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Foreign Office 'lied over murder' Foreign Office 'lied over murder'
(about 1 hour later)
The father of a British tourist murdered in Kenya 20 years ago has accused the Foreign Office of obstructing efforts to find her killer.The father of a British tourist murdered in Kenya 20 years ago has accused the Foreign Office of obstructing efforts to find her killer.
John Ward said a police report had accused the Kenyan and British authorities of incompetence and deliberate disinformation.John Ward said a police report had accused the Kenyan and British authorities of incompetence and deliberate disinformation.
He believes the murder of Julie, a Suffolk photographer who was 28 when she died, is "imminently solvable".He believes the murder of Julie, a Suffolk photographer who was 28 when she died, is "imminently solvable".
The Foreign Office has denied suggestions of a cover-up.The Foreign Office has denied suggestions of a cover-up.
Miss Ward, from Bury St Edmunds, was murdered in the Masai Mara game reserve where she was photographing animals in 1988.Miss Ward, from Bury St Edmunds, was murdered in the Masai Mara game reserve where she was photographing animals in 1988.
Kenyan officials initially said she had committed suicide or had been attacked by wild animals.Kenyan officials initially said she had committed suicide or had been attacked by wild animals.
It was later admitted she had been murdered. Three park rangers were tried but cleared.It was later admitted she had been murdered. Three park rangers were tried but cleared.
I think there were people in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who looked at the big board and thought 'look, we can't bring this girl back, sad as it is, she's dead. Moi doesn't want this to be a murder. Let's support Moi' John Ward Mr Ward has travelled to Kenya more than 100 times and spent almost £2 million trying to find his daughter's killers.I think there were people in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who looked at the big board and thought 'look, we can't bring this girl back, sad as it is, she's dead. Moi doesn't want this to be a murder. Let's support Moi' John Ward Mr Ward has travelled to Kenya more than 100 times and spent almost £2 million trying to find his daughter's killers.
The 74-year-old retired hotelier used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain the report, written by Lincolnshire Police in 2004 and commissioned by the Metropolitan Police.The 74-year-old retired hotelier used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain the report, written by Lincolnshire Police in 2004 and commissioned by the Metropolitan Police.
It found evidence of "inconsistency, contradictions, falsehoods and downright lies" by the Foreign Office and British High Commission.It found evidence of "inconsistency, contradictions, falsehoods and downright lies" by the Foreign Office and British High Commission.
Mr Ward told the Today programme on Monday there had been persistent claims that his daughter had been killed by a relative of the then-president of Kenya, Daniel arap Moi.Mr Ward told the Today programme on Monday there had been persistent claims that his daughter had been killed by a relative of the then-president of Kenya, Daniel arap Moi.
He believed the British had not wanted to disrupt good relations with the Kenyan government for geo-political reasons.He believed the British had not wanted to disrupt good relations with the Kenyan government for geo-political reasons.
"We had many interests in Kenya, and Moi was a very volatile man. A snap of his fingers and he could have kicked people out of there very quickly."We had many interests in Kenya, and Moi was a very volatile man. A snap of his fingers and he could have kicked people out of there very quickly.
"I think there were people in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who looked at the big board and thought 'look, we can't bring this girl back, sad as it is, she's dead. Moi doesn't want this to be a murder. Let's support Moi.' And that's what they did," he said."I think there were people in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who looked at the big board and thought 'look, we can't bring this girl back, sad as it is, she's dead. Moi doesn't want this to be a murder. Let's support Moi.' And that's what they did," he said.
Mr Ward said this "obstruction by officialdom" at one point led Foreign Office officials to tell him his daughter had been struck by lightening. Mr Ward said this "obstruction by officialdom" at one point led Foreign Office officials to tell him his daughter had been struck by lightning.
A spokesman for the Foreign Office said it deeply regretted that nobody had been brought to justice, but "strongly refuted allegations of a cover-up" or any collusion.A spokesman for the Foreign Office said it deeply regretted that nobody had been brought to justice, but "strongly refuted allegations of a cover-up" or any collusion.
'Hopelessly flawed''Hopelessly flawed'
Two Scotland Yard officers whose initial inquiry led to two park rangers standing trial for murder in 1992 - they were cleared - were also criticised in the report.Two Scotland Yard officers whose initial inquiry led to two park rangers standing trial for murder in 1992 - they were cleared - were also criticised in the report.
Its author Jon Stoddart, now Chief Constable of Durham Police, said the inquiry was at "at best a poor investigation, at worst hopelessly flawed".Its author Jon Stoddart, now Chief Constable of Durham Police, said the inquiry was at "at best a poor investigation, at worst hopelessly flawed".
Mr Ward and the Kenyan police launched a second inquiry in 1996, which led to the Masai Mara's chief game warden, Simon Makallah, being charged with the murder. He too was acquitted.Mr Ward and the Kenyan police launched a second inquiry in 1996, which led to the Masai Mara's chief game warden, Simon Makallah, being charged with the murder. He too was acquitted.
Scotland Yard officers were criticised for using Mr Makallah as their principal liaison officer after failing to test his own alibi.Scotland Yard officers were criticised for using Mr Makallah as their principal liaison officer after failing to test his own alibi.
A spokesman for Scotland Yard said an investigation had "found no criminal conspiracy involving the Metropolitan Police", and said it was still working with Mr Ward to seek justice.A spokesman for Scotland Yard said an investigation had "found no criminal conspiracy involving the Metropolitan Police", and said it was still working with Mr Ward to seek justice.
New lines of inquiry?New lines of inquiry?
The report also accused the Kenyan police, who initially insisted Miss Ward had committed suicide or had been killed by wild animals, of "brazen, deceitful and dishonest behaviour".The report also accused the Kenyan police, who initially insisted Miss Ward had committed suicide or had been killed by wild animals, of "brazen, deceitful and dishonest behaviour".
Mr Ward said the Foreign Office should "back off," but he had high hopes for the ongoing Scotland Yard investigation.Mr Ward said the Foreign Office should "back off," but he had high hopes for the ongoing Scotland Yard investigation.
"A murder remains unsolved, a brutal murder. But the Stoddart report said this crime is imminently solvable and I believe it is," he said."A murder remains unsolved, a brutal murder. But the Stoddart report said this crime is imminently solvable and I believe it is," he said.
Police said DNA techniques analysing material found at the scene of the crime had provided "potential new opportunities of inquiry", he said.Police said DNA techniques analysing material found at the scene of the crime had provided "potential new opportunities of inquiry", he said.
"When they first took my DNA they need to pull out a clump of hair to get a reading, now all they need is a speck of dandruff," he added. "When they first took my DNA they needed to pull out a clump of hair to get a reading, now all they need is a speck of dandruff," he added.
In an inquest into the death of Miss Ward in 2004, the Kenyan government admitted a "cover-up" had more than likely been instigated by the country's previous rulers.In an inquest into the death of Miss Ward in 2004, the Kenyan government admitted a "cover-up" had more than likely been instigated by the country's previous rulers.
It indicated an inquiry into the death was likely if further evidence came to light.It indicated an inquiry into the death was likely if further evidence came to light.