Gareth Williams – MI6 officer found dead in a padlocked bag…

[birdie1971]

I can barely believe what I have just read on the BBC website regarding the above.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17865736


It is being seriously suggested that Mr Williams locked himself in the bag. He presumably also padlocked the bag closed once he had zipped himself inside. Some chap called William MacKay said, “There are people around who can do amazing things and Mr Williams may well have been one of those persons”.

Is it just me or is this blatant (and quite pathetic) attempt at a cover-up?

[Hopkirk]

Apparently he tied himself to a bed a few years ago, to see if he could escape.

Yeah, right.

[birdie1971]

I can accept that someone could (if they really wanted to) zip themselves into a bag. It’s the padlocking of the bag once you’re inside that’s utterly impossible.

[Ric.ror]

What was the result of the autopsy

[EvianBaby]

I just think they have absolutely no clue what happened to him.

It was reported that his body was in the foetal position and that there were no signs of a struggle or that he had tried to get out.

I think they are clutching at straws.

[Gromit]

It depends how thick the bag was. Even if it seems unlikely, I do not think they would offer it as a possible explanation if it were impossible.

[Ric.ror]

But what killed him - strangulation drug overdose etc

[cathfromsaron]

defo stinky cover up!

cath x

[Hopkirk]

Whoever did it would have wanted to leave this conundrum, so cause of death is probably not obvious.

[andy-hughes]

I don't think it is being saggested - I think from a legal point of view, that the court wants to rule out any and all possibilities before they declare a verdict.

Yes, common sense dictates that this poor man was shut into the back, either with or without his concent, but the law does not reach verdicts based on common sense, it reaches them based on edidence, and every scenario must be explored and eliminated.

I am sure that the preceived wisdom is the involvement of a third party. but again, what appears logical is not the same as what can be proved, and that is the purpose of this exercise.

[ludwig]

Don't those padlocks just click shut? You need the key to open them but not lock them. As gromit says it's feasible he could have done that through the bag if it was thin enough.

[Hopkirk]

Why would he do that Ludwig? It defies logic.

[EcclesCake]

If Mr Williams is shown on video getting into an identical bag and locking it with a padlock, what is to be debated?

[anotheoldgit]

Yes I agree there is something very strange about this case, apart from him being found in a locked bag, once being found tied to a bed, but also having £20,000 worth of women's clothing in his flat.

/// The inquest has already heard Mr Williams had £20,000 worth of womens’ clothing in his flat and had visited websites about claustrophilia - the love of enclosure - and bondage and sadomasochism. ///

http://www.telegraph....I6-inquest-hears.html

How does a person who obviously led such a lifestyle as this, ever get into the secret services?

[jno]

people have been known to act illogically, all the same. The court wants to eliminate the impossible, not the illogical.

[EcclesCake]

Sorry, I should have said Mr MacKay.

[sunny-dave]

the next expert witness, Mr Faulding, said that he had tried and failed to lock the bag from inside 300 times - and added that he was sure it could not be done

What a bizarre way to earn a living ... "What did you do at work this week daddy?"

[Davethedog]

Its not just me then. I'm incredulous at this, even more so that its taken two years to get here.

[Gromit]

// Mr Williams had £20,000 worth of womens’ clothing in his flat. How does a person who obviously led such a lifestyle as this, ever get into the secret services? //

J Edgar Hoover was his role model.

[anotheoldgit]

EcclesCake

It was a man of similar build.

[Hopkirk]

Eccles, Mr Mackay and his colleague didn't manage to lock it, in 100 attempts.