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00:00Alan Morgan found his wife's body in the back storeroom of their shop when he and their
00:09two children returned from the cinema on Thursday night.
00:12This is the position that she was left in.
00:15Yeah, I mean, it's horrific, isn't it?
00:20Carol's life was taken away from her at the age of 36.
00:25She deserves for the police to find who killed her.
00:34Carol should still be alive today and enjoying her children and her grandchildren, and somebody's
00:41robbed that of her.
00:43In over 40 years of investigative work, nobody had been charged with Carol's murder.
00:55The attack that was sustained on Carol was so ferocious and so brutal.
01:07We're investigating the murder that happened at the shop back in 1981.
01:12Everyone that loved her deserves to know what happened to Carol.
01:22The tragic element of this case is simply that it's not been solved.
01:33My case, if we ever get it there, is going to be circumstantial.
01:37Yeah, it is.
01:38So that's my overview.
01:40It's a bloody tough case.
01:41This is one last attempt to try and get justice for Carol.
01:53The scene of our offence is 61 Finch Crescent in Linslade.
01:58Carol was alone in the store at the time of the attack as her husband, Alan, and her two
02:02children, Dean and Jane, were out at the cinema.
02:05So in 1981, the original SIO focused very much on a burglary or a robbery that had gone
02:12wrong.
02:13A man was seen about 500 yards from the shop in a motor car.
02:17He was seen to be clutching to his chest two plastic bags.
02:21It would appear at this stage that the bags contained the stolen money and the cigarettes
02:25from the shop.
02:27That weapon that was used must have been a really sharp bladed article to have caused
02:35such brutal injuries.
02:38Carol's still got her wedding ring on and this was supposed to be a robbery and if it
02:43was a robbery, why did they not take this stuff that would have been valuable?
02:50Despite having an alibi checked and accepted by the police, Mr Morgan can't convince some
02:55of his neighbours that he's innocent.
02:58What are they saying about you now?
03:00To be a fan that I killed my wife, as the police know themselves, and you yourselves
03:05know, well I was in Luton, take the kids to the pictures.
03:10Alan's alibi has been checked, his alibi is concrete, I have to accept that that's where
03:17he was.
03:18Our motive is essentially the classic love story.
03:22There's an ongoing affair between Alan and Margaret and that the motive is embedded in
03:28that affair.
03:29There was a fairly prolonged relationship, I think, between Alan and Margaret.
03:33There's anecdotal evidence that it was even found in bed the very next morning.
03:36So this is Alan and Margaret after the murder.
03:40Then moved up north and then they've gone on to get married.
03:45My decision is to bring both Alan and Margaret in under arrest.
03:49Hello Alan, I'm from the police, I've come to arrest you this morning on suspicion of
03:54the murder of Carol Morgan.
03:56I'm arresting you on suspicion of conspiracy to murder and the murder of Carol Patricia Morgan.
04:03I had no idea that anything like this was going to work for them.
04:10Do you have any information about who was responsible?
04:14No, not at all.
04:22Police are appealing for anyone with information, no matter how small, to get in touch and speak
04:27to the dedicated incident room.
04:30Alan and Margaret have been released from police custody under investigation.
04:35It can be frustrating when you have to release suspects whilst the investigation continues,
04:42but particularly in the most serious of cases, we don't give up.
04:48There's been comprehensive media strategy which involved witness appeals and as a consequence
04:53of that, a new witness has come forward with new evidence,
04:58potentially undermining Alan Morgan's alibi.
05:03We're scheduled for a two hour briefing today because there is lots and lots to go through.
05:09I'm going to hand over to Lindsay if you want to take us through all of the
05:13significant developments since we last met, please.
05:16In terms of witnesses, we had a guy call into the incident room a couple of weeks ago,
05:20Michael Merron, who lived in Leighton Buzzard at the time of the murder.
05:25Essentially he has said that his brother sent him a message after Christmas
05:30with a picture of the poster from Linslade about the murder and said,
05:34what do you think about this?
05:36He's had a think about it and has made contact with us and I've spoken to him
05:40and he is saying that he was a regular at the shop.
05:43He knew Alan and Carol to talk to.
05:46He spoke to Alan on a regular basis about football and cars.
05:49He knew Alan's car by sight and he knew Alan well enough
05:53to obviously have conversations regularly.
05:57On the evening of the 13th of August 1981,
06:02I took the turn around the roundabout towards Leighton Buzzard
06:06and I see Alan Morgan on the other side of the road,
06:10one, two, three seconds and he drove past
06:14in that direction heading towards Finchcrescent
06:18and I obviously carried on home.
06:22A couple of days later, when the local paper came out,
06:25it stated that she died on the Thursday evening
06:29and that the police weren't interested in Alan Morgan
06:33because he was at the cinema.
06:36And I turned to my mum and I said, well, that can't be right.
06:40I saw him on Thursday evening when we were driving back
06:43from the railway station at around quarter to seven.
06:48And my mum said to me, well, do you think you should go
06:51and tell the police that?
06:53And I said, I don't know, what do you think?
06:56And she said, well, if you're sure that you saw him.
06:59I said, Mum, I definitely saw him.
07:01So I made arrangements to go to Leighton Buzzard police station
07:04and I told them what I'd seen and they said,
07:06thank you very much for coming in,
07:08but at this moment in time we've ruled Mr Morgan
07:11out of our inquiry because he was at the cinema in Luton
07:14at that point in time.
07:17And that was, for me, the end of it.
07:23I know what my 18-year-old self saw
07:27and I 100% am convinced, have always been convinced
07:33that what I saw that night was Alan Morgan in his car.
07:39Clearly what we need to investigate and explore
07:43is whether we can prove or corroborate that information
07:47because if Alan has come back to Linslade,
07:50then clearly that presents him the opportunity
07:53to murder Carol.
08:00So we made arrests in November of last year.
08:03Wherever they could rely upon, oh, I can't remember that,
08:06I can't remember that, that's what they did.
08:10So the National Crime Agency have a number of specialists
08:14who I can ask for objective and independent advice
08:18that I can consider as part of my decision-making process.
08:24What I would say is that Alan was always considered
08:27to have an established alibi.
08:29He had taken the children to the cinema to a double bill,
08:32which we think would have run for about four hours.
08:37They were at the cinema for four hours
08:38and Dad would have sat next to him all the time?
08:40No, there is doubt around, or there is the possibility
08:43that he could have done anything within that time
08:46and his alibi is not nailed on.
08:48Oh, great.
08:49And then that is called into question
08:51because as recently as this year,
08:53a witness has come forward as a result of all of our media activity
08:56is a chap by the name of Michael Merron.
08:58Yeah.
08:59He specifically says he sees Alan Morgan
09:02travelling back into Linslade in his car
09:05on the night of the murder.
09:08Now, I've got the team searching the 7,000 documents that we've got,
09:13but we just can't find any reference to Merron
09:16or anything that Merron may have provided
09:19to the original investigation team.
09:21This, for me, is a domestic homicide,
09:24layering lots and lots and lots of coincidences and lies...
09:28Yeah, I agree.
09:29..but in terms of direct physical evidence...
09:32Yeah.
09:34..I'm not sure the golden nugget exists.
09:36Now, there is forensic work still ongoing,
09:38but I think this will always be a circumstantial case.
09:41I agree.
09:42Going to your hypotheses, then,
09:44Morgan and Spooner conspired together to do it.
09:46Yeah.
09:47So I get all that.
09:48What I'm not as clear on is do you have a hypothesis
09:50or are you still working through that?
09:52As to who was the...? Yeah.
09:54I haven't. OK.
09:56I can't sit here.
09:58To this day, I'm not sure.
10:00I think either of them could have done...
10:03They could have paid someone to do it.
10:05I really don't know.
10:06My case, if we ever get it there,
10:08it is going to be circumstantial.
10:10Yeah, it is.
10:11So, it's a bloody tough case, innit?
10:13Let's be honest, I'm aware it is.
10:15I concur with what your hypotheses are.
10:17The issue for me is how we get there, of course.
10:20And that's always the challenge, innit, you know?
10:25I am Sian Saunders, Senior Crown Prosecutor
10:28in the Complex Casework Unit of the Crown Prosecution Service.
10:33My job is to decide whether or not
10:35there's a realistic prospect of conviction in a case
10:38and whether it's in the public interest to prosecute that case.
10:43This is an incredibly interesting case,
10:46but it's also going to be a very, very difficult case
10:50because witnesses may be dead and witnesses may not remember.
10:53So, we are relying on an investigation that happened
10:56over 40 years ago,
10:58so it's going to be a very difficult case to prosecute.
11:03MUSIC PLAYS
11:08We're just heading out to Linslade Cemetery
11:10to try and locate the gravestone of Karen Morgan.
11:13So, in a cold case like this, I think it gives us
11:15some good background in relation to the family.
11:18So, for us, it's quite important to try and find out
11:21who's put the gravestone down and what it says.
11:25We're here, aren't we, somewhere? Yeah, we're here.
11:33Right, no idea where this is going to be.
11:37I'm assuming we're looking for something a lot older.
11:40Yeah, some of these look new and cared for.
11:45This one? The open book.
11:48Here we go.
11:52Cherished memories of our beloved daughter, Carol,
11:55forever in our thoughts.
11:57And then the other side of the book...
11:59Is blank. Is blank.
12:02No mention of her being a mum or a wife.
12:05Or a surname.
12:07No.
12:10It's awful.
12:12Poor Carol.
12:15I think the fact that Morgan isn't on there
12:18suggests that maybe the parents wanted to disassociate her
12:22from the name, from him.
12:24I mean, could it suggest that they didn't have
12:26a very good relationship with him?
12:28Or that they thought that he was involved in a murder?
12:32Or that he was involved in some way in her death?
12:39Auntie Carol was someone who was a quiet, relaxed person.
12:48But bubbly.
12:50She was friendly.
12:52She...always smiling.
12:55I just remember always smiling.
12:58I remember a time when we didn't see Auntie Carol.
13:06This was after she married Alan Morgan.
13:14It was a couple of years after they married
13:17they moved away to Leyton Buzzard
13:19and we never heard from them again.
13:23We lost contact with them and I think a lot of that
13:27was because of the fact that he was so manipulative.
13:31I felt that he's had something to do with it.
13:36When I was younger, he just was a person that...
13:41I didn't know him much, but whenever I saw him
13:45he wasn't a person that was very friendly.
13:49He was nothing like Carol.
13:52She was open and kind and he wasn't.
13:57Investigation has stalled somewhat during the pandemic.
14:03So we recently reviewed all of the original witnesses
14:06who provided statements to the investigation back in 1981.
14:14There were a number of those witnesses
14:16that we hadn't been able to trace,
14:18hadn't been able to catch up with.
14:20And in the last week or so we've been able to
14:24trace one of those witnesses who's provided
14:27significant information to the investigation.
14:33This was somebody that lived locally.
14:36Somebody who was a child, i.e. under 18 years old
14:40at the time of the offence
14:43and who not only knew our suspect
14:46but also knew Carol, our victim.
14:49And I think at this stage that's as much as I'm prepared to say.
14:55Obviously, when a witness contacts us
14:57we have to have some conversation with them
14:59to ascertain what it is that they've got to say.
15:02What is their account?
15:05In this particular instance, the evidence
15:07that this individual started to talk about
15:10was so significant and so key and critical
15:15to our case that the officer deliberately
15:18stopped that conversation and said
15:20I can't talk to you about this in any depth.
15:23We asked them to stop talking
15:25and we asked them to wait until we're in a position
15:28to go and sit down with them
15:30and capture the entire account for the first time
15:34as much as possible on camera.
15:36And as we speak at this moment in time
15:39those officers are with that witness
15:42Yes, massive, absolutely massive.
15:44Massive development for the investigation.
15:53We are very much, as a team, of the opinion
15:56that this is the piece of evidence
15:58that we have been looking for.
16:00This is the direct evidence that has evaded us so far.
16:05Right then, are we all good to go?
16:08Okay, and what do you think happened?
16:12What do I think happened to Carolyn?
16:16I think she had a fight.
16:19And...
16:21I don't know.
16:23I don't know.
16:25I don't know.
16:27I don't know.
16:29I don't know.
16:31I don't know.
16:33I don't know.
16:35I don't know.
16:37Don't know.
16:42Lost a fight.
16:46Who would have wanted to fight her?
16:50Whoever it was, was really angry at her.
16:52Hated her.
16:53What makes you say that?
16:57Because of the way she was killed.
17:01It's a pretty savage way, isn't it?
17:03And do you know anyone that might have wanted her dad?
17:07Yeah.
17:09Who?
17:11Her husband.
17:15I suppose Margaret.
17:22When I was 14, I got expelled from school
17:25and Margaret was assigned as my tutor
17:28from the age of 14 to 16.
17:33I was in a pretty bad place.
17:36I was really, really struggling.
17:39And Margaret really helped with that.
17:41So I could talk about, you know,
17:44the sort of stuff you wouldn't talk to your mum or your dad about.
17:48Yeah.
17:52And, yeah, she saved my life in some ways.
17:57I came to really admire Margaret and to respect her a lot
18:00and I grew fond of her.
18:06It was at least three months before the murder.
18:09It could have been longer.
18:12I went to a pub called Dolphin,
18:15which no longer exists in Lake Buzzard.
18:18I met both of them there and it wasn't just a casual thing.
18:23It was arranged by Margaret and I couldn't really understand why.
18:29It led to a conversation about,
18:32well, I'd quite like Carol dead...
18:36..from Alan.
18:38And then them talking about various ways...
18:43..and ruling them out, like insulin.
18:46Then there was a car accident and there was, like...
18:50..neither one of them knew enough about car mechanics
18:53to be able to do that.
18:55And what about the children?
18:58They could be in a car, etc.
19:02Looking at it through my adult eyes now,
19:06you know, why did it take you 42 years to speak up?
19:11But it's not as straightforward as that.
19:14It's like I was a 17-year-old mixed-up kid
19:18who didn't really know which way was up
19:20and had more than enough of her own problems.
19:25I found out that Carol had died, Margaret finally told me.
19:29I was absolutely freaked out.
19:34And she was very keen to say...
19:38..don't talk to anyone.
19:41She kept saying he didn't do it and I kept saying,
19:44yeah, but I don't believe...
19:48..I don't believe he didn't do it.
19:50You might believe that, but I don't believe that.
19:52I think he's capable of it.
19:54And he hated her. You know he hated her.
19:59And now I'm confused.
20:02Now I'm...I'm...
20:04I'm really frightened now.
20:07Because the one person I never considered that could have done it
20:11is her, in a million years.
20:13In a million years.
20:15I never asked myself that.
20:17I never asked her that. I never questioned it.
20:20I totally, 100% trusted that she was a good person.
20:24She would dream of doing that.
20:27She saved my life, you know.
20:30She'd been so good to me.
20:33She would never hurt anyone.
20:36And I don't know anymore whether I'm right.
20:41And it's killing me.
20:51I always hoped that...
20:55..I would have a chance.
20:57You know, that somebody would ask me,
20:59that the police would come to me.
21:02And I was...
21:04..pleased and relieved when my mum said,
21:09the police...
21:11..were here.
21:13They'd see me and they wanted to speak to you and I was like,
21:16hallelujah.
21:19Hallelujah.
21:21To cut a really long story short,
21:23essentially, she went to the dolphin pub.
21:25She was driven there by Margaret and Alan was already there.
21:30They discussed that he hated Carol,
21:32he didn't want her in his life,
21:34and how could they get rid of her?
21:38There was a discussion around, if we did get rid of her,
21:41maybe we could do it with insulin.
21:43Then they discussed, well, maybe we could set up a car crash
21:47and then they sort of said, well, actually,
21:49maybe we could get someone else to help.
21:53Looking back now as an adult,
21:55she now thinks they were trying to involve her in a conspiracy
21:59and she was so frightened that she left the pub.
22:02Margaret then came after her and said,
22:04oh, what are you worried about? It's only a joke, it's only a joke.
22:07He's not going to do anything.
22:09And Jane categorically says that she believes that Alan
22:12would be capable of doing that and she did think it would happen.
22:18This is a huge step forward.
22:21This is the first time we've heard this direct evidence,
22:25so that absolutely supports the need to bring them in under arrest
22:29and, along with everything else, put this evidence to them.
22:35There's confirmation of a conspiracy
22:37and there's direct evidence of overhearing that conspiracy being discussed.
22:43Still a long way to go, still a lot of work to do,
22:46but a kind of work to be done with a renewed vigour
22:50and, you know, with some more optimism now around what that might result in.
22:59Yeah, it's good. It's good development.
23:09We are in a different place now.
23:12We are in a different position this time round.
23:14You know, I accept that first arrest,
23:17you could almost say it was almost like a bit of a fact find, really,
23:21and I think, if I'm being honest,
23:23we were in a position where they had the upper hand,
23:27as did their legal representation, and we're down in Brighton
23:31and I think everything was kind of stacked against us.
23:35I see it very differently this time round.
23:37No, we're not popping down the road to Brighton.
23:39You're coming back to Bedfordshire, which is where the murder was committed.
23:42You know, this is a murder investigation,
23:44not some sweets that have been nicked off a shelf in your local co-op store.
23:48So you're going to come back to Bedfordshire
23:50and we're going to deal with you in Bedfordshire.
23:52You know, straight away we are dictating,
23:55this is what's happening, we are in control of this.
23:57This is our investigation and we are running it.
24:01And it feels different this time round, don't you?
24:03Well, now we've got something to put to it, yeah.
24:05Yeah, one of those being Jane.
24:07So, yeah, we've got things to talk about.
24:10Detectives investigating the death of a woman near Leighton Buzzard
24:14nearly 40 years ago have arrested two people on suspicion of murder.
24:19What can you tell me about James Bunting?
24:22No comment.
24:24Can you tell me a bit more about the relationship between you and Jane?
24:28No comment.
24:30So, Jane says that you were being quite open about the fact
24:34that you wanted to get out of your marriage.
24:36Yeah, OK, no comment.
24:38Did you? Did you want to get out of your marriage?
24:40No comment.
24:42You never know what to expect when you go into an interview.
24:46We prepare for all eventualities.
24:48We prepare for people to say nothing,
24:51exercise their right to go no comment.
24:55But if someone is innocent, particularly of a murder,
25:00and they have played no part in the murder,
25:05one would expect them to be honest, transparent, detailed,
25:15and try and help you, particularly if it's your wife
25:20or someone that you love, you know, and care about.
25:25So she said some of the suggestions that you'd come out with
25:28were that you could use your insulin to kill her.
25:32Have you ever thought about doing that?
25:34No.
25:36That you could stage a car accident.
25:38Have you ever thought about doing that?
25:40No.
25:41You both then began to discuss various ways about killing Carol,
25:46about what if Carol had a car accident.
25:50Is this jogging any memories?
25:52No.
25:53Margaret?
25:54No.
25:56One of the things that you said is, oh, I'd quite like...
26:00I'm alleged to have said it, not said.
26:02Well, this is what I'm trying to get to the bottom of.
26:05Did you say that? I said it.
26:07I'm alleged to have said it, but don't comment.
26:10I did not.
26:11You did not? OK, just tell me that then, if you didn't.
26:15Was, oh, I'd quite like my wife gone?
26:19No.
26:20You didn't say that or you did say that?
26:22I didn't say that.
26:24Oh, I don't know.
26:27You don't know who said it?
26:30Don't comment.
26:33Do you remember that you asked Jane not to talk to the police
26:36about this conversation in the pub?
26:38No.
26:41Did you ask her not to mention it to the police?
26:43No, I don't recall the conversation at all.
26:47One of the things that Jane said to you,
26:50in regards to about killing someone,
26:53that she could never do that,
26:55and then you replied and she said,
26:57it was as cold as ice, I could.
27:06Now, I'm sure now you can see, Margaret,
27:08why you're in custody today, because of what she's saying.
27:11Absolutely. Yeah, I do remember.
27:14I do not recall any of those conversations,
27:17and I have said that all the way along.
27:20Yeah.
27:21Because if her account is right,
27:24there is a conspiracy going on there.
27:26That's if her account is right, OK?
27:28No frowning at me, but if her account is right,
27:32there's the conspiracy.
27:34It's a very serious...
27:35I understand that. Yeah?
27:37I do understand that.
27:38So you can see why you're in custody today.
27:40I'm glad you understand that.
27:42Yes, I do.
27:43All right?
27:44And I keep repeating it.
27:46I do not recall...
27:48I know you keep saying...
27:49..any of these conversations.
27:51You keep saying you do not recall any of these conversations, Margaret,
27:54but you're not saying they didn't happen.
27:57Good.
27:58She can't keep to a no-comment at all.
28:00She's advised again, but still couldn't help herself.
28:04That is a bizarre response, isn't it?
28:06I don't recall... Yeah, that's really bizarre.
28:08Because she goes, no comment. Yeah.
28:10So then I say, well, OK, let's clarify,
28:12are you saying no comment cos you don't remember,
28:15or are you saying no comment cos you just don't want to say,
28:18no, it's cos I don't remember?
28:20It is a bizarre, cos, you know, what you'd expect is,
28:22no, that conversation didn't happen,
28:24that conversation has never happened.
28:26No. Don't know what she's talking about.
28:28But to say, I don't remember it, it's not very credible, is it?
28:34We, so far in this investigation,
28:37are no nearer being able to prove who murdered Carol.
28:42However, we are remarkably close now
28:48to being able to prove that there was a conspiracy
28:51to have Carol murdered.
28:54You then asked Jane if her boyfriend would know anyone
28:59that would kill Carol.
29:01I don't know. I don't.
29:04No.
29:06Did they approach somebody who was known to them,
29:09or indirectly or directly?
29:11Were they able to recruit a, for want of a better phrase,
29:15a hit person to carry out the murder?
29:20It's not something we can answer
29:23with any degree of certainty at the moment.
29:26There's only Alan or Margaret that can tell me
29:29if somebody was paid by them to murder Carol.
29:35Jane said that she felt like she was being drawn into a conspiracy,
29:39something that she didn't want to be part of,
29:41something that you wanted her to be part of.
29:43Is that right?
29:44No comment.
29:46Did you want Jane to be part of plans to murder your wife?
29:50No comment.
29:51Was that your goal, that even?
29:54No comment.
29:56I've put a phone call in to the Crown Prosecution Service
30:00just to consider the charging decision.
30:03I know that the interview teams are kind of there
30:06and chomping at the bit,
30:07and they'd really like to see us go for a charge,
30:10but at the moment my thoughts are that
30:14they're likely to be released under investigation.
30:19We now have a significant amount of evidence
30:22that suggests that Alan and Margaret Morgan
30:24were involved in this offence.
30:26But I can't charge the case until I'm absolutely sure
30:29that there's nothing in the material from the 1981 case
30:32that might undermine our case against Alan and Margaret.
30:36And so I've advised the police to complete a review
30:39of all the paperwork from the 1981 case.
30:42The decision to charge has to be right,
30:44and it has to be right first time in a case like this,
30:47and it's my decision and one that I have to be prepared to stand by,
30:51and until the case is ready,
30:52I'm not prepared to make a charging decision.
30:57A man and a woman in their 70s
31:00arrested in connection with the death of a woman near Leighton Bazar
31:03nearly 40 years ago have been released under investigation.
31:06The body of 36-year-old...
31:07Police say while no-one has ever been charged,
31:09they remain committed to finding out the truth for Carroll's family.
31:14It's a huge undertaking to review all of the investigation material,
31:19but it's so important that it's done properly,
31:22and it's so important that it's given the right time.
31:26It can make or break your case.
31:41Today's effectively D-Day, if you like.
31:44Today is the day where I find out
31:46whether four and a half years of investigative work
31:50is going to result in a prosecution.
31:53So this is us having a conference with CPS and Council
31:57now that they're in receipt of our full evidential case
32:01and asking, OK, are we going to prosecute this?
32:06Are you going to give me a charging decision?
32:08Are we going to court?
32:12So we are moving closer
32:15to being able to reach an ultimate decision
32:18on the critical question
32:20of whether there is a case to go to a jury or there isn't.
32:25This is a complex case
32:28which relies on the person presenting it to a court
32:33understanding the fine detail
32:35and being able to explain to a jury
32:37how those small pieces of evidence
32:39fit together into the bigger picture.
32:41Whilst the decision as to whether or not to prosecute
32:44is always going to be one for me,
32:46it's incredibly helpful to have an opinion from Pavlos
32:50because he is known to have worked on large and complex cases
32:53in the past.
32:56OK, so this has been the most thorough re-examination of this case
33:02and if there's a case, there'll be a case of conspiracy to murder
33:06against Alan Morgan, Margaret Morgan.
33:11And if there's a case to charge against them both,
33:15I think everyone will agree that there is more evidence
33:21in relation to Alan than there is in relation to Margaret,
33:24albeit that she's inextricably linked,
33:26given her close relationship with Alan Morgan.
33:31So the case that I've advised in favour of charging,
33:35which the Crown Prosecution Service will review,
33:37is that Alan Morgan and Margaret Morgan conspired together
33:42and with the person who killed Carol Morgan to murder her
33:46and that that was done by offering payment,
33:50which was made to somebody who then committed murder.
33:56Of course I want to catch the person that murdered Carol.
34:00Of course we do.
34:02There's no direct evidence about who that somebody was.
34:05There really are only two people that know the answer to that question
34:10and they're the two people that we're investigating
34:13for the conspiracy to murder Carol.
34:16In order to prove a conspiracy,
34:18we only have to prove that there was an agreement to kill.
34:21So in this case, we would be alleging that Alan and Margaret
34:24found somebody and paid them to kill Carol.
34:30Busy, busy, busy, busy.
34:33Come on in and meet the team.
34:39Alongside the normal lines of inquiry and investigation
34:43that my team have been conducting,
34:46one area of investigation that we used
34:50was that on each occasion that Alan and Margaret were arrested,
34:56we would record any conversation that they have with each other.
35:02HE SIGHS
35:04What are you going to say?
35:06He said I need to wait.
35:08I said, what are you going to say?
35:10Nothing.
35:12You don't know, do you?
35:14I don't know anything.
35:16Lots of pictures.
35:24I want to wait.
35:26Hm?
35:28I want to wait.
35:31Sorry.
35:35This other evidence contains no admissions of guilt,
35:41no conversation that lends itself to what actually happened on the night
35:48or who was actually responsible,
35:51but their behaviour, their comments to each other,
35:57the general demeanour and discussion they have
36:00and the degree of assistance to their case.
36:11Alan says to Margaret,
36:13I don't want to say anything because they might have...
36:15And then they go quiet. And then they go quiet.
36:17You heard that? Yeah.
36:19What was it that he might say that he wouldn't want the police to hear?
36:23These are potentially significant, suspicious comments
36:27and I'd be interested to hear, if they're brought in for further interviews,
36:31what explanation they give.
36:35In light of the recorded evidence
36:38and along with the review of all of the investigation material,
36:43it enables me to have Alan and Margaret re-arrested
36:47for the conspiracy to murder Carol.
36:58DOG BARKS
37:03Morning. Morning. Margaret? Yeah.
37:06Morning. Is Alan here as well? Yeah.
37:09Can we come in, please? Yeah. Thank you.
37:12Is he up? No. Oh, OK.
37:17Just going to come up.
37:20It's the police.
37:23Alan? Yeah?
37:25Right, I need you to listen to me, OK?
37:28Following your previous arrests and release, OK,
37:32a number of inquiries have been conducted over a period of time.
37:36As a result of those inquiries,
37:38I'm now arresting you on suspicion of conspiracy to murder
37:42Carol Patricia Morgan,
37:44on or before the Thursday 13th August 1981.
37:48So I'm arresting you on suspicion of conspiracy to murder, OK?
37:53OK. And that is the murder of Carol Patricia Morgan,
37:57on or before the Thursday 13th August 1981.
38:01Right. OK?
38:03So the plan today is that yourself and your wife
38:09are going to come with us.
38:11We're going to go to Bedfordshire Police Headquarters,
38:15where you're going to be interviewed throughout the day.
38:18OK?
38:20And then decisions will be made thereafter.
38:24So I need you to get yourself dressed and ready to go, please.
38:33I'm sorry.
38:35Are you all right?
38:38Are you all right?
38:40I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
38:42I'm all right.
38:44I didn't mean to upset anything.
38:46Don't worry about it.
38:48Don't worry about it.
38:53To be honest, love, I don't know what that...
38:59Yeah, we'll just have to see, all right?
39:12You all right? Yeah.
39:14Our suspects were arrested this morning.
39:16They've been transported back up to Bedfordshire.
39:20So we're awaiting their arrival.
39:23I just need to check in with the team and see what's happened,
39:27what I need to be aware of,
39:29and make sure that everything's running as it should be.
39:35This will be the final stage of our investigation.
39:41And the fact that our lawyer, Charles Saunders,
39:46from the Crown Prosecution Service, is present here with us,
39:51is very encouraging.
39:54On the basis of the material I have already
39:57and the review of all the material that's been undertaken,
40:01I'm almost in a position where I can make a charging decision.
40:05The police have now gathered this evidence from the recordings
40:08and it's really important that I understand Alan and Margaret's view
40:12and explanation of that recording before I make a charging decision.
40:17So, this is a conversation between you and Alan
40:20on the 27th of November, when you were first arrested.
40:25So, it's difficult to hear, but...
40:33That's the way, probably, that sounded like.
40:36From the point of view it looks from me, this looks very suspicious.
40:39Is there anything...? You laugh about it, but...
40:41I know I'm laughing about it, but no comment.
40:44Well, tell me why I'm getting that wrong.
40:47No comment.
40:48You lower your voice for that part, when you're shushing him,
40:51and you whisper something to him deliberately so he can't hear,
40:54and then you raise your voice back up again,
40:56either side saying, I need a wee.
40:58So we can't hear what you're saying.
41:00As I have said before on every occasion,
41:03I am absolutely nothing to do with it.
41:07So, why would an innocent person do that?
41:13Why would you shush someone
41:14who's trying to get their story straight for the police?
41:18I...
41:19Why not protest your innocence?
41:23She started with, I need a wee, and then finished with,
41:26I'm going to say I need a wee. No comment.
41:28Just cover the shushing and the whispering in the middle.
41:31No comment. Why is it you find this funny?
41:35I'm going to say something now. No, you don't have to.
41:38I am.
41:40Have you ever been in this situation that I'm in now?
41:44Thankfully not. Right.
41:46I'm not sure I've laughed... No, if you...
41:49You wouldn't like it. Right. It doesn't matter what I say.
41:53We agree on that. All right? Yeah.
41:55Whatever I say... Yeah.
41:58..or whatever you say...
42:04The problem is you're not saying anything, are you?
42:06No, no, no. I'm trying.
42:09Well, you're just going, no comment.
42:11No, I'm not saying no comment, because I'm frightened...
42:14It's OK. ..of what you're going to do, if even if...
42:19What we're doing is trying to get your... No, you're not.
42:22You're trying to incriminate me in doing something.
42:25You're trying to incriminate me in doing whatever.
42:28How? I don't know.
42:31In order, wait, because we're not trying to...
42:33Can we just have a break? OK.
42:39The only people that have benefited from Carol's death
42:42are you and Alan, Margaret.
42:48Nobody else.
42:51How many times do I have to keep saying,
42:54I have had nothing to do with this?
43:00The only person that can benefit from this is you and Margaret,
43:03and which is exactly what happened.
43:05She moved in a short while later.
43:07You played happy families and moved away a couple of months later.
43:10The shop was sold up and bought and paid for,
43:13and then you went on to buy another shop,
43:15and everything was fine after that.
43:17Is there anything you want to tell us?
43:20No comment.
43:28She was probably advised to go, no comment,
43:30but in true Margaret style, she couldn't do that.
43:35She reiterated several times that she wasn't involved,
43:38that he wasn't involved.
43:40She's not denying that what we're telling her is happening.
43:43She's just got to explain it.
43:45She just said, I don't remember the conversation,
43:47I don't know why I would do that.
43:48I said, do you agree that what we've read out
43:50is what's been played to you?
43:51And she's like, yeah, yeah, that's definitely me shushing,
43:54that's definitely him doing what he's saying,
43:56but I just don't remember the conversation,
43:58and I don't know why I would do that.
44:00But we're totally innocent.
44:01That's all the way through, we're totally innocent.
44:03However, if I was a third person, I'd think the same as you.
44:06Now, if you're innocent, you know you're innocent,
44:08you protest your innocence, and you have nothing to hide.
44:11You're not worried about anybody recording you.
44:15So it's mainly no comment, and he did say no comment this time,
44:19because every time he went to talk and he did want to talk,
44:22the solicitor just tapped him on the side.
44:24Yeah, I mean, we probably suggested the shushing,
44:26I don't want to say anything,
44:28because you're clearly aware that it's been recorded.
44:30You've clearly got someone to hide, and you're not telling us.
44:33You're clearly involved in some way with Carol's murder,
44:36but you're just not prepared to tell us about it.
44:38No comment.
44:39So I was like, well, that speaks for itself.
44:44I think that brings us to you, Sian.
44:46You're all sitting there hoping, aren't you?
44:48Will, what do you... Is there anything else you need from us?
44:51No. What do you need?
44:53I don't need anything else. OK.
44:56So I think I've got it all,
44:58and I don't think that anything that they've said today
45:02changes anything that we've previously discussed or thought about
45:05over the last five years.
45:07I think we're happy that there's nothing in there
45:09that's going to catch us out, which is the most important thing.
45:12Nothing at trial that's suddenly going to come out
45:14that we don't know about.
45:16With that in mind, I think there is enough evidence
45:19to charge both of them with conspiracy to murder.
45:23Excellent.
45:25And I just need to finish off the advice, it's pretty much done,
45:29and I will be able to hit the button.
45:35To finally get to that point
45:37where an independent decision-maker is saying,
45:40yeah, we're going to charge, the evidence is sufficient to charge,
45:43it's a huge, huge relief,
45:46but it's also a great deal of satisfaction.
45:51Hello again.
45:54OK, so CPS have come back with a charging decision
45:57to charge you with one offence.
45:59This officer here is going to read out the charge.
46:02On the 13th of August, 1981,
46:05at Leighton Buzzard in the county of Bedfordshire,
46:08you conspired together with Margaret Morgan to murder Carol Morgan.
46:13In relation to that charge, Alan, do you want to make a reply?
46:16Not guilty.
46:19Carol was a really, really ordinary woman,
46:22and I don't say that unkindly.
46:24She was just an ordinary woman doing a really ordinary job
46:28in a really quiet housing estate,
46:30and she died in a most extraordinary way.
46:33And actually, if you take out of the picture the robbery hypothesis
46:38and look at it,
46:40who else had a motive to kill her?
46:43Who else would have wanted her dead?
46:46And why was she killed with such ferocity?
46:49So it comes down ultimately to motive,
46:52and then really the only people who needed or wanted her dead
46:56were Alan and Margaret.
46:59It gave them what they needed, it gave them what they wanted.
47:02They wanted to be together and there wasn't any other way.
47:05It's horribly simple but devastating
47:08and very sad for Carol and Carol's family.
47:13You were charged with the following offence.
47:15You don't have to say anything, but it may harm your defence
47:18if you do not mention now something which you later rely on in court.
47:21Anything you do so may be given in evidence.
47:24On the 13th of August, 1981,
47:26at Leighton Buzzard in the county of Bedfordshire,
47:29you conspired together with Alan Morgan to murder Carol Morgan.
47:35In relation to that charge, do you want to make a reply?
47:39I wish to plead not guilty.
47:41Not guilty, OK.
47:51I did Alan and then she did... Kelly did Margaret.
47:56Not guilty.
47:58Yeah, they both said... Exactly the same.
48:00Both said not guilty straightaway.
48:02Just cos we've charged them, they're not going to suddenly roll over
48:05and say, oh, yeah, all right, you're right, are they?
48:08No. So it's done. Good.
48:13From the outset, I always thought we had a good chance
48:16of detecting this and seeing Alan and Margaret charged with this offence.
48:22I'm just pleased for the team cos they've worked so hard on this.
48:25I'd get a great deal of satisfaction out of knowing
48:28they will feel elated as to what we've achieved today.
48:33So now that we have charged Alan and Margaret,
48:37it's time to prepare for a Crown Court trial.
48:42So today is our first day of the trial at Luton Crown Court.
48:47Do I believe that Alan and Margaret are involved in Carol's murder?
48:52Absolutely.
48:54Absolutely, 100%. I think they're involved, have orchestrated it.
48:59I think they're involved in the murder.
49:02I think they're involved in the murder.
49:05I think they're involved in the murder.
49:08I think they're involved, have orchestrated it.
49:13But it doesn't matter what I think, does it?
49:15It's the jury that determine that.
49:18The trial many feared would never see the light of day
49:21finally got under way,
49:23almost 43 years after Carol Morgan was hacked to death
49:27and found on a shop floor in the town of Linslade.
49:3142 years after his second wife, Carol, was found repeatedly struck
49:36with an axe or a machete, Alan Morgan and Margaret Morgan,
49:40who was his lover at the time and is now his third wife,
49:43arrived at Luton Crown Court to face charges of conspiracy to murder,
49:47charges they both deny.
49:51Telling a story through the structure of a trial is always hard,
49:55but here we've got decades that have passed.
49:58And so what I really want the jury to be able to understand
50:02is the nature of that illicit affair
50:05that Alan and Margaret were having with each other
50:08and also understanding the evidence that either or both of them
50:12conspired with another killer to commit the murder of Carol Morgan.
50:24Jurors in the trial of a couple accused of conspiracy to murder
50:28have retired to consider their verdict.
50:30The couple, who are in their 70s,
50:32have been on trial at Luton Crown Court for the past eight weeks.
50:37The jury are in their room, deliberating.
50:40We have no idea.
50:42The whole process is sacrosanct, lockdown,
50:44only they know what they're talking about.
50:47It could still go one of two ways.
50:49The worst possible outcome, I think, for everyone would be a hung jury
50:52because I'm fairly confident we would go again if that panned out.
50:55And that brings a whole rehash of all the stresses
50:58and trials and tribulations we and the witnesses have been through.
51:04All the evidence suggests that we've got the right people.
51:07So, unfortunately, I think if it comes back as a not guilty,
51:10that will be the end of it. There won't be any...
51:12It will remain open, but there's no evidence
51:14that suggests any other routes or lines of inquiry.
51:24It's a nerve-wracking time for everyone involved,
51:27but, obviously, this is the summation of years of work for us.
51:33So, it's a bit... You just don't know what's going to happen,
51:37so it's just a waiting game, really.
51:41Well, everything, everything is at stake. Everything's at stake.
51:44This is, you know, this has been a six-year journey for me.
51:47It's been a 43-year journey for justice,
51:51for Carol Morgan and Carol Morgan's family.
51:55So, everything's at stake.
51:58It's the first time anybody's been charged,
52:01stood trial in relation to Carol's murder,
52:04so the outcome of this is really significant.
52:25After a six-year investigation
52:27and a 43-year journey for justice for Carol Morgan,
52:31we finally got our verdict.
52:35Alan Morgan has been convicted unanimously
52:38of conspiracy to murder Carol Morgan.
52:45The jury were out deliberating for almost exactly one week
52:49and they've acquitted Margaret Morgan of conspiracy to murder.
52:55She's free, she's at liberty to go and get on with her life...
52:59No comment. ..as she sees fit,
53:01but, clearly, that life will now be without Alan Morgan.
53:06The verdict against Margaret is one that the jury came to.
53:09I can't... I can't go behind that.
53:11They heard all the evidence, they made their decision.
53:14I have no way of knowing what it was that made them come to that conclusion,
53:18but the evidence against Alan was always going to be stronger.
53:36Alan Morgan, you fall to be sentenced for conspiracy to murder
53:40your wife, Carol Morgan,
53:42who was savagely killed on the 13th of August, 1981.
53:49Only one person knows the identity of the murderer
53:52and that is you, Mr Morgan.
53:55That is the secret which you have harboured for the last 40 years.
54:01The law has now caught up with you
54:03and you must pay due punishment for your part in this crime.
54:09There's only one truly wicked person who's been in this court
54:12and that is you, Alan Morgan.
54:14For conspiracy to murder, I sentence you to imprisonment for life.
54:18Taking into account the aggravating and mitigating factors
54:21to which I have referred,
54:23the minimum term to be served shall be 22 years.
54:27You may be taken down.
54:35Margaret, is there anything you'd like to say?
54:38A reaction to the sentence?
54:41I'm really pleased with the sentencing.
54:43We couldn't have asked for more.
54:45I was somewhat surprised.
54:47I was concerned that the minimum term
54:49was going to be a lot less than 22 years.
54:52I think it sends out a fantastic message.
54:55The sentence was a just one
54:57in accordance with the law, as it was at the time.
55:00Whilst it's going to be difficult for Alan to spend 22 years
55:03or the rest of his life in prison,
55:05it's only fair that he be sentenced to 22 years.
55:10That he has to be punished for what he did to Carol.
55:21Auntie Carol's life was taken away so suddenly,
55:26so shockingly.
55:29She didn't deserve any of this
55:31and she should be living her life to the full.
55:35Carol has missed out on seeing her children grow into adulthood,
55:39seeing them have successful lives,
55:42seeing them become parents and becoming a grandparent.
55:46She has been robbed of all of that.
55:51I'm obviously pleased with the conviction of Alan.
55:55However, our efforts to bring anybody else
55:59who's played a part in this conspiracy
56:02to justice will continue.
56:06Because I think we owe Carol that.
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