This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/7174828.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| The 'torture' of canoe man's sons | The 'torture' of canoe man's sons |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| By James Lynn BBC News, Newcastle Anthony and Mark Darwin feel 'betrayed' by their parents | By James Lynn BBC News, Newcastle Anthony and Mark Darwin feel 'betrayed' by their parents |
| When canoeist John Darwin vanished more than six years ago his sons were "tortured" by his supposed death. | When canoeist John Darwin vanished more than six years ago his sons were "tortured" by his supposed death. |
| His wife Anne claimed the whole family's lives were in limbo. | His wife Anne claimed the whole family's lives were in limbo. |
| "People die, have a funeral, they have a headstone," she said at the time. "There is something to mark the fact they existed on this earth. | "People die, have a funeral, they have a headstone," she said at the time. "There is something to mark the fact they existed on this earth. |
| "But without a body, I don't know how we can mark John's life." | "But without a body, I don't know how we can mark John's life." |
| Younger son Anthony, 29, on holiday in Canada, was preparing to propose to his fiancee when his 51-year-old father disappeared in the sea off Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool. | Younger son Anthony, 29, on holiday in Canada, was preparing to propose to his fiancee when his 51-year-old father disappeared in the sea off Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool. |
| He broke short the trip and rushed home to find his mother "crying and shaking". They were tortured. And yes, it was hard to keep up the front. I so wanted to tell them, but I was in too deep. Anne Darwin on her sons | He broke short the trip and rushed home to find his mother "crying and shaking". They were tortured. And yes, it was hard to keep up the front. I so wanted to tell them, but I was in too deep. Anne Darwin on her sons |
| Later, he would search the internet for information about people lost at sea. | Later, he would search the internet for information about people lost at sea. |
| He said: "I knew the police would be doing these things but it was a way of me doing something." | He said: "I knew the police would be doing these things but it was a way of me doing something." |
| Six months after her husband's "death", Anne Darwin launched a renewed appeal, saying: "I have no reason to think he would have left and stage-managed this. | Six months after her husband's "death", Anne Darwin launched a renewed appeal, saying: "I have no reason to think he would have left and stage-managed this. |
| "All I want is to bury his body." | "All I want is to bury his body." |
| In truth, she was fully aware of her husband's whereabouts - he was hiding in the couple's marital home, while she cashed in £250,000 of life insurance and pension funds. | In truth, she was fully aware of her husband's whereabouts - he was hiding in the couple's marital home, while she cashed in £250,000 of life insurance and pension funds. |
| Anthony and his brother Mark, 32, were to become the biggest victims of their parents' deception. | Anthony and his brother Mark, 32, were to become the biggest victims of their parents' deception. |
| Both sons agreed their family life and childhoods had been normal and happy.A bearded John Darwin travelled abroad under the name of John Jones | Both sons agreed their family life and childhoods had been normal and happy.A bearded John Darwin travelled abroad under the name of John Jones |
| During his mother's trial, Mark said their parents never argued in front of them. | During his mother's trial, Mark said their parents never argued in front of them. |
| "I would say they were equal partners, there was never one that took more of a role than the other." | "I would say they were equal partners, there was never one that took more of a role than the other." |
| Their father was fond of money-spinning schemes, he said - making garden gnomes, computer games, breeding snails and trading stocks and shares. | Their father was fond of money-spinning schemes, he said - making garden gnomes, computer games, breeding snails and trading stocks and shares. |
| Anthony Darwin recollects his parents amassing a property portfolio of about a dozen homes across the Durham area. | Anthony Darwin recollects his parents amassing a property portfolio of about a dozen homes across the Durham area. |
| "I remember hearing that he was buying a property on his credit card. I believe at the time the properties were rather cheap." | "I remember hearing that he was buying a property on his credit card. I believe at the time the properties were rather cheap." |
| But it was partly the burden of credit repayments which led John Darwin to fake his own death on 21 March 2002. | But it was partly the burden of credit repayments which led John Darwin to fake his own death on 21 March 2002. |
| Following a failed search and rescue operation, the shattered remains of his red boat washed up on a local beach. | Following a failed search and rescue operation, the shattered remains of his red boat washed up on a local beach. |
| "I was disbelieving initially he had been out in the canoe, that this had happened, and obviously sad and upset at the thought that he had died," said Anthony in court. | "I was disbelieving initially he had been out in the canoe, that this had happened, and obviously sad and upset at the thought that he had died," said Anthony in court. |
| Mark spoke of how his father's disappearance had "crushed his world". | Mark spoke of how his father's disappearance had "crushed his world". |
| During the following years, their mother sold off the property portfolio and put the titles of the family home and the bedsits next door in her elder son's name for "inheritance tax" reasons.John Darwin hid from visitors, including his sons, using a hidden door | During the following years, their mother sold off the property portfolio and put the titles of the family home and the bedsits next door in her elder son's name for "inheritance tax" reasons.John Darwin hid from visitors, including his sons, using a hidden door |
| But when she moved abroad she took the £455,000 proceeds. | But when she moved abroad she took the £455,000 proceeds. |
| Mark said he was "quite shocked" at his mother's plans to move to Panama, "because I didn't think she would emigrate too far away from her parents". | Mark said he was "quite shocked" at his mother's plans to move to Panama, "because I didn't think she would emigrate too far away from her parents". |
| In fact, Anne Darwin had joined her husband, now living under the assumed name of "John Jones" in the Central American country. | In fact, Anne Darwin had joined her husband, now living under the assumed name of "John Jones" in the Central American country. |
| What happened next left their sons feeling "surprised, amazed, still almost disbelieving". | What happened next left their sons feeling "surprised, amazed, still almost disbelieving". |
| On 1 December last year, Mark Darwin was at a wedding in south London, when he was telephoned by the police to say his father had re-appeared, claiming to be suffering from amnesia. | On 1 December last year, Mark Darwin was at a wedding in south London, when he was telephoned by the police to say his father had re-appeared, claiming to be suffering from amnesia. |
| After rushing to the London police station to meet him, Mark called his mother in Panama and "rambled for 10 minutes and explained my dad had turned up and I am sat next to him. | After rushing to the London police station to meet him, Mark called his mother in Panama and "rambled for 10 minutes and explained my dad had turned up and I am sat next to him. |
| "She sounded really shocked that he had turned up after all these years." | "She sounded really shocked that he had turned up after all these years." |
| Initially elated by their father's re-appearance, they slipped "to the depths of despair" when a now-infamous photograph emerged, showing John and Anne Darwin together in Panama. | Initially elated by their father's re-appearance, they slipped "to the depths of despair" when a now-infamous photograph emerged, showing John and Anne Darwin together in Panama. |
| Their anguish was soon compounded by their mother's apparent "confession" in a newspaper.Mrs Darwin helped to hide her husband from their two sons | Their anguish was soon compounded by their mother's apparent "confession" in a newspaper.Mrs Darwin helped to hide her husband from their two sons |
| Months later, Mrs Darwin's trial at Teesside Crown Court became the venue for an unhappy reunion between mother and sons. | Months later, Mrs Darwin's trial at Teesside Crown Court became the venue for an unhappy reunion between mother and sons. |
| Not a glance was exchanged as Mark and Anthony gave evidence from the witness box. | Not a glance was exchanged as Mark and Anthony gave evidence from the witness box. |
| In a dark suit and blue tie, Mark spoke quickly when he talked about his mother lying to him for "God knows how long" about his father's death. | In a dark suit and blue tie, Mark spoke quickly when he talked about his mother lying to him for "God knows how long" about his father's death. |
| Both men admitted they felt "upset and betrayed". | Both men admitted they felt "upset and betrayed". |
| Their mother blew her nose and dabbed her eyes when Mark recalled his father's reappearance and subsequent arrest last year. | Their mother blew her nose and dabbed her eyes when Mark recalled his father's reappearance and subsequent arrest last year. |
| But for much of the hearing she looked straight ahead through the glass, with a fixed expression. | But for much of the hearing she looked straight ahead through the glass, with a fixed expression. |
| Before Anne Darwin's return to the UK, she was quoted begging her sons to forgive her, saying: "What kind of a mother am I?" | Before Anne Darwin's return to the UK, she was quoted begging her sons to forgive her, saying: "What kind of a mother am I?" |
| "They were tortured," she said. "And yes, it was hard to keep up the front. I so wanted to tell them, but I was in too deep. | "They were tortured," she said. "And yes, it was hard to keep up the front. I so wanted to tell them, but I was in too deep. |
| "How could I possibly explain to them that I'd known their father was alive?" | "How could I possibly explain to them that I'd known their father was alive?" |
| Advertisement | |
| John Darwin used a hidden door to sneak into the adjoining house |
Previous version
1
Next version