Behind Dead Eyes (DC Ian Bradshaw #2) - Howard Linskey Page 0,10

activities were exposed by the woman he had been seeing, giving him a strong motive that ‘marks him out as the only credible suspect’ in her murder. The trial continues.

OCTOBER 12, 1993

KILLER COULD NOT HAVE BEEN A WOMAN

Rebecca Holt must have been murdered by a man, according to an expert witness. Professor Angus Matthews told a court that a woman ‘lacked the upper body strength for such a sustained and savage attack on another human being. Only a man could have administered blows of such ferocity with a blunt instrument, possibly a hammer, which caused the severe cranial fracturing that killed Rebecca.’

Richard Bell’s wife told the court she was standing by her husband, despite his adulterous relationship with the dead woman and the murder charge that now hangs over him. Annie Bell said she took a share of the responsibility for his affair. ‘I was often busy with work and the children. I regret that now. I want to rebuild our relationship and we are both determined to make this marriage work. Richard is completely innocent.’

Earlier, Bell’s friend and best man at his wedding, Mark Birkett, confirmed the accused once assaulted a former girlfriend. The police were called when Bell struck Amy Riordan, his college sweetheart, but Bell escaped with a caution and was allowed to continue with his studies.

The trial continues.

OCTOBER 18, 1993

JUDGE CONDEMNS SORDID AFFAIR

A trial judge condemned a murder suspect for ‘conducting a sordid affair’ with the victim. Richard Bell engineered ‘a number of sexual encounters with Rebecca Holt, which showed a level of cunning that could scarcely be credited’, said Mr Justice Thurley, who reserved particular scorn for the manner in which the two lovers communicated with one another. Using a complex dead-letter drop, he said, ‘was like something out of a John Le Carré novel’.

The judge told Bell he was an immoral man with a cold heart but it was up to members of the jury to decide whether this meant he was actually guilty of murder. They would have to look deep into their own hearts, he told them, in order to decide what lay in Richard Bell’s. ‘As you hear about his dual life, full of duplicity and lies, do you conclude that this is a man capable of committing a most brutal act of murder without a single moment’s remorse?’ The jury has retired to consider its verdict.

OCTOBER 21, 1993

MONSTER GUILTY OF BRUTAL MURDER KILLER SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR EVIL SLAYING OF FORMER LOVER

Rebecca Holt’s former lover was sentenced to life imprisonment today for her brutal murder. The judge described Richard Bell as a monster.

A jury took just six and a half hours to decide that Bell, 32, was guilty of beating his former lover to death. The married father of two showed no emotion as Mr Justice Thurley told him, ‘You were once intimately involved with the victim of this terrible crime but when she threatened to expose the sordid affair to your wife, you decided to rid yourself of her in the most callous manner imaginable.’

Bell was told he would serve a minimum of 24 years. His wife Annie Bell, who proclaimed his innocence and stood by him throughout the trial, wept openly as Bell was led from the court room.

OCTOBER 24, 1993

MY SAUCY ROMPS ON LOVE BOAT WITH TRAGIC REBECCA

The best friend of murder victim, Rebecca Holt, lifts the lid today on their bawdy years together on board a cruise ship nicknamed the ‘love boat’. Nicole Andrews has revealed all about her life at sea during two uninhibited, fun-filled years singing professionally for wealthy passengers, including Rebecca’s future husband.

In an exclusive interview, Naughty Nicole confessed the girls, then in their mid-twenties, often drank too much following their twice-nightly shows, then slept with fellow crew members or wealthy passengers.

‘There was a new set of passengers every week so there were always plenty of opportunities,’ admitted Nicole. ‘We just wanted to have a good time. The passengers were loaded so we’d get them to buy us drinks after a show.’ Nicole admitted one thing would often lead to another. ‘We would regularly wake up next to a stranger but I don’t regret a thing.’

Naughty Nicole revealed that

• Sleeping with strangers was considered normal on a cruise ship nicknamed ‘the love boat’ by its young and crazy crew.

• Raunchy Rebecca regularly sunbathed topless on the upper deck in full view of passengers and crew because she ‘hated tan lines’.

• When Rebecca met millionaire businessman Freddie Holt she told Nicole, ‘He’s my passport