Pubdate: Sun, 17 Dec 2006
Source: Wales on Sunday (UK)
Copyright: 2006 Trinity Mirror Plc
Contact:  http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3763
Author: James McCarthy, Wales on Sunday

CROOKED COPS' COCAINE LINK IN MURDER PROBE

A WELSH private detective was murdered because he was  about to 
expose crooked cops involved in a conspiracy  to flood Britain with 
cocaine, police have told Wales  on Sunday.

The Scotland Yard revelation means that for the first  time in their 
19-year inquiry, officers have uncovered  a motive for the killing.

The butchered body of Daniel Morgan - who was brought  up in 
Llanfrechfa, Gwent, and went to agricultural  college in 
Monmouthshire - was found in the car park of  the Golden Lion pub in 
Sydenham, South London, on March  10, 1987.

Embedded in the 37-year-old's skull was a cheap  Chinese-made Diamond 
brand axe. It was wrapped in  masking tape so the killer's 
fingerprints would not be  left behind.

Leading the hunt, Detective Chief Superintendent Dave  Cook said: "We 
believe he was killed because he was  about to expose a conspiracy to 
supply drugs, a  criminal conspiracy involving a large amount of 
drugs.  "We think it was cocaine. We know that it was  potentially a 
large scale drug distribution network  that he was going to expose 
and he was killed because  of that.

"We believe there was a link to police corruption. Mr  Morgan's death 
was the obvious way to reduce the risk  of it being exposed.

"In the past we never really had a motive. Every day  brings us new 
information. We have a number of  suspects.

"But I am going to take my time and get this done properly.

"The people who have done this know they are  responsible because 
they were there, and they know I  know who they are."

In October, Mr Morgan's classic 1950s open top Austin  Healey sports 
car was found in a London lock-up. And in  August two men were 
arrested in connection with the  case. A third was arrested in 
September. The men, who  have not been charged, were released on police bail.

A number of witnesses have come forward with new  evidence since a 
televised appeal on the BBC's  Crimewatch programme last month.

The new development has been welcomed by Mr Morgan's  family, who 
have always claimed he was murdered after  discovering evidence of 
police corruption.

Mr Morgan's 78-year-old mum Isobel Hulsmann, who lives  in 
Hay-on-Wye, has travelled back and forth to London  hundreds of times 
in her bid to see justice done,  despite suffering a heart condition.

She said: "I am very keen to get this tied up, I think  it's time. I 
so badly want closure on this. It has been  devastating. Sometimes I 
feel as though it happened  yesterday, because there has never been 
any resolution  to it.

"This investigation team is doing its very best. I'm  hoping charges 
are brought and there will be a trial."

Mr Morgan's brother, Alastair, who lives in Islington,  North London, 
added: "All I'm waiting for is for people  to be charged, for the 
police to get sufficient  evidence and charge people with his murder. 
We are  optimistic, we have to be."

Brecon and Radnorshire MP Roger Williams, who has  campaigned with 
the family, said: "The more public this  matter is, the more likely a 
conviction.

"I have real admiration for Daniel Morgan's mother and  brother who 
have not let the case slip even though they  have been very badly 
served in the past by the police.

"I am pleased that Det Chief Supt Dave Cook is now  leading the hunt. 
He is a man of great energy and  entirely untouched by the corruption 
that was endemic  in the Metropolitan Police force at the time of the murder.

"The exposure of a new motive for the murder involving  drug supply 
and police corruption will bring many new  leads. It is quite clear 
that the criminal fraternity  are breaking ranks and bringing new 
information to the  police and I'm sure that we are now better placed 
to  gain a conviction."
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