UK UK - Claudia Lawrence, 35, Chef, York University, 18 March 2009 #6

[Andyboy]

It could have been a passing motorist that lived miles and simply contacted police through crimestoppers.take it or leave it sort of thing

Possible, bit of a remote place to be passing that time of day though, as I say I'm not convinced the smoker exists

 

[Andyboy]

It could have been a passing motorist that lived miles and simply contacted police through crimestoppers.take it or leave it sort of thing

Possible, bit of a remote place to be passing that time of day though, as I say I'm not convinced the smoker exists

The sight of a mother or father with their own children watching PL in tears on TV ?

Not upset enough ever to contact the police ever again though, or give there name

 

[Popejohn3]

Possible, bit of a remote place to be passing that time of day though, as I say I'm not convinced the smoker exists

Not upset enough ever to contact the police ever again though, or give there name

Hmm why not, we all have to remember ... innocent until proven guilty.

 

[Jude Merlin]

Let me put forward a few "What If" scenarios. What if the rucksack/backpack which was spotted on a footpath near the university WAS Claudia's? I know people have said that there is no indication that she reached as far as the university on the 19th but that was on the route from her home though Melrosegate. Perhaps she approached the university from a different direction. What if she DID spend the night in Acomb? The police have stated that she spent some time in Acomb prior to her disappearance and appealed for taxi drivers to come forward who might have driven her to work on a morning. I have no idea if any did. Her phone was switched off when it was in Acomb. Did the authorities not dig up a pub cellar in Acomb? Does anyone know which one? Were any of the POIs from Acomb. If she DID spend some nights in Acomb was she driven to work, driven part way to work, or did she walk to work. What if she walked to work? York Road/Acomb Road - Holgate Road - Blossom Street - Nunnery Lane - Price's Lane - Bishopgate Street - Paragon Street - Lawrence Street - University Road. Four miles which might explain her co-worker saying she looked tired when he was interviewed. The same route I used to take most Friday evenings a long time ago except I turned into Melrosegate. That is the 'safer' more well lit route. What if she wanted a shorter route. Maybe across Hob moor - Knavesmire - Millennium Bridge - University. But darker and certainly unsafer, but quicker. What if the couple seen arguing on University Road WAS Claudia and her boyfriend? What if they had walked from Acomb together as a safety measure but ended up arguing because Claudia was late maybe due to something he did or was doing?
Lots of 'what if's, I know. Let me know your thoughts please.

 

[Popejohn3]

Let me put forward a few "What If" scenarios. What if the rucksack/backpack which was spotted on a footpath near the university WAS Claudia's? I know people have said that there is no indication that she reached as far as the university on the 19th but that was on the route from her home though Melrosegate. Perhaps she approached the university from a different direction. What if she DID spend the night in Acomb? The police have stated that she spent some time in Acomb prior to her disappearance and appealed for taxi drivers to come forward who might have driven her to work on a morning. I have no idea if any did. Her phone was switched off when it was in Acomb. Did the authorities not dig up a pub cellar in Acomb? Does anyone know which one? Were any of the POIs from Acomb. If she DID spend some nights in Acomb was she driven to work, driven part way to work, or did she walk to work. What if she walked to work? York Road/Acomb Road - Holgate Road - Blossom Street - Nunnery Lane - Price's Lane - Bishopgate Street - Paragon Street - Lawrence Street - University Road. Four miles which might explain her co-worker saying she looked tired when he was interviewed. The same route I used to take most Friday evenings a long time ago except I turned into Melrosegate. That is the 'safer' more well lit route. What if she wanted a shorter route. Maybe across Hob moor - Knavesmire - Millennium Bridge - University. But darker and certainly unsafer, but quicker. What if the couple seen arguing on University Road WAS Claudia and her boyfriend? What if they had walked from Acomb together as a safety measure but ended up arguing because Claudia was late maybe due to something he did or was doing?
Lots of 'what if's, I know. Let me know your thoughts please.

The police never as far as I know inferred 1 that her phone was switched off in Acomb
2 that taxi drivers took her straight to work from Acomb

 

[Jude Merlin]

The police never as far as I know inferred 1 that her phone was switched off in Acomb
2 that taxi drivers took her straight to work from Acomb

I think I saw something on You-Tube that stated it was turned off whilst it was in Acomb but of course I cannot be sure so thank you for pointing this out. As regards the taxi drivers I'm doing the 'assume' bit where I'm assuming by the police asking any info on taxi drivers picking her up early in the morning this means to take her to work. I don't really feel TOO bad about this assumption.

 

[Popejohn3]

If CL did have a new ‘friend’ to most he would be the ‘ mystery’ boyfriend .
And you would not necessarily want to introduce him to all in your local.
She intended to visit the NH the day after.
This boyfriend was ...probably...a-game changer in Claudia’s life but was he willing to change His life for her ?

 

[Popejohn3]

I think I saw something on You-Tube that stated it was turned off whilst it was in Acomb but of course I cannot be sure so thank you for pointing this out. As regards the taxi drivers I'm doing the 'assume' bit where I'm assuming by the police asking any info on taxi drivers picking her up early in the morning this means to take her to work. I don't really feel TOO bad about this assumption.

No need to feel bad at all you could still be right

 

[x_caz_x]

This has been mentioned so many times before, but everything comes back to a lack of motive. If @MajorLang's theory is correct about CL being the victim of an accident, it would account for this. It appears to be the most logical reason.

 

[MajorLang]

I think I saw something on You-Tube that stated it was turned off whilst it was in Acomb but of course I cannot be sure so thank you for pointing this out. As regards the taxi drivers I'm doing the 'assume' bit where I'm assuming by the police asking any info on taxi drivers picking her up early in the morning this means to take her to work. I don't really feel TOO bad about this assumption.

Hi @Jude Merlin Yes there was mention of Acomb and er phone, It was stated that a few weeks before she dissapeared that her phone signal was picked up in Acomb area. Nothing sinister there though as she may well have been visiting the Acomb pub or carlton tavern. yes taxi drivers were being checked, not just for lift giving to work but also to see who had picked her up to take her out at nights and where to.

 

[MajorLang]

9 Hours-A period of time that she could have been taken?
40 Hours-The constant SMS / Texter who never utters a word?

If you take one from the other you get 31

31 Hours when all of those who knew Claudia did nothing?

Her Colleagues at work
Her employers, York university who failed to check in with her next of kin even after her second no show for work?
Her friends who monopolise the media with their crocodile tears?

4 Doors

The distance she was from the Nags Head where Suzy had made a special trip to yet never went to knock her door.
The anxious barmaid Jen King, who at 10pm on 19th was worried but didn't go to see her.

The Family
Who complained that Police had issued the wrong photo of Claudia when they would have got this from them
Who denied that she has mysterious and Complexity when they knew that she broke up a recent marriage

The Friends
Who continue to defend each other when unless they were all by each others side they couldn't vouch for everyones movements

The Work Colleague
Who waited a year to reveal a crucial piece of evidence on his 5th police interview
The same man who made a spur of the moment decision not to give Claudia a lift and decided instead to take the longer route to work?

The unseen CCTV footage or footage with timestamps removed with no effort to enhance

If I was the SIO in this case I would be asking my team to focus for starters on all of the above.

 

[keep-it-real]

If CL did have a new ‘friend’ to most he would be the ‘ mystery’ boyfriend .
And you would not necessarily want to introduce him to all in your local.
She intended to visit the NH the day after.
This boyfriend was ...probably...a-game changer in Claudia’s life but was he willing to change His life for her ?

Are you referring to 'mystery boyfriend' Claudia had spent all night with when speaking to David Oxer or someone different

 

[Yozzer]

If they were that worried why get involved at all

Conscience?

 

[Yozzer]

A much larger reward might be much more tempting, to perhaps someone wanting to get away from the group and start afresh? MOO

Like a wife or partner who fears whether they will be able to cope on a single income.

 

[Andyboy]

Conscience?

Same story really, not enough conscience to leave there name or contact the police again

 

[Andyboy]

Like a wife or partner who fears whether they will be able to cope on a single income.

Especially if certain facts. Come to light and they have to move out of the area

 

[keep-it-real]

9 Hours-A period of time that she could have been taken?
40 Hours-The constant SMS / Texter who never utters a word?

If you take one from the other you get 31

31 Hours when all of those who knew Claudia did nothing?

Her Colleagues at work
Her employers, York university who failed to check in with her next of kin even after her second no show for work?
Her friends who monopolise the media with their crocodile tears?

4 Doors

The distance she was from the Nags Head where Suzy had made a special trip to yet never went to knock her door.
The anxious barmaid Jen King, who at 10pm on 19th was worried but didn't go to see her.

The Family
Who complained that Police had issued the wrong photo of Claudia when they would have got this from them
Who denied that she has mysterious and Complexity when they knew that she broke up a recent marriage

The Friends
Who continue to defend each other when unless they were all by each others side they couldn't vouch for everyones movements

The Work Colleague
Who waited a year to reveal a crucial piece of evidence on his 5th police interview
The same man who made a spur of the moment decision not to give Claudia a lift and decided instead to take the longer route to work?

The unseen CCTV footage or footage with timestamps removed with no effort to enhance

If I was the SIO in this case I would be asking my team to focus for starters on all of the above.

I think she told David Oxer who she spent the night with. He has a name. maybe he knows him and decided to keep shtum because rather than reveal it he thought police would have find out who it was anyway through the course of their investigations. In his tv interview he appeared always to be searching for the correct phrasing. Maybe he had now told police the name and they have schooled him into what to say on camera.
David Oxer reference to banter leads me to think if he knew this man he would have no problem bantering up Claudias discloure of an all night session. This may not have gone down well with this mystery man especially if he was married. thus sparking an argment between Claudia and the mystery man.
Of course he may have also told the police the name in the begining and thats what led them to the POI in the first place. The police just decided to keep this piece of eveidence out of the public domain

 

[Andyboy]

9 Hours-A period of time that she could have been taken?
40 Hours-The constant SMS / Texter who never utters a word?

If you take one from the other you get 31

31 Hours when all of those who knew Claudia did nothing?

Her Colleagues at work
Her employers, York university who failed to check in with her next of kin even after her second no show for work?
Her friends who monopolise the media with their crocodile tears?

4 Doors

The distance she was from the Nags Head where Suzy had made a special trip to yet never went to knock her door.
The anxious barmaid Jen King, who at 10pm on 19th was worried but didn't go to see her.

The Family
Who complained that Police had issued the wrong photo of Claudia when they would have got this from them
Who denied that she has mysterious and Complexity when they knew that she broke up a recent marriage

The Friends
Who continue to defend each other when unless they were all by each others side they couldn't vouch for everyones movements

The Work Colleague
Who waited a year to reveal a crucial piece of evidence on his 5th police interview
The same man who made a spur of the moment decision not to give Claudia a lift and decided instead to take the longer route to work?

The unseen CCTV footage or footage with timestamps removed with no effort to enhance

If I was the SIO in this case I would be asking my team to focus for starters on all of the above.

All valid points, especially the jk and suzy points, hard to believe she didn't walk 40 or 50 yards to check that her best friend that had stood her up was OK, and not at home very ill or something

 

[MummyRatcliffe]

@Andyboy The problem with this case is that Claudia was likely the instigator of a row. She went a step too far with someone's partner and the significant other found out and then confronted Claudia. We know that Claudia was avoiding her usual haunt and making excuses about not wanting to meet up that week. The only way to confront her would be either at her home-she probably wasn't answering the door or when she went to work on 19th.
So for Claudia to set off fro work an avoid detection did she leave by the back door and along the alleyway, through the Nags Car Park and out into Hewarth Road. If she was meeting someone for a lift, the instruction may have been "Meet me in Nags Car Park"Had she avoided the significant other on 18th in this way?
So the alley man-who were they, was it a women? Were they checking at night to see if she was in and in the morning checking Claudia was up and getting ready for work?

When Claudia left via the back door and approached the alley, wa someone waiting for her to ask "You been messing with my man?" A scuffle (similar time one reported by MOP) Claudia runs through Nags Car park and down lane between pub and terrace block of houses out in front of car driving at 22 MPH as earlier reported. Car breaks to avoid her but hits her and she falls- But was she gone before she hit the ground? Probably not. The killer blow was likely as she hit the kerb or road.
And so. Was there a killer-probably not?
The crime was likely to be the covering up of the accident and hence the wall of silence.
Is this why people can live with themselves and stay quiet. Is this why DO waited a year to report the new boyfriend story and strangely not pick her up that morning? Is this why SC Continues to defend her friends?

So could the ford focus have hit CL? And was DO driving? If so what connection to the POIs does he have, if any? And why would the POI not talk if it wasn't one of their "gang" that killed CL?

I don't feel the CCTV was a woman, it looks to me to be clearly a man, from the build, clothing and walk. They look quite tall for a woman too, aren't they estimated to be about 5ft 10? MOO

 

[keep-it-real]

All valid points, especially the jk and suzy points, hard to believe she didn't walk 40 or 50 yards to check that her best friend that had stood her up was OK, and not at home very ill or something

I have thought about this and studied JK and SC personalities a little which has led me to put this initial behaviour aside.
Theres no reason to think that they thought she wouldnt turn up at some point in the evening no call or text from Claudia saying in goin to be late/give it a miss tonite so they just let the evening roll on.
JK was working so she would have kept busy not dwelling on it.
SC different persoanlity its she said that when she visited the Nags on Gold Cup Day which was only a few days earlier. Claudia had been drinking all day and was drunk when she got there so they didnt spend their usual time together (why because I think SC was a bit p*****d O** with her ( why..because SC valued her social time with Claudia) So I think she would have been clock watching and getting irritated.
When 10.00pm came and Claudia was a no show JK says she was worried I think this is just a phrase she threw in for the viewing audience on tv.. I think she would have just fobbed it off as it wasnt the first time Claudia had been a no show.
I cant find any record of them trying to call her or text her that evening. the next day when SC sent her a text says thanks for standing me up! .. the exclamation mark suggests to me it was a sarcastic text and she was P.O** with Claudia which seemed to happen on quite a few occassions