And how would you describe her state of mind back then?
LB: Pent up, I suppose you’d say. I kept asking her if she was OK and she got upset and said she was worried she’d had something to do with the stabbing of that girl – the first murder, I suppose you’d call it now, that Joanna – and some homeless fella, which I knew nothing about obviously. I just told her not to be so daft. Why would I say anything else? I mean, there was no way, no way I would have thought she’d have had anything to do with that. It makes sense now. But then, no. No way.
HS: How did she seem to you?
LB: She seemed… down. It was understandable, totally. But then I tried to suggest, gently, like, that she might be imagining things. I was trying to be sympathetic. I mean, it’s not like her postpartum psychosis was a secret between us. I’d been very involved in that, in getting Mark to see she needed help, you know? So it’s not like it was a taboo, only we never spoke about it. Never. (Pause) So I suppose it was a taboo then, wasn’t it? But then Rachel wouldn’t talk to me about anything anymore. As if getting upset would be the end of the world, like there’d be so many tears she’d drown us both, do you know what I mean? She was like a balloon full of water. One jab and it would all come out. And I think she was afraid of that. But when I said about getting help, she got offended, which was horrible. I mean, we joked our way out of it, but she left soon after that and I didn’t see her again, not to speak to. She replied to texts but I could tell she’d gone further into herself. I hadn’t meant to upset her. I just keep thinking I could have helped her more… been a better friend… If I had been, she might never have killed anyone. (Breaks down)
31
Ingrid
Transcript of recorded interview with Ingrid Taylor (excerpt)
Also present: DI Heather Scott, PC Marilyn Button
HS: For the benefit of the tape, PC Button is showing Ms Taylor a CCTV image. Ms Taylor, if we can go back a little. This CCTV capture was taken in Victoria Road on Thursday the fourth of July this year at approximately quarter to eight in the evening. Can you describe what’s in the picture?
IT: Of course I can. I went for a drive. I think I said that, didn’t I? So what?
HS: Ms Taylor, can you tell us what you were doing in the area of St Michael’s church on the night that Mr Henry Parker was found collapsed on Langdale Road?
IT: Who?
HS: Henry Parker. He was a homeless man found in a state of asphyxiation near St Michael’s church later that evening, five nights after the attack on Joanna Weatherall.
IT: What’s that got to do anything? I thought he was just some drunk tramp?
HS: If you could answer the question, Ms Taylor.
IT: Has Rachel confessed to attacking him as well? Was he stabbed? I didn’t think he’d been attacked. I can’t remember anything about that in the news.
HS: Ms Taylor, Victoria Road is in the immediate vicinity of St Michael’s church. Can you shed any light on what you were doing there that evening?
IT: Power of suggestion. Mark had gone out for some chips – at least I thought he had. I fancied some chips too. Is that so hard to believe? I know which chip shop the Edwardses use because she… Rachel had told me which one was the best, which I’m sure she did in the interests of being neighbourly. I suppose she’d filtered useful local info through her own priorities, and in her case that information was the chippy, the Co-op and the pub. I mean, (laughs) do I look like I eat chips?
HS: Ms Taylor, a moment ago you said you were out in your car because you were going for chips.
IT: Well, yes. Occasionally, yes. Once every six months. But not every week. My point was, what, looking at me, would give her the impression that I’d go anywhere near a fast-food outlet, or a cheap supermarket, or a working men’s pub? (Laughs) She told me where the library was too. Even the bus stop! I mean, I suppose she assumed… I told her I’d won the Prius in a competition on daytime TV, but