Page 134 of Murder in the Family

And where do you all stand?

GUY HOWARD

Well, as you heard in an earlier episode, I was finding it hard to believe that ‘Luke’ was actually a man called Eric Fulton who was eleven years older than he claimed.

But if the team’s right, ‘Eric Fulton’ was just one more in what could be any number of stolen identities. I guess we may never know who he really was, or how old he was for that matter.

Though I won’t deny it’s unsettling, even all these years later, to find we had a complete stranger in the house all that time, someone we now discover we knew absolutely nothing about, not even his name.

NICK VINCENT (Producer)

The picture that seems to be emerging is of someone who may have defrauded a whole series of women.

Clearly we have yet to gather any actual evidence to back that up, but it seems a reasonable hypothesis. What’s your reaction to that – do you think your mother was going to be his next victim?

GUY HOWARD

I have to admit I’m struggling with that one too. Right up until she got ill Mum was always a really strong character. I just don’t see her as a victim.

And ‘Luke’ didn’tbehavelike that sort of predator – not that I can remember. I mean, yes, she did buy him things, most notably that Harley, but she never gave him large sums of money. And as her friends have told the team, as far as Mum knew, he stood to inherit a pile of cash of his own. He didn’tneedher money.

NICK VINCENT (Producer)

Though that sort of set-up is a standard MO for certain types of fraudster – look at that whole Anna Delvey story a few years back, or those supposedly rich men who’ve tricked women on dating apps like Tinder.

The fraudster poses as filthy rich but claims they’re temporarily unable to access any of the money. So it’s the old ‘I just need your help with this minor cash-flow issue’ story.

GUY HOWARD

True, but like I said, I don’t think Luke ever asked my mother for money in that sort of way – I’m pretty sure there were no big payments to him at all while they were married. She gave himstuff, not cash.

NICK VINCENT (Producer)

The other issue I wanted to raise with you is what Shirley Booker said, especially about how you three children felt about Luke. She said you ‘loathed’ him.

GUY HOWARD

She was talking about Amelie—

NICK VINCENT (Producer)

Yes, you’re right, she said Amelie disliked him the most, but she said you loathed him too. You even wrecked the wedding cake—

GUY HOWARD

(roaring with laughter)

I have absolutelynomemory of doing that—

NICK VINCENT (Producer)

All the same, I have to ask you – why haven’t you said any of this before?

GUY HOWARD

To be fair, I think I have. I said I didn’t like him. I don’t think it was everloathing, as such—

NICK VINCENT (Producer)