UK UK - Ann Heron, 44, found at home with throat cut, Darlington, 3 August 1990

[WiseOwl]

HI, It would not be ethical to say who was suspected at the beginning of the enquiry by Peter Heron. That person is still alive and has a family of their own to consider. This suspected person was ruled out as they had an alibi, and Peter Heron is satisfied that they have been exonerated.

Thanks.

What did you make of the witness who claimed he saw Ann in a car with two other people, about to turn into the driveway at 4.15 that afternoon?

'I was the last person to see Ann alive'

Almost 20 years after the Heron murder, a witness tells the Echo what he saw. Chris LLoyd reports

www.thenorthernecho.co.uk

This person had worked previously with Mr Heron & he also knew Ann in person, so presumably they must be considered a reliable witness.

Also, there was a reported sighting of a blue car parked near to the house at 4.45. In the Crimewatch reconstruction there is a shot of this car parked near to the house but no sign of Ann's car; Was this because the witness did not see Ann's car or was it an oversight by the Crimewatch show?

Thanks again.

 

[Jen Jarvie]

Thanks.

What did you make of the witness who claimed he saw Ann in a car with two other people, about to turn into the driveway at 4.15 that afternoon?

'I was the last person to see Ann alive'

Almost 20 years after the Heron murder, a witness tells the Echo what he saw. Chris LLoyd reports

www.thenorthernecho.co.uk

This person had worked previously with Mr Heron & he also knew Ann in person, so presumably they must be considered a reliable witness.

Also, there was a reported sighting of a blue car parked near to the house at 4.45. In the Crimewatch reconstruction there is a shot of this car parked near to the house but no sign of Ann's car; Was this because the witness did not see Ann's car or was it an oversight by the Crimewatch show?

Thanks again.

The sighting is not accurate at all. The blue car seen was the same car seen exiting the driveway at 5.05pm. Ann's car was there just not in the shot.

 

[WiseOwl]

The sighting is not accurate at all. The blue car seen was the same car seen exiting the driveway at 5.05pm. Ann's car was there just not in the shot.

The sighting of the blue car exiting the driveway is problematic though, isn't it? The two separate witness statements have the car going in different directions; one has the car leaving the driveway and turning right towards Darlington, and the other sighting has the car turning left out of the driveway and heading towards Middleton St George. Which of these sightings is considered the most accurate and why?

Also, is it true that it was impossible to see Ann sunbathing from the road unless you were in an elevated position like in a lorry or on the top deck of a bus?

TIA

 

[ctaylor]

Just to be clear I have the prosecution bundle, crime scene photographs and interview transcrips. The documentary and podcast simplified the process - it wasn't just a case of watching two programs and thinking hes got a blue car so he'll do.
There has been extensive research on Benson; including psychiatric files, crime records, efits, witness transcript from previous offences, family interviews and close friends and partners of Benson.

Thank you for replying, the podcast perhaps did edit it unfairly but the impression it gave was not as convincing as maybe intended . As you said you have seen all of this other information. Based on it, do you think Benson did it?

 

[CSIAngus]

The sighting of the blue car exiting the driveway is problematic though, isn't it? The two separate witness statements have the car going in different directions; one has the car leaving the driveway and turning right towards Darlington, and the other sighting has the car turning left out of the driveway and heading towards Middleton St George. Which of these sightings is considered the most accurate and why?

Also, is it true that it was impossible to see Ann sunbathing from the road unless you were in an elevated position like in a lorry or on the top deck of a bus?

TIA

An earlier post addresses the colour of the car and the effects of sunlight on perception of colour. Was it blue or another light colour?

 

[CSIAngus]

Just to be clear I have the prosecution bundle, crime scene photographs and interview transcrips. The documentary and podcast simplified the process - it wasn't just a case of watching two programs and thinking hes got a blue car so he'll do.
There has been extensive research on Benson; including psychiatric files, crime records, efits, witness transcript from previous offences, family interviews and close friends and partners of Benson.

That's not good enough. I ask again, what is the evidence that Benson was a danger to women, such that it can be reasonably assumed that he could kill a random woman without other crime taking place?

 

[CSIAngus]

He didn't......

I think he did and so do LE otherwise he'd never have been charged.

 

[CSIAngus]

This wasn't out of character; just the long way back to the office; entering the village a different way. This was a journey often taken by Peter Heron.

There is no evidence that this was a route often taken by PH. In fact, it has always part of the case that this was unusual.

 

[CSIAngus]

Just to clarify too. The haulage company mainly hauled steel so a box cutter was not a usual tool.

It would be a usual tool in any haulage company. And they didn't just haul steel.

 

[CSIAngus]

The house had changed substantially from 1990 to when the footage was taken.
As regards Peter Heron's attitude to Ann; he wasn't controlling and/or possessive. There was no problem from either party regarding the sunbathing at the front or back of the house.
In 1990 and in August, the visibility from the road was not as clear as it is now.

The woman on the bus ( not a friend but a co worker who didnt really know Ann) was interviewed 9 days after the incident and only gave information that had been made public in the newspapers. The sighting is not as reliable as thought.

Yet PH was having an affair so hardly a loving relationship and AH wanted to go home to Scotland and leave PH we are told. We are led to believe that at the very moment AH was murdered that PH was driving through a village hoping to cop a glimpse of his mistress. As Judge Judy says, if it doesn't make sense, it's not true.

 

[CSIAngus]

This was cross contamination not breathing sperms in. The sample is irrelevant as they lived in the same house as man and wife. This is the only evidence the police had, which is very weak in the circumstances.

How can sperm be cross contaminated into a dead woman's throat? That doesn't make sense and it obviously didn't to the police. <modsnip: Don't be rude>

 

[WiseOwl]

An earlier post addresses the colour of the car and the effects of sunlight on perception of colour. Was it blue or another light colour?

That is why i asked the question did the witness only see one car parked there? Because if it was just the one car then it had to be Anne's surely? The Crimewatch reconstruction clearly only shows one car in the driveway but the answer i received was that Anne's car was there, just not in the shot.

 

[WiseOwl]

Yet PH was having an affair so hardly a loving relationship and AH wanted to go home to Scotland and leave PH we are told. We are led to believe that at the very moment AH was murdered that PH was driving through a village hoping to cop a glimpse of his mistress. As Judge Judy says, if it doesn't make sense, it's not true.

Bear in mind that nobody knew about the affair until a week after the murder, so PH could not of mentioned 'hoping to catch a glimpse of his mistress' when he was first interviewed by the police. So what did he say his reason for driving the long way back to work was in his original statement?

 

[dotr]

The sighting is not accurate at all. The blue car seen was the same car seen exiting the driveway at 5.05pm. Ann's car was there just not in the shot.

Very cool!

Jarvie Khan Investigations | York St John University

www.yorksj.ac.uk

''Jen Jarvie, Association of British Investigators (ABI) Investigator of the Year, and Jaz Khan, a former Detective Superintendent who led on major crime at West Yorkshire Police, have gone into business together with an exciting and sought after new private investigation agency.

The pair met at York St John University when Jaz joined the Professional Policing team where Jen is a lecturer. They got chatting and found a common understanding and interest in investigations, each recognising each other's potential.

Combining forces​

The lecturers have earned their stripes in two very different areas that in combination, make a formidable team.

Alongside her role as an academic with a solid a background in death investigation, forensic medicine, and crime scene analysis, Jen was already working alone as a cold case investigator. It was her work on the unsolved murder case of Ann Heron that led to national recognition and the most prestigious award in her field, the Zena Scott Archer Investigator of the Year.

She was looking for a business partner to expand the business when Jaz joined York St John as a Visiting Lecturer.

Jaz is a former Detective Superintendent who has previously led on both Major and Serious Organised Crime. Having investigated numerous high profile cases, he’s received several Judges Commendations for his work.

He finished his 30 year policing career in the 4th largest crime city in the country, Leeds.

He says: “One of our aims is to forge better relations within the Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) community and represent families and victims throughout the local area.''

 

[WiseOwl]

The sighting is not accurate at all. The blue car seen was the same car seen exiting the driveway at 5.05pm. Ann's car was there just not in the shot.

How can it be accurate to say the car seen parked at the house at 4.45 was the same one seen exiting the driveway at 5.05 - neither of the witnesses who saw the speeding car were the same ones who saw the car parked at the house?

What happened to the blue Leyland Sherpa van that was seen parked at the bottom of the drive - was the sightings of this before or after the 5.05 speeding blue car?

 

[Jen Jarvie]

How can sperm be cross contaminated into a dead woman's throat? That doesn't make sense and it obviously didn't to the police. <modsnip: Don't be rude>

<modsnip: Quoted post was modsnipped> ... given the debis on the carpet and the severity of the wounds. Think about it...one sample of sperm...just one not numerous.

 

[Jen Jarvie]

That is why i asked the question did the witness only see one car parked there? Because if it was just the one car then it had to be Anne's surely? The Crimewatch reconstruction clearly only shows one car in the driveway but the answer i received was that Anne's car was there, just not in the shot.

Ann's car was silver not blue and removed from the Crimewatch episode.

 

[Jen Jarvie]

Yet PH was having an affair so hardly a loving relationship and AH wanted to go home to Scotland and leave PH we are told. We are led to believe that at the very moment AH was murdered that PH was driving through a village hoping to cop a glimpse of his mistress. As Judge Judy says, if it doesn't make sense, it's not true.

I don't rely on Judge Judy..... Had Ann of wanted to return to Scotland then Peter would have made it happen.

 

[Jen Jarvie]

There is no evidence that this was a route often taken by PH. In fact, it has always part of the case that this was unusual.

Not if you had interviewed Peter, and spoke to him at length. That is just your opinion.

 

[Jen Jarvie]

It would be a usual tool in any haulage company. And they didn't just haul steel.

And Peter worked in the office