Did any of the deaths share a common cause, such as killings by an intelligence service?
Three answers, none aheadNone is ahead yet. See what would settle it.
Where it stands
Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible.
Why it matters
This is the claim the story rests on: that the deaths were murders by the Soviet bloc, by Western services, or covered up by them. It is decided by whether any death can be shown to be a killing and, if so, by whom.
Answers 3
Next steps 2
1
Read FCO 65/3861 and FCO 7/8389 at Kew
Adds evidenceFair odds~6 h
11score
Details
The open Foreign Office files on Wash (1986) and Moyle (1991) are the only official files on any of these deaths known to be readable. They would show what the government knew and said privately.
2
Request the Avon and Somerset police reports on Dajibhai and Sharif
Adds evidencePoor odds
4score
Details
Freedom of Information request to Avon and Somerset Police and to the Avon coroner for the 1986-87 reports and inquest files. If released, they would show what evidence of third parties, if any, was found.
Ranked by how likely each is to move the key question, for the time it takes
History
- House of Commons: police and the Home Office found nothing linking the casesFor: Unconnected: each death had its own cause
- House of Commons: police and the Home Office found nothing linking the casesFor: Unconnected: each death had its own cause
- House of Commons: police and the Home Office found nothing linking the casesFor: Unconnected: each death had its own cause
- House of Commons: police and the Home Office found nothing linking the casesFor: Unconnected: each death had its own cause
- Crown Prosecution Service: the one solved case was a murder by an unconnected local offenderFor: Unconnected: each death had its own cause
- Slough Observer: the one solved case was a murder by an unconnected local offenderFor: Unconnected: each death had its own cause
- Crown Prosecution Service: the strongest foul-play case turned out to be an ordinary crimeAgainst: Soviet-bloc assassinations
- Slough Observer: the strongest foul-play case turned out to be an ordinary crimeAgainst: Soviet-bloc assassinations
- Session 1: raised the question and found three results bearing on its answers