Page 87 of The Scene of the Crime

Chapman started speaking again. ‘The informant gave us a description that matched Liam’s and said he lived in a flat inJohn Walsh Tower, which we now know is owned by a Winston Brown.’

‘Then this Winston Brown would have a key to the premises. He may have committed the crime and put the stolen property in the flat,’ Baldwin suggested.

‘Unlikely, as Winston’s been in Jamaica for some time now. We believe he used to be in a relationship with Liam’s mother and sublet the flat to him,’ Chapman replied.

‘The informant could be responsible,’ Baldwin argued, but he sounded like he was grasping at straws now.

‘There was no sign of forced entry,’ Anderson said, ‘so Liam must have let the informant into his flat or given him a set of keys. If so, this is his opportunity to tell us who the other person involved in the crime is. At present, everything points to him being responsible for the attempted murder of Johan De Klerk.’

Liam put his head in his hands. ‘I didn’t do any of this. I swear to you, I am telling you the truth, it’s someone else.’

‘Then tell us who that someone is,’ Anderson said.

‘I swear, I don’t know . . . if I did, believe me, I’d bloody tell you,’ Liam pleaded.

‘We’ve shown you overwhelming evidence that proves you were involved, and you’ve repeatedly lied to us,’ Anderson said.

‘I’m not lying.’

‘You are, and you know it, Liam. The money in your wallet with Johan De Klerk’s fingerprints and yours proves you were involved in the crime,’ Chapman said.

Liam was crying uncontrollably as he turned to Baldwin, ‘Please tell them to believe me, you got to make them believe I’m telling them the truth, I never done it.’

‘I think you shouldn’t answer any more questions, Liam,’ Baldwin replied, stoney-faced.

‘If you know anything at all about the crime, it would help you to tell us,’ Chapman said.

There was a brief silence before Liam replied, his head bowed as he wiped his nose with his hand. He sounded almost childlike. ‘She wasn’t making it up – I lied, I got me mother to lie for me, she was so pissed she never knew what day it was. I’ll admit it now, because you got to believe me that I’m telling the truth, it was me that broke into her flat, but I swear to God I didn’t try to rape her,’ Liam sobbed. Jessica was stunned. Why had Liam suddenly made this admission? Was it just guilt, or did he naively think it was a way out of his present dilemma?

‘I would advise you not to say anything more, Liam,’ Baldwin said, really concerned now.

Liam shook his head. ‘It’s me that could go to prison, not you. I’m prepared to admit what I did to that woman if it makes them believe I didn’t stab that man or steal his money.’

‘I hear what you say, but I strongly advise you to say nothing more for now,’ Baldwin insisted.

‘Just let me make my own decisions. I’m not listening to you anymore, you’re full of bullshit. I want them to know so they’ll believe me,’ Liam said as he rubbed the tears from his eyes. Baldwin shook his head and sighed, knowing his advice was not going to be taken.

Anderson handed Liam a tissue. ‘Tell us what happened with the probation officer.’

A distraught Palmer nodded as he blew his nose. ‘Her name was Jessica. She had curly red hair and was really nice to me. I fell in love with her but knew she’d never love me back. I followed her home one day to find out where she lived. It was a groundfloor flat in Peckham. I’d use my electric scooter, go to her flat at night, hide behind a bush and watch her through the window with binoculars.’

‘Were you hoping to see her naked in the bedroom?’ Chapman asked.

‘Yes, but I never did. She always wore a nightdress or towel when she closed the curtains.’

‘Did you masturbate when you watched her from the bushes?’ Anderson asked. Liam nodded, and Jessica felt a cold shiver run through her body. ‘How long were you watching her for?’

‘A couple of weeks.’

‘How did you break into her flat?’ Chapman asked, knowing the method of entry was important in case Liam changed his story later or said he deliberately lied, thinking it would help him in the De Klerk case.

‘Through the kitchen window at the back. It was old and easy to force open quietly with a screwdriver. I was never going to rape her. I couldn’t do that to her. I just wanted to see her in bed.’

‘Masturbating while watching her, then breaking into her house suggests an intention to sexually assault her,’ Anderson said.

He shook his head. ‘I just wanted to be near her.’

‘What happened when you went into her bedroom?’ Chapman asked.