county council. During my time as leader of that council, he and the late former Member of Parliament for Eastleigh, Stephen Milligan, were usually the only Members of Parliament who readily supported the council when necessary. Michael Colvin supported many ventures in the county of Hampshire. He will be missed here, in his constituency, and in Europe, and I stress that Hampshire has lost a staunch supporter. I am sure that the county will at some stage want to record its regret at his death and its deepest appreciation of the part that he played in its life....' 5 The Right Honourable Judith Chaplain had died in 1993. She had been elected MP for Newbury in the 1992 general election and before that; she had worked as the head of the Prime Minister's political office at Downing Street. She was 53 years old. In Parliament she became an active member of the Treasury Select Committee. Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 4 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 MP Judith Chaplin Mike Hancock had, like Stephen Milligan, served on the Select Committee on Defence. It is interesting that he mentioned Stephen Milligan's support as MP for Eastleigh when Milligan had only been so appointed a couple of years before his sudden death, as compared to 30 years of support from Mike Colvin. 7. Mr Andrew Robathan (for Blaby) said in the House of Commons Hansard Debates on 27 January1997, (Column 62) (on the registering of sex offenders): MP Andrew Robathan 'I remember the death of my honourable friend Stephen Milligan, who represented Eastleigh. The press reports of the time stated that each Metropolitan police station had a police officer in the pay of newspapers. I do not know whether that is true, but I am aware that the police are not renowned for being entirely secure with their information...' Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 5 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 This statement is somewhat mischievous and it has been demonstrated time and time again, as being untrue, especially during the recent press inquiry leading to the fourvolume Leveson Report, published in November 2012, into phone hacking and the ethics and culture of the UK media, pursuant to section 26 of the Inquiries Act 2005, and ordered by the House of Commons to be printed on 29 November 2012, ISBN: 9780102981063, by the Stationery Office Limited on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. In Volume 4 of the 2012 Leveson Report, chapter 4 concluded on the Press Complaints Commission ('PCC') and its effectiveness and revealed that the PCC does not initiate its own investigations other than those 'needed to head off criticism of the press or selfregulationor to accept complaints from third parties across the board and on a transparent basis...6 and the report states that 'the resources of the police are limited' in terms of being able to fully inspect the Press and media reports. The failure of the Press Complaints Commission The Leveson Report, volume IV, at 8.6 on page 1577, discussed the failure of the Press Complaints Commission ('PCC') 'to initiate an investigation over newspaper coverage of the McCann case'.7 6 Right Honourable Lord Justice Leveson, An inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the Press, Volume IV, chapter 4, section 8.4 and 8.5, at page 1577. 7 The House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee did indeed criticize the PCC for this. See http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmcumeds/458/458.pdf Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 6 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 Leveson Inquiry Report 2012 It is also to be noted that the Press have an unfettered range of real and/or imaginary tipoffs from all and sundry, where any homosexuality is concerned. Protection of sources means that newspapers can write almost any fantasy they wish to, regarding a death they deem to be a deviant sexual death. Met Police Hogan-Howe The deep trouble with this is that the CJS includes both hard (verifiable, as per criminal records in the Police National Computer ('PNC')) and soft (as per things that strangers, neighbours, friends, enemies, and passers-by) say to police regarding any incident. Soft information seeps into the CJS chain, creating an impression of documentary evidence, transferable at will across countries and although civil action is possible, many citizens Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 7 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 cannot afford to take such action to stop a flow of nonsense circulating in respect of their deceased loved ones, homosexuality and sex acts.8 But it sells newspapers. And newspaper articles become documents in expert witness reports, police reports, and litigation. ECGD-logo Fraud, bribery, corruption, paedophile sex rings and secrecy at the seat of power 8. When MP Stephen Milligan was working in politics, the UK arms trade; planned rail and other privatization; and corruptions were disturbing issues which prospered in conditions of secrecy. There was not much transparency and so neither the media nor the public could properly monitor the situation and raise any concerns. Secrecy surrounded UK military equipment export licencesthere was no public inspection. Despite international conventions in force for many decades, 'peddling in influence' remained the norm in the UK. 8 It is noted from the list of witnesses in volume IV of the 2012 Leveson Report that Julie Kirkbride was not among those called to bear witness regarding the scurrilous news reports on the death of MP Stephen Milligan. It is noted however that Nick Clegg MP stated (page 1974) that media are often lobbyists in their own commercial interests and that the press are able to be judge and jury in their own affairs. Sir John Major said that politicians trade leaks or stories that denigrate colleagues for favourable coverage and brief the Press with untrue stories. See http://www.levesoninquiry.org.uk/wpcontent/uploads/2012/06/Transcript-of-Morning-Hearing-12-June-2012.pdf Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 8 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 UK-Middle East Arms Trade has a long history UK military equipment for sale 9. The very tangled and long history of the Saudi-UK Arms Trade must also be considered here. The cold facts are that for decades before the 1994 Milligan death, arms sales by the UK to the Middle East, especially to Saudi Arabia, had been an integral part of the UK arms industry to such an extent that even as long as 50 years agoas 1966the UK government appointed a 'Government Arms Salesperson', signalling that it had become UK policy to exploit its armaments capabilities for economic gain. Duplicity in government: Arms sales to Iraq 'embargoed', yet UK government assisted in arms contracts In the 1990s, when Stephen Milligan was alive, UK's arms sales to Saudi used to be 75% of the total of all UK Arms Trade. Even after Stephen Milligan died, when the British defence giant BAE System was investigated by police and the Serious Fraud Office, the investigation was called off. Who knows what a can of worms the SFO would have unearthed. Saudi Arabia's economic power in 1982 & the Fahd Plan On 31 March 1982, Sir Jon Wilton presented his report on the Fahd Plan to the House of Commons. The UK government was well aware of Saudi Arabia's then economic power. The Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 9 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 UK government was also aware that Saudi's loyalty could change in volatile times. In the 1980s the UK sold military aircraft to Saudi, estimated at 5 Billion pounds sterling.9 Al Yamamah arms deals: 1980s Regarding the Al Yamamah arms deals, the gigantic UK arms sales to the Middle East consisted of over 75% of the total UK arms industry. The Financial Times said this on 9 July 1988: 'Staggering in sheer size and complexity, the arms sales to Saudi Arabia have had significant impact on the UK arms industry; successive UK governments; the armaments of the Middle East and the Kingdom itself...' Matrix Churchill Company and the prosecution that collapsed in shame In 1989 the Matrix Churchill Company was acquired by Iraqi interests and two new directors were appointed who had previously worked for the Iraqi Security Services. Soon Matrix Churchill began to ship components to Iraq. The International Atomic Energy Authority found in Iraq high quality British –made products and machinery that were allegedly capable of manufacturing weapons including artillery shells and parts for medium range missiles. British companies had been supplying Iraq with arms and engineering equipment to make arms and four directors of the British machine tools manufacturer, Matrix Churchill, were arrested, charged and tried for supplying equipment and Intellectual Property knowledge to Iraq. 9 Times, 27 September 1985. Later, there was the UK-Saudi arms contract signed 9 February 1986 and known as Al Yamamah ('the dove') for 72 Tornados, 30 Hawk Advanced Trainers and 30 Swiss licensed Pilatus PC-9 Trainers for 5 Billion pounds sterling. BAE was paid bribes by Saudi Arabia. See Current Law Statutes Annotated (2010), UK Bribery Act 2010 (annotations and introductory chapter by Sally Ramage), London: Sweet & Maxwell. The UK Bribery Act 2010 did not come into force until summer of 2011 after the UK government issued a first guidance to the act. There is a new corporate criminal offence of 'failure to prevent bribery'. Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 10 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 The trial collapsed in 1992 when it was revealed that the company had been advised by the government on how to sell arms to Iraq, contrary to the advertised and much publicised trade embargo. Stephen Milligan: Oxford University graduate to economics journalist and MP Stephen David Wyatt Milligan had been elected Conservative Party Member of Parliament ('MP') for Eastleigh in 1992. After studying at Magdalen College, Oxford, he entered into a journalism career. Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 11 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 Magdelen College, Oxford University. Source: Google. Stephen Milligan first worked for the Economist (1972 to 1980) before joining the British Broadcasting Corporation ('BBC') as presenter of Radio Four's 'World Tonight' programme. After three years at the BBC, he moved to the Sunday Times as Foreign News Editor and Washington Correspondent. In 1988 he returned to the United Kingdom ('UK') to work at the BBC as European Correspondent. He resigned from the BBC in 1990 upon being nominated a candidate for the safe Conservative constituency seat of Eastleigh in Hampshire. 10He died on 7th February 1994 at his second property in Chiswick, West London. Stephen Milligan's sudden death discovered When his death was discovered at his Chiswick house in West London, Stephen Milligan was allegedly wearing stockings and suspenders; with a plastic rubbish bin-bag over his head; an 'electric flex' around his neck; and an orange in his mouth, according to newspaper reports. Stephen Milligan had two homesone in Boyatt Wood, Eastleigh, Hampshire, his constituency, and the other in Chicwick, West London. His secretary is allegedly reported to 10 Political parties are defined by their central task of seeking office with a view to exercising political powers. However, their impact on the political system is wider than this. They serve as brokers for ideas and they organise opinion; they are a source of political knowledge; they act as a link between the individual and the political system; they mobilise and recruit activists; they provide an organisational structure via which to coordinate the actions of government-encouraging those who belong to them to work towards shared objectives and they serve as a source of opposition. See Watts, D. (2006) British government and politics, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press Limited, at pages 223-226. Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 12 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 have said, after finding the body at the dining room table, that she had not expected him to be at the Chiswick house, according to newspaper reports. Proposed Cold Case: Request to consider opening this cold case as murder of Stephen Milligan MP Easily wrapping up a case as being reasonably compliant with the law, without looking at the whole picture because that might bring about discomfort and become 'messy', is more common than anyone would imagine. There has been no study in the United Kingdom ('UK') of how many cases are so closed. The only clue to the extent of this lazy negligence or incompetence might be the amount of cases that qualify for examination by the Criminal Cases Review Commission ('CCRC'). There are grounds for re-examining cold cases that just do not 'add up'. Injustice results from lack of police funding; lack of proper police training; and incompetent police qualifications and institutional racism which is part of the causal chain that results in social harms by way of damage to family reputation; damage to the Criminal Justice System ('CJS') and poor public confidence in the CJS. Was Milligan's sudden death 'murder'set to appear as deviant sex misadventure? This and other issues raise a reasonable Cold Case Investigation for Stephen Milligan's sudden death in February 1994.Was his death an accident/misadventure11 or was he murdered in such a way as to besmirch him from the onset; to make it appear that a bizarre sex ritual had resulted in his death? If Stephen Milligan had been killed, the killer or killers knew the methodology of sexual deviance and drugs because they placed a segment of a Satsuma fruit into his mouthyet the post-mortem examination of Stephen Milligan's body, and subsequent toxicology tests, revealed at Inquest, that he had no drug of any kind in his body, nor was alcohol found in the toxicology reports, according to the BBC News report. 11 Stephen Ward, 'MP 'was worried over tarnished television image': Coroner records misadventure verdict on Milligan', Independent, 23 March 1994. Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 13 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 Newspapers profit on salacious gossip and downfall of the powerful As the newspapers, excited with additional profits through publishing this story for several weeks, salaciously reported in March 1994, the Inquest revealed that no alcohol or drugs had been found in Stephen Milligan's body. Could it be that this was because no toxicology test was requested by the Coroner since Stephen Milligan died in 1994 before the 2009 Coroners Act and so fell under the 1988 Coroners Act? The Coroners Act 1988 makes a distinction between post-mortem and 'special' examinations.12 Special examinations were a more specific version of the post-mortem examination and would contain, for instance, toxicology tests to establish whether there was alcohol or drugs in the bloodstream of the deceased. Since this time the discretion between an ordinary post-mortem and a specific post-mortem has been removed by the 2009 Coroners Act, s 14 (1). Could it be that whoever killed Stephen Milligan MP had good knowledge of deviant sex and drugs practices but did not bank on there being a full post-mortem examination? Could it be that whoever killed him set his body up to be found in a deviant and embarrassing sex position. Could the place of the Inquest be important? If he were murdered, the murderer must have been legally aware enough to know that by section 5(1) of the 1988 Coroners Act, an inquest into a death 'shall be held only by the Coroner within whose district the body lies. Section 5 (2) states that a Coroner 'shall hold inquests only within his district'. Stephen Milligan died in February 1994 in London and his death fell under the law of the Coroners Act 1988. Coroners at that time did not have any power to enter and search premises or to seize evidence, although the police do. Furthermore, there cannot now be any case against any 12 Cooper, J. (2011) Inquests, Oxford: Hart Publishing. Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 14 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 public body in relation to Stephen Milligan's death because the limitation period of one year has long expired.13 Motive and consequence Say, somebody had been with Stephen Milligan at the time he died. My friend –the retired Special Branch Officer thought and said as much to me. He said: 'Somebody was there. They left.' Say, Milligan and 'somebody there' were both conversant with autoerotic sex, even though there has never been any evidence at all that Stephen Milligan was a homosexual or had interest in auto-erotic sex practices. He did not have pornography in his house or in his computer. (He was a very busy politician, wearing two separate hats). If that person had deliberately left him to die, that person could have committed a criminal act by omission of the duty to help the person who subsequently died. If that person can be identified, a charge of manslaughter would be appropriate.14 Who put the spare key where it could be found? For how many years was the spare front-door key in the same position? And why did Vera the secretary think that Julie Kirkbride would know more about the missing Stephen Milligan MP than she knew, if they were no longer engaged? Why did the House of Commons term both phone call messages from Vera the secretary as 'garbled'? After all, she did speak to many people by telephone on behalf of Stephen Milligan MP. Why did Vera say that milk was still on the doorstep on Monday afternoon? She also said he was rarely at is Chiswick address. It is reasonable that he would use his Chiswick house in week rather than drive 100 miles to Hampshire every night? Did Vera mean that her surprise indicated that she expected him to have travelled to his Eastleigh house, especially after the British Rail Privitisation documentary programme was aired on national television that same Friday evening. Vera the secretary said that after the documentary was aired on television that Friday evening, she had asked him if he was pleased with it. Does this mean that she telephoned him on Friday night 13 Editor, 'Did MI5 murder Stephen Milligan MP & Justin Fashanu over Tory minister sex scandal?' Youtube, 8 August 2014. 14 R v Watson [1989] 1 WLR 684. Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 15 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 or on Saturday, or did she visit him at his house? All these questions lead one to conclude that Stephen Milligan's Inquest should have been decided as an OPEN verdict. Arms contracts worth billions of pounds With arms contracts worth billions of pounds and privatization sales of the British national railway, many persons had many millions of pounds in 'back-handers, bribery and corruption' at stake. Money is often at the seat of most crime, be it murder, fraud, bribery, corruption, people trafficking, prostitution, homosexuality, adultery, organs trafficking, arms trafficking, nuclear sales and other criminality. Miscarriages of justice article in Police Journal In their December 2015 Police Journal article, Poyser and Milne cite Forst (2013) and state that law enforcement is at the centre of miscarriages of justice, especially the police interview.15 If the death of Stephen Milligan, MP, was incorrectly decided to be due to sexual proclivities and if some misfeasance and murder has been allowed to escape, it is a travesty because this bright man was potential for higher positions and contributions in the UK government. The Police Journal article also cites Sanders et al (2010)16 in relation to unreliable forensic evidence; and Martin (2002)17 on police information gathering.18 Instinctively, when a case has been found to have been wrongly decided, those in the CJS cover over mistakes – like a weeping, putrid boil covered over by a clean medicine-cupboard plaster. This does not cure the problem, and indeed, this sets about a psychology of protecting the CJS whatever its faults. Trotting out new laws and regulations 15 See also Dempsey, J.S. and Forst, L. (2012) Police, United States: Delmar Cengage Learning. 16 Sanders, A. Burton, M., and Young, R. (2010) Criminal Justice, Oxford: Oxford University Press. This fourth edition criminology textbook book includes thought-provoking insights into how the CJS might be improved 17 A chapter in Humphrey, J.A. and Westervelt, S.D. (eds) (2002) Wrongly convicted: perspectives on failed justice, Brunswick New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, at pgs 77-95. 18 Coming after the 1999 UK development of the PEACE interviewing model by Milne and Bull. PEACE is a pneumonic for Preparation; Engage and Explain; Account; Closure and Evaluation stages of an investigative interview. Poor interviewing techniques persist today. Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 16 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 When wrongs become mightily transparent to the general public, another device used it to trot out new criminal procedure rules; statutory instruments and new statutes, swamping the overloaded rule books and serving only to create loopholes for studious and enterprising defence lawyers to discover. MP Stephen Milligan's Burial Stephen Milligan is buried at St Peter's Churchyard, Horsham. Stephen Milligan is survived by his brother who is a clergyman. Stephen Milligan's body is buried on consecrated grounds at St Peter's Churchyard, Woodmancote, Horsham District, Sussex.19 Events prior to MP Stephen Milligan's death In the months before his death in 1994, Stephen Milligan, had become embroiled in a rail privatization issue. At the time he was the newly elected Member of Parliament ('MP') for Eastleigh in Hampshire, UK and also Parliamentary Private Secretary for Jonathan Aitken, MP, then Minister of Defence. The reported manner of Stephen Milligan's death pointed to a classic example of death by auto-erotic asphyxiation. A post-mortem took place with results within a few days. He had 19 Woodmancote is a village and civil parish in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England, located 1 mile southeast of Henfield on the A281 road. (It should not be confused with the other West Sussex village of Woodmancote near Chichester, or with Woodmancote in Gloucestershire. Note there is also a St Peter's Church in nearby Henfield). This scattered community has no village centre, but includes the hamlet of Blackstone. The Anglican parish church, St Peter's, stands alone beside the A281 road. Originally thirteenth century the church was largely rebuilt in 1868. The parish was recorded in the Domesday survey of 1086 as Odemancote. Two of the Lewes martyrs, burnt at the stake in the Marian Persecutions of 1556, Thomas Harland and John Oswald, came from Woodmancote. Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 17 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 died by strangulation. The Inquest into his death took place in March 1994, returning a verdict of 'death by misadventure' though the circumstances may also have well warranted an open verdict. The inquest heard that the pathologist's post mortem report indicated no traces of alcohol or of drugs in the body. At the time of Milligan's death, he had no longer been engaged to be married to Ms Julie Kirkbride, who was his girlfriend since 1988 and who in 1994 had been political correspondent with the Sunday Telegraph newspaper. Julie Kirkbride. Source: Google. 1994 -Ms Julie Kirkbride A few years later, Ms Kirkbride herself was elected the Conservative MP for Bromsgrove20 in the West Midlands. From new MP to Parliamentary Private Secretary in two years 20 Bromsgrove is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom since 2010 by Sajid Javid of the Conservative Party. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bromsgrove_(UK_Parliament_constituency) Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 18 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 Stephen Milligan Eastleigh in Hampshire was Stephen Milligan's first political appointment. Stephen Milligan had entered politics for the first time in his life the very year he won the Eastleigh seat.21 He had previously worked as the financial/business editor with the New York Economist and for the British Broadcasting Corporation ('BBC') and was a respected economic and business journalist. In a relatively short time following his election success, Stephen Milligan rose from being a new MP to holding a post as Private Secretary to the Conservative government's Minister of State for Defence of the time, Jonathan Aitken MP. Stephen Milligan was expected to rise through the political hierarchy and had the potential to become a future Prime Minister. Privatisation of British Rail ('BR') and also the BR Rail Maintenance Division In the months leading up to his death Stephen Milligan became embroiled in a conflict over his Government's policy on rail privatisation. He was known to be self-determined. When the Conservative Government announced its intention to privatise British Rail, including the industry's manufacturing and maintenance divisions. Stephen Milligan was appointed as a 21 Eastleigh is a town that grew up with the railway industry and developed to become one of the largest rail manufacturing plants in Britain. Though the main manufacturing branch of the rail industry later moved elsewhere, Eastleigh retained one of British Rail's largest maintenance depots, with several thousand workers employed at the site. Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 19 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 Parliamentary Adviser (without pay) to the Government-appointed Privatisation Steering Committee. Several such committees had been established, including one to examine and oversee the privatisation of the rail maintenance division, British Rail Maintenance Limited ('BRML'). Stephen Milligan met regularly with management, union and worker groups from the maintenance depot of his own constituency, Eastleigh, Hampshire. Stephen Milligan had bought a house in Boyatt Wood, Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh in Hampshire. Chandler's Ford (originally The Ford and historically Chandlersford) is a largely residential area and civil parish in the Borough of Eastleigh in Hampshire, England, with a population of 21,436 in the 2011 UK Census. Chandler's Ford lies on the old Winchester to Southampton road and the 'Ford' is thought to refer either to the ford of Monks Brook on the Hursley Road (shown on the Hursley map of 1588 as 'Charnells foord') or on the Winchester-Southampton road. The 'Chandler's' prefix was added in the late 16th century and is derived from the surname, Chaundler, of a family in the area from the 14th Century. His worries about rail privatization in Eastleigh Union representatives and workers voiced to him their fear that extensive job losses would follow privatisation in the town through the rail industry privatisation and they were greatly concerned that it would lead to a local economic backlash. Stephen Milligan digested the discussions with the unions and had become concerned by the arguments about the workers Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 20 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 potential job losses. 22 He had even managed to achieve an airing of the matter in a television documentary which was aired on 6th February 1994.23 British footballer Justin Fashanu tried to sell homosexual story to newspapers Footballer Justin Fashanu MP Stephen Milligan had also become aware of Conservative Party internal plans to prevent British footballer Justin Fashanu24 from making public his claims that he had been involved in homosexual activity with two senior Cabinet Members of the government. In fact footballer Justin Fashanu also died. Fashanu died on 1 May 1996, two years after Stephen Milligan died, apparently from suicide.25 Being unsuccessful in selling his scandal story to British newspapers, Justin Fashanu emigrated to the United States to become a coach for the Maryland Mania Club and shortly afterwards, a male teenager26 complained to Maryland Police that Justin Fashanu had committed a sexual assault on the 17 year-old.27 22Stephen Milligan, as an undergraduate at Oxford University, had enjoyed his position as President of the Students Union at Magdelen College. 23 See also, Philip Hadley, 'The four big myths about rail privatization', Action for Rail, 1 June 2015 at http://actionforrail.org/the-four-big-myths-of-uk-rail-privatisation/ 24 Justin Fashanu was the first prominent British sportsman to be openly gay, for which confession he was dropped by Nottingham Forest, in the First Division and found himself playing for Torquay United in the Third Division. He was bitter about his fate. 25 Justin Fashanu, at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Fashanu. 26 The unnamed teenager allegedly assaulted by Fashanu in the US was one of six (all below the drinking age for Maryland of 21) who had spent the evening drinking beer at Fashanu's house in Maryland. The Complainant claimed he went to bed Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 21 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 Justin Fashanu was found dead in a garage in east London, police reported. The footballer was a former striker, and was once rated one of Britain's brightest young stars. He had returned to Britain after he was charged in Maryland. It is believed he hanged himself from the rafters of the rented garage. His body was found by a member of the public. An initial post-mortem examination proved but Scotland Yard said they were not treating the death as suspicious. It has been mooted by Scallywag magazine that MP Stephen Milligan was originally approached by the Security Services to attempt to dissuade footballer Justin Fashanu from continuing to disclose tales of homosexual sex sessions between himself and two serving Cabinet Ministers. Stephen Milligan allegedly did approach the footballer Justin Fashanu. Stephen Milligan allegedly reported back to the Security Services who informed Milligan that unless the footballer kept quiet he would be eliminated. Many believe that there was more to the story than simply the 'homosexual sex' aspect. As has now unfolded to the world at large, not only did senior politicians and others engage in prostitution, homosexuality, child-sex (paedophilia) but also drugs, bribery and corruption. The deeper truth includes powerful paedophile organised criminals such as the decorated Jimmy Saville and others who had introduced the footballer Fashanu, then only a very young adult, to the government Cabinet Ministers . This would imply that the two government Cabinet Ministers were involved with the paedophile ring. The Cabinet ministers involved were very high profile indeed and the alleged paedophile link, if revealed, would have had a catastrophic effect on not only public confidence in domestic government but would have had repercussions on the image of Britain around the world. around midnight and woke in Fashanu's bed eight hours later to find he was being sexually. Justin Fashanu, a born-again Christian, was questioned and charged following the alleged incident on 25 March 1998. A warrant for his arrest was issued by police in Howard County, Maryland; a week later when they arrived at his vacated flat Fashanu denied the allegations but was charged with second-degree sexual assault an offence which carries, on conviction, a maximum 20-year jail term. 27 In Maryland, US, a sexual assault could carry a 20 year prison sentence. Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 22 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 Stephen Milligan was allegedly informed by the security services that as his efforts at dissuading Justin Fashanu had failed, the footballer would be killed with his death being made to look like an accident. MP Stephen Milligan's grave in Sussex Gossip on the Internet stated that MP Stephen Milligan allegedly threatened the Security Services that, if anything happened to Justin Fashanu, he himself would reveal the whole story to The Sunday Times. Shortly afterwards MP Stephen Milligan died, having had a mishap whilst engaging in an auto-erotic sexual practice as rumour has it.28 MP Stephen Milligan inquest decided that his death was by misadventure and that he had consumed neither illicit drugs nor alcohol before he died. Stephen Milligan found dead-2 February 1994 Conservative MP, Stephen Milligan, aged 45, was found dead at his second home in Chiswick, West London, where he lived alone.29 He was found by his secretary Vera Taggart. Ms Taggart let herself into Mr Milligan's house after she became worried that he had 28 See http://aangirfan.blogspot.com/2013/11... 29 After Milligan's death, there was a by-election and his seat was won by the Liberal Democrats. Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 23 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 not kept his appointments.30 Ms Vera Taggart telephoned the emergency services at around 4.00 pm on Monday 7th February 1994 and the newspaper report said, untruthfully, that was a police officer, not Vera Taggart, who had told the Press that 'the body was naked except for a pair of stockings and suspenders'. The BBC News report of Tuesday 8th February 1994 had stated that police kept the body in the house for five hours before removing the body to Fulham mortuary for post-mortem examination that night. The police do not have to account to journalists and newspaper editorsthey enjoy full protection from local control in carrying out their dut it ies of law enforcement. Police are staid guardians of the Queen's Peace. Police were treating MP Stephen Milligan's house in Chiswick as a crime scene and Stephen Milligan's death as suspicious. Police in this country are the instrument for enforcing the rule of law. Police are the means by which civilised society maintains order, so that people may live safely in their homes and go freely about their lawful business. In other words, 'the police in this country have the task of the maintenance of the Queen's Peace. The police are both accountable to the law and at the same time, they are the law's agents; and uniformed police officers are regarded in the UK as the embodiment of the law's authority.'31 The newspaper reports about a segment of satsuma fruit in his mouth helped to fuel speculation that the MP had been engaged in the bizarre solitary sexual escapade during which he used 'amyl nitrate poppers', the news report speculated. However the post mortem results of 10th February 1994 stated that there were no drugs or alcohol in his body. At the later inquest32 the verdict was decided as 'death by misadventure'. Yet questions remain unanswered. 30 Editor, 'Police probe suspicious death of MP', BBC News, 8th February 1994. 31 Butler, R.A. (1962) Royal Commission on the Police 1962Final Report, London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office; chapter IV, page 2123. 32 An inquest is an inquisition for the benefit of the Crown, held before a Coroner as to the death of a person who has been slain, or has died suddenly, or in prison, or in other suspicious circumstances. Burke, J. (ed) (1977) Jowitts dictionary of English law, London: Sweet & Maxwell. Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 24 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 What would be the motive33 for murder in this case? Was Milligan murdered in connection with his role as PPS to the Arms Minister? Was he perhaps murdered in relation to the homosexual acts of two senior government Cabinet Ministers? He was known as a man who would not be quietened. Did he perhaps overhear something in closed circles, or did he speak out about something he knew in similar closed circles? Similarities with the death of James Rusbridger James Rusbridger, who died the same month as Stephen Milligan, was an ex-MI6 agent and respected investigative journalist specialising in intelligence matters. He was found hanging from a beam in his loft wearing a diving suit at his house in Bodmin Moor, Cornwall in February 1994. When Rusbridger's body was discovered, he was dressed in a green protective suit for use in nuclear, biological or chemical warfare, green overalls, a black plastic mackintosh and thick rubber gloves. His face was covered by a gas mask and he was also wearing a sou'wester. His body was suspended from two ropes, attached to shackles fastened to a piece of wood across the open loft hatch, and was surrounded by pictures of men and mainly black women in bondage. Consultant pathologist Dr Yasai Sivathondan said 33 A motive is a state of mind; an incentive. It is relevant evidence of intention. Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 25 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 Rusbridger died from asphyxia due to hanging – a known form of sexual strangulation. Rusbridger was allegedly starting work on a book about the Royal Family. Was Stephen Milligan's death really due to an autoerotic sexual activity or was he murdered? It is very possible that Stephen Milligan was killed for political, trade or finance reasons or homosexual prostitution he had uncovered but since no such sexual proclivities were known to others around him, who masked his murder as a sex game that went wrong? Only insider knowledge will reveal this. It is known that SM in the pro SM scene was known for requesting extreme forms of BDSM play with pro mistresses that were always refused as they were too edgy and dangerous. Some commentators assert that Stephen Milligan 'was into asphyxiation and breathplay'. 34If he had been murdered this sexual knowledge had been used against him. It is known that various politicians were/are into BDSM including those connected to Stephen Milligan, so any such fetish could have been used as a smoke screen to get rid of him under the guise of a sex game that went wrong. We must be reminded that at the time of his death he did have a very beautiful and intelligent fiancée, Julie Kirkbride, a Political journalist at the time of his sudden death in 1994. Coroner's verdict: misadventure It was decided by authorities that Stephen Milligan had died of misadventure in an auto-erotic form of death, which is well known in such sexual circles and a more common death than many think because such deaths are not so recorded.35 Meanwhile, journalists, including 34 Erotic asphyxiation or breath control play is the intentional restriction of oxygen to the brain for the purposes of sexual arousal. This sexual practice is variously called autoerotic asphyxia or hypoxyphilia. The term autoerotic asphyxiation is used when the act is done by a person to themselves. The erotic interest in asphyxiation is classified as a paraphilia in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erotic_asphyxiation, accessed on 31 January 2016. 35 It has been said that Madam Lindie St Claire, allegedly she supplied girls to Parliament, and she knew Stephen's tastes. It was said that 'he had one special girl he liked and that this was not him at all'. Most brothel madams in the City of London Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 26 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 specialist aviation and military journalists said that Stephen Milligan was possibly linked to 'murky arms deals'. Other suspicious deaths relating to military arms deals and intelligence Journalistic sources recalled another death –that of James Rusbridger and others, including a former M16 officer who had died 'in suspicious circumstances'. Just before his death, James Rusbridger was investigating the Porton Down offspring at RAF Portreath on the north Devon coastline, where many operatives were killed in a very serious chemical/biological accident. He was found dead by his landlord. According to the news report in Sigint,36 on 18 February1994, a certain Bodmin landlord, who was owed unpaid rent by Rusbridger, decided that he should have a meeting with his tenant. It was reported that the landlord approached his tenanted house, and with no reply, he and decided to gain entry. A Telegraph newspaper report said that the landlord had found the walls of the rented room 'plastered with pornographic pictures of black women'. 'The landlord then apparently noticed the body of his tenant, James Rusbridger with ropes twisted around ankles and the neck and intertwined through a pulley system strung from the cottage loft. Rusbridger's body was not dressed conventionally. He was wearing black oil skins and a World War II gas mask and the coroner decided that his death was caused by choking.'37 Rusbridger was an intelligence journalist who had been critical of attempts by the British Government's ban of the book written by former M15 spy titled Spycatcher in Britain and Australia. Also it was later alleged that his neighbour and councillor friend were harassed by government agents, possibly to put fear into him and thus keep his silence. James have to report to the Intel services to stay in business, and she said it was plain murder because she was involved in the aftermath. 36 This publication takes its title from the term 'Signals intelligence' or Sigintintelligence-gathering by interception of signals, whether communications between people (communications intelligence termed Comint) or from electronic signals not directly used in communication (electronic intelligence termed Elint). 37 Editor, 'Spy found dead', Central Bureau Intelligence Corps Association, Issue Number 3, September 1994, at page 1. Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 27 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 Rusbridger's landlord also refused to discuss his death. Similarly Rusbridger's executor, and publisher, kept their silence on his life and death and the UK's Intelligence 'mafia' had nothing to say about Rusbridger. Similarities of Milligan and Rusbridger deaths When Association member Lester Truex heard a report in 1994 of James Rusbridger's death broadcast by Malcolm Stewart from London on Radio 3AW38 and the bizarre details of Rusbridger's alleged suicide it occurred to him that this 63 year old bachelor was made to appear to be playing a solo sex gamesimilar to tragic Conservative MP Stephen Milligan and this seemed to be a move to discredit him.39 There is an old adage that 'truth is stranger than fiction40and by this reasoning he concluded that someone, somewhere, wanted to discredit Rusbridger's character.41 Similar rumours and gossip surrounded the death of Dr. Alan Turing.42 Editor Malcolm Olson also died a suspicious death. Also, author John Costello had died, allegedly from food poisoning whilst travelling by air from Spain to the United States ('US') and those closer to the facts believe that it was no accident or misadventure. 38 The report had been prepared by a London correspondent. 39 Brandreth, G. Breaking the code: Westminster Diaries, at pages 84, 101, 110, 111, 112, 117 118, 119, 121, 123, 138, 146, 161, 162, 171, 176, 190, 196, 223, 227, 229, 235, 237, 238 242, 244, 245, 312, 424. 40 'Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn't.' Mark Twain, Following the Equator: a journey around the world, (2015 reprint) London: CreateSpace Independent Publishing. 41 In 1991, James Rusbridger had written to Tim James, the director of the Defence Signals Directorate ('DSD') about James' refusal to let him see any files relating to Eric Nave's work with Central Bureau in 1940-41, claiming that to do so would harm relations with a foreign country and endanger the security of the Commonwealth. James Rusbridger had also written an airmail-posted letter to the Royal Australian Navy in his attempt to try to find Commander Nave. 42 Patrick Sammon and Paul Sen, 'Codebreaker Turing committed suicide: case closed', Film Codebreaker, MGN. Sammon and Sen are producers of the Film titled Codebreaker. This was the verdict of the coroner after Alan Turing died on 7 June 1954 and the two wrote this article to bolster the depiction of Turin in their film, even though a recent analysis by Professor Jack Copeland called the suicide conclusion into question. Professor Copeland had theorized that Alan Turing had NOT committed suicide but had accidentally ingested cyanide during an experiment and it was known that Turing used cyanide in certain scientific studies such as an electrolysis experiment. According to Hodges' book, Turing's mother had warned him at Christmas 1953 to be careful and wash his hands. Professor Copeland said the coroner should not have ruled the death a suicide in part because there was no evidence of pre-meditation. Believers of the accident theory point to unsent mail and an appointment for the day after his death as evidence of an accident. The film producers, with a vested interest in their depiction of Alan Turing in their film stated that 'Based on previously public information and new research that our team conducted during the production of CODEBREAKER, we believe the evidence strongly supports the conclusion that Turing took his own life.' Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 28 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 Deaths of MP Stephen Milligan in Chiswick, London and Security Services Officer Dr Gareth Williams in Pimlico Importantly, it is as well to compare MP Stephen Milligan's death to that of the Welsh Security Services Officer whose body was found in a sports bag in the bath in the bathroom of his rented apartment in Pimlico, London. A table of comparative death facts assists in illustrating the disquiet that these matters caused and still cause. If one examines the many senior nuclear scientists who have mysteriously been killed over the years; and other senior British men, the matter begins to take on a Russian Mafia effect. Yet this is the United Kingdom and we are largely an honest and civilised people. Unwarranted death of Dr Gareth Williams43, Senior Security Services government officer –compared to unwarranted death of Oxford graduate and MP Stephen Milligan GARETH WILLIAMS Age 32 Seconded to UK Secret Intelligence Services Mathematics doctorate and unmarried No alcohol or illicit drugs in his body. From Anglesey, North Wales, UK. Worked for 9 years for GCHQ, Cheltenham, Glos. Found on 23 August 2010. No DNA of other persons found. Body expired 7 days before. Body in locked bag. Expert witness said impossible for him to zip the bag up from inside. The inquest recorded that his death was 'unnatural and likely to have been criminally mediated' Matter investigated by Metropolitan Police, London Issues at work-at placement at Security Services position. Was returning to GCHQ in a week. Just before death-was tasked with others to 'penetrate US and UK hacking networks' and Russian money laundering in the UK. Coroner was not told of the several USB computer storage sticks found on the table. The coroner rejected suicide, interest in bondage or crossdressing, or "auto-erotic activity" being involved in Williams's death. In 2015, 5 years after Gareth Williams' death, Russian said spy was killed by Russians. Mixed messages or idle gossip about Milligan? Stephen Milligan appeared to at least one man in the Conservative Party to be a socially awkward personality. One Mr Denis Findlay commented that a short period before Stephen Milligan's death he had been present at a luncheon in Southampton and was seated next to Stephen Milligan. The guest at the luncheon was Jonathon Aitken44 and Dennis Findlay was 43 See Sally Ramage, 'A British Defence asset lost in Dr Gareth Williams' murder', Criminal Law News, Issue 23, September 2010, at pages 2-3. 44 Jonathan Aitken, was known to have a particular interest in sadomasochistic sex Milligan was not. Milligan at the time was engaged to be married to Ms Julie Kirkbride. Aitken has well-documented links to intelligence agencies and a role in shadowy arms deals that were conducted in the Ritz Hotel in Paris in 1993. Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 29 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 told to keep Stephen Milligan entertained for the three hour period. He noted that Stephen Milligan found it difficult to raise a conversation with him and Findlay thought he seemed pre-occupied or perhaps found Mr Findlay not his intellectual par. Mr Findlay also noted how sad and a social recluse Milligan appeared seemed. But Findlay is not a qualified psychiatrist. Another politician had noted that Stephen Milligan was 'a strange man' and when he heard about Milligan's sudden death, commented that it was a 'tragic end'. Others wondered why friends of Stephen Milligan did not foresee 'an unfolding of trouble.' A female, who knew Stephen Milligan through work and socially, but who is not medically qualified, said that he was 'very socially inept and seemed ill at ease generally'. She said that 'he did seem to want to get married, but almost as if he had toin order to appear like a regular guy; that he was quite brilliant, but that in these modern times, Stephen Milligan would have been diagnosed as having Asperger's syndrome.' Another person, this person being medically qualified, and knowing both Julie Kirkbride and Stephen Milligan at the time in 1994 said that 'as a retired hospital doctor who can count many pathologists as friends, I do not find stories of auto erotic asphyxiation too surprising. The practice is probably a lot more common than we appreciate – it is only when things go wrong that it comes to light.' Nevertheless other closer acquaintances refuted that Stephen Milligan was a 'strange man' but rather that he was a charming, friendly and intelligent human being. None of his actual friends ever saw any problem which could have led to the alleged manner of his death. 'Gossip' not investigated by police It was alleged that just before his death, he had allegedly 'signed up to an Introductions Agency', namely, Drawing down the Moon.45 This seems very unlikely since at the time of 45 Drawing Down The Moon is an Introductions agency based at 46 Manchester Street, London, W1U 7LS (telephone 020 7224 1001). This Dating Service states that it helps busy, single professionals find their ultimate soul mate. This exclusive Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 30 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 his death, he was no longer engaged but remained good friends with Julie Kirkbride who herself later became MP for Bromsgrove. Many of these comments could be viewed as malicious or just ignorant. A hard-working politician It is of note that Stephen Milligan was not in the Cabinet and held the post of Parliamentary Private Secretary to the then Minister of Defence, Jonathan Aitken. This was an unpaid post. Stephen Milligan died around 7th February in his terrace house in Chiswick, London. His constituents seemed to have faith in him. Steven Milligan had been contacted a few years before his death for assistance with a problem. Both he and his secretary, Vera Taggart tried very hard to assist the person who wrote to them for help unlike many politicians today who appear corrupt, and on 'the gravy train'46. One commentator noted that 'the dog didn't bark47' and wondered if Jonathan Aitken MP had made any comment when he learnt of Stephen Milligan's death. What did Aitken have to say on this matter? Conclusions Despite the discomfort some powerful people will experience, there is good reason for this cold case to be investigated. Politics in the UK in those days was a 'law onto itself'48, as we now learn since the recent paedophile investigations carried out by the policewhich dating agency charges fees starting from 6,000.00 pounds, including Value Added Tax. http://drawingdownthemoon.co.uk/the-team/#sthash.wK1FqYIL.dpuf. Who knew that Stephen Milligan had joined this agency? This is a Data Protection Act breach and a breach of confidentiality, if true. Was it an insider revealed this, or was it just another malicious lie? 46 The dictionary definition of this term is' a business or a government program that provides money to many people without requiring much work or effort.' 47In the classic short story, Silver Blaze, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle chronicles the mystery of the kidnapping of a prize race horse. Conan Doyle's detective, Sherlock Holmes, is summoned to investigate the crime. Holmes famously solves the case by focusing on a critical piece of evidence, a guard dog that doesn't bark during the commission of the crime. He concludes: 'the midnight visitor was someone the dog knew well', ultimately leading to the determination that the horse's trainer was the guilty party. The story is often used as an example of the importance of expanding the search for clues beyond the obvious and visible. 48 A person who is totally independent, especially one who ignores established rules. Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 31 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 uncovered popular and high level personalities involved in child pornography and paedophilia and other dishonourable acts. There was also much bribery, fraud and corruption49 in those years and opening the way that Stephen Milligan MP died suddenly will very likely open another can of worms of sex abuse; murder; bribery; corruption and worse. We owe it to our future generations to put right the wrongs of yesteryear, however unpalatable it proves to be. We must prioritise transparency and corporate governance in the business of politics in the UK and we must also leave our elected MPs to have some privacy in their tough and stressful lives. The Table below illustrates the fate of some MPs over the yearsthrough consorting with prostitutes, fraud, bribery, adultery, illicit drug-use and being homosexual or lesbian. It speaks for itself. Nevertheless, I hope that I have made a good case as to why Stephen Milligan's death must now be re-examined. 49 See Sally Ramage, 'Bribes and the United Kingdom ECGD', Mondaq Legal Newsletter, 15 December 2006. The UK's ECGD was set up in 1919 to act as an export credit insurance operation. It offered a range of services from comprehensive cover to one exporter for a range of goods and contracts to individual policies tailored to single trade contracts. It helped foreign investors to borrow cash for their purchases from UK banks and repay this in stages, by providing the bank with guarantees. Thus, the British exporter was able to negotiate a cash contract with the buyer. The banks would pay over the cash, supported by the ECGD guarantee, and the buyer would repay the bank loan in agreed stages. The ECGD provided bank guarantees for exporters also. These were usually on contracts where goods were exported on credit terms of two years or more. During the 1980's there were millions of pounds of losses because traders were using ECGD guarantees for questionable contracts. The ECGD was defrauded of millions of pounds each year, and many of these export contracts were with Nigerian importers. Many of the ECGD guarantees were called upon for receiverships, defaulting payments and changes in import restrictions. In the 1980's each ECGD policy allowed exporters leeway to trade in consumer goods with any buyer and many traders has many policies. The ECGD gave insurance cover for up to 90% of the value of the goods or services against the risk that the country of the buyer would encounter some problem or introduce some measure that will scupper the transaction. In 1984-1985, the ECGD paid out £784 million in claims out of the £17 billion worth of exports for which it had provided cover. The exporter is supposed to make efforts to recoup this money for the ECGD. During this period a simple fraud took place many times over. This is the essence of such a fraud. An overseas importer orders goods and deliberately defaults on the paymentssometimes even going into receivership to avoid the payments. The British exporter is left without his goods or his payment but if he was covered by an ECGD policy, the exporter would then claim 90% of the debt from the ECGD, who must pay up. In the case of large import-export businesses trading globally, the fraud multiplied with the use of forged documents1. Instead of being paid to a non-existent UK supplier, monies passed by the confirming finance house to the importer, facilitating the finance house to make a claim to the ECGD for the value of the contract. This was purely a 'paper chase' where no actual goods were exported. If bank loans were linked to an ECGD insurance policy as opposed to an ECGD guarantee, the cover for a defaulting purchaser was made void and the bank would suffer the loss. In the 1980's the British Bank Johnson Matthey Bankers lost £130 million though bad debts linked to ECGD insurance policies. Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 32 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 Year Name of MP Type of behaviour 1963 John Profumo prostitutes 1973 Lord Lambton prostitutes 1982 Nicholas Fairburn prostitutes 1984 Keith Hampson prostitutes 1986 Harvey Proctor prostitutes 1987 George Galloway prostitutes 1988 Ron Brown prostitutes 1992 David Mellor prostitutes 1983 Cecil Parkinson adultery 1992 Paddy Ashdown adultery 1993 Norman Lamont adultery 1993 Steven Norris adultery 1993 Tim Yeo adultery 1994 Gary Waller adultery 1995 Richard Spring adultery 1995 Dennis Skinner adultery 1976 Jeremy Thorpe Homosexuality 1979 Maureen Colquhoun Lesbian-homosexuality 1981 Allan Roberts homosexuality 1992 Alan Amos homosexuality 1993 David Ashby homosexuality 1994 Stephen Milligan Alleged homosexuality 1994 Michael Brown homosexuality 1994 Chris Brown homosexuality 1972 Reginald Maudling corruption, bribery, theft, fraud 1980 James Dunn corruption, etc 1987 Keith Best corruption, etc 1990 John Brown corruption, etc 1993 Michael Mates corruption, etc Referencesarticles Stephen Castle and Nick Cohen, 'A bolt from the blue: events surrounding the sudden death of Stephen Milligan', Independent, 13th February 1994. Editor, 'Obituary: Stephen Milligan: Brightest of the Backbenchers', Guardian, 8th February 1994. Editor, 'Obituary: Stephen Milligan', Independent, 9th February 1994. Editor, 'Tory MP Milligan leaves pounds 800, 000 in will', Independent, 8th June 1994. Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 33 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 Editor, 'M16 dirty secrets...why do sex games appear to feature in so many spy deaths? Daily Mirror, 5th May 2012. Keith Harris, 'Stephen Milligan: accident or murder and the unanswered questions', News Media, 13 May 2015. Ian Jack, 'A mystery, like the rest of us: he wanted to do the right thing. He wanted to be a husband', Independent, 13th February 1994. Andrew Malone, 'Sex, spies and seven suspicious deaths: the murky waters of the intelligence world –coincidence or conspiracy?,' Daily Mail, 5th May 2012. References-Books Benn, T. (author) and Winstone, R. (Ed) (2003) Free at last, London: Arrow, page 224. Brandreth, G. (1999) Breaking the code: Brandreth Diaries: Westminster diaries, London: W & N Publishers. Neil, A. (1996) Full disclosure, London: Pan Books, at pages 64 and 132. Mellow, D and Parris, M. (1995) Great Parliamentary scandals: four centuries of calumny, smear and innuendo, London: Robson Books Ltd, at pages 317-318. Major, J. (2010) John Major: the autobiography, London: Harper Collis, at pages 557 and 592. Sheleg, S. and Ehrlich, E. (2006) Autoerotic asphyxiation: forensic, medical, and social aspects, London: Wheatmark. ReferencesReports and Briefing Papers, etc 1993-4 Defence Employment report, published 13 October 1995. http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/RP95-99/RP95-99.pdf. 'Reform of the legislative process.' tabled for 17 June 1993, this debate was sponsored by Austin Mitchell. http://www.parliament.uk/edm/1992-93/2177 Making the LawReport (1992) by the Hansard Society Committee http://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Making-the-Law-1992.pdf Select Committee on International Development -Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence http://www.parliament.the-stationeryoffice.co.uk/pa/cm200001/cmselect/cmintdev/39/39ap04.htm References-Websites Steven David Wyatt Milligan http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10443563 Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 34 Criminal Law News Issue 87January 2016 (Print version) ISSN 1758-8421 Copyright belongs to SALLY RAMAGE 35 Printed and published by SALLY RAMAGE ®, Copehale, Coppenhall, Stafford, ST18 9BW, UK. Registered as a Newspaper at the Post Office. © Sally Ramage® 2015.All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some others use of this publication) without the written permission of the copyright holder except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, Saffron House, 6-10 Kirby Street, London, England EC1N 8TS. Application for the copyright owner's written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the publisher. Warning: the doing of an unauthorised act in relation to a copyright work may result in both a civil claim for damages and criminal prosecution. ISSN 1758-8421. All Rights Reserved.