Wiltshire Police apologize to Becky Godden’s family after admitting they missed “major chances” to apprehend her murderer Christopher Halliwell earlier.
This morning, Wiltshire Police apologized for “failures in this matter.”
Between 2002 and 2003, Becky Godden-Edwards, age 21, from Swindon was murdered.
Her bones were discovered a year later in March 2011 near Eastleach, Gloucestershire.
Today’s IOPC inquiry determined that the murder investigation was “poorly overseen.”
Becky Godden was 20 years old when Christopher Halliwell killed her.
Wiltshire Police apologized to Becky Godden’s family after admitting they missed “major chances” to apprehend her murderer Christopher Halliwell earlier.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said that Wiltshire Police’s investigation into the murder of Becky Godden in 2003 was “poorly advanced and monitored,” adding that legitimate avenues of enquiry were not explored and significant evidence was not reviewed.
In January 2003, Halliwell strangled Ms. Godden and buried her corpse near a field in Eastleach, Gloucestershire.
But her murder was not discovered until 2011, when Halliwell was arrested in connection with the disappearance of 22-year-old personal assistant Sian O’Callaghan.
He was incarcerated for the murder of Ms. O’Callaghan in 2012, but the judge ruled that the confession evidence surrounding the murder of Ms. Godden was inadmissible due to the manner in which it was obtained. Halliwell was not tried for the crime until September 2016, when a different judge ruled that the confession was admissible.
The watchdog said that Wiltshire Police did not adequately pursue various lines of investigation, including dirt found on a shovel belonging to Halliwell in 2011 that was not analyzed forensically until 2014 but matched uncommon material found at the scene where Ms. Godden was discovered.
It was also discovered that the police had obtained information from a doctor in April 2011 saying that Halliwell had attended their office in January 2003 with significant facial and hand injuries, alleging he had been attacked by a taxi passenger.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said that senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Matt Davey lacked experience and that Ms. Godden’s killing was his first murder investigation, adding that he was put in charge “without proper resources, supervision, or governance.”
In 2016, Haliwell was incarcerated for the murder of Becky Godden-Edwards, having been convicted of the murder of Sian O’Callaghan in 2012.
Wiltshire Police announced their investigation into the murder investigation of Becky Godden Edwards and determined that the authorities missed multiple chances. In a Tweet, the force apologized to her parents for the incident.
Chief Constable Kier Pritchard (pictured) has apologized to Ms. Godden’s family in response to IOPC criticism. He expressed regret for the effect that the case’s shortcomings had on Becky’s family.
The watchdog concluded that neither Mr. Davey nor then-assistant chief constable Mike Veale had a case to answer, since the latter was not accountable for the monitoring of the murder investigation.
Today, Chief Superintendent Kier Pritchard issued an apology to Ms. Godden’s family in response to the IOPC’s criticism.
In a statement released by the police, he stated, ‘As Chief Constable of the Force, I completely accept the findings and recommendations detailed in today’s report, and I have personally apologized to members of Becky’s family.
“This has definitely afforded me the chance for profound personal contemplation. As emphasized by the IOPC report, there was misunderstanding at the time about the monitoring of the investigation into Becky’s death.
This was partly due to the fact that the big criminal partnership was in its infancy. Sincere apologies for that.
Mr. Pritchard said that the inquiry into the murder was a “complicated case with extremely unusual circumstances.”
Christopher Halliwell, a taxi driver, killed Becky Godden in Swindon in 2003. Becky Godden was murdered by Christopher Halliwell, seen on the left.
Ms. Godden’s murder was not discovered until 2011 when Halliwell was arrested for the disappearance of Sian O’Callaghan, right?
He continued, “We have always sought justice for Becky’s family, after the awful and devastating death of their beloved daughter.”
In spite of this, I recognize the anguish and sorrow that the delay in the inquiry has caused Becky’s family, who have rightfully sought justice.
“While justice was served, it is with profound sadness that Becky’s family had to wait for it.
“I regret that lost opportunities were found throughout the inquiry, and I accept full responsibility for any individual deficiencies.”
Mr. Pritchard went on to say that he completely acknowledged the conclusions and suggestions presented in the IOPC report, before expressing regret for the effect on Becky’s family.
Regional director of the IOPC Catrin Evans expressed her condolences to Becky Godden’s family for their tragic death. Mrs. Edwards (her mother) has patiently awaited the conclusion of the long and intricate inquiry into her allegation that Halliwell should have been brought to justice sooner for the death of her daughter.
‘After the original charges pertaining to Becky’s murder were withdrawn in February 2012, our inquiry uncovered severe flaws in the way the police conducted the murder investigation. In our opinion, the problems that occurred were the result of a mix of systemic and individual flaws inside the force at the time.
Our study revealed that no one at Wiltshire Police was accountable for ensuring that the murder investigation proceeded efficiently.
We have been in communication with Wiltshire Police, who have been totally cooperative throughout the inquiry. They have already implemented a number of suggestions to prevent a recurrence of the force’s oversights regarding the responsibility for and conduct of this murder investigation.
Rebecca Godden’s parents, Karen and Charlie Edwards, were seen outside Bristol Crown Court in 2016 after Halliwell was convicted guilty of murdering their daughter. Wiltshire Police has now issued an apology to the couple for their ‘failures’ in handling the matter.
The force at the time permitted a haze of uncertainty surrounding leadership to emerge.
This resulted in the murder investigation slowing, a lack of adequate evaluations, and the overlooking of clear lines of inquiry that might have led to Halliwell’s conviction.
‘It was only until DCI Memory took over the murder investigation, with supervision from 2014 by then-assistant chief constable Pritchard, that previous lost evidence possibilities were pursued, resulting in Halliwell’s eventual prosecution.’
Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills stated: ‘We have formally apologised to the parents of Rebecca Godden-Edwards (also known as Becky Godden-Edwards) following the findings of an investigation by the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC), which found that the Force missed opportunities to secure Christopher Halliwell’s earlier conviction for Becky’s murder.
Halliwell was convicted of Becky’s murder in 2016, however the IOPC review, in response to a complaint by Becky’s mother, revealed deficiencies in both the leadership supervision and the investigation’s conduct. This meant that it took four years to convict Halliwell, despite the fact that the investigative team had access to the majority of the evidence in 2012.
In 2016, forensic scientists were able to match the dirt discovered on a shovel in Halliwell’s shed to the Eastleach, Gloucestershire field.
Ms. Godden’s corpse was discovered in Eastleach, Gloucestershire, and several tributes were placed at the location.
Today’s IOPC inquiry determined that the murder investigation was “poorly overseen.”
“We are honestly and profoundly sorry for the effect these unwarranted delays in the investigation had on Becky’s family, and we recognize that they have exacerbated the awful suffering and loss they have undergone as a consequence of the death of their beloved daughter.
“The claims contained in the complaint were specifically linked to three members of Wiltshire Police: two former workers and Chief Constable Kier Pritchard when he was a more junior officer.”
We accept in full the findings and recommendations of the IOPC-managed inquiry conducted by an external police agency.
A timeline of how Becky Godden’s murderer Christopher Halliwell was brought to justice
2003
Becky Godden, age 20, was last seen getting into a cab outside the Desire and Destiny nightclub in Swindon on January 3.
2007
Miss Godden has been reported missing by her family.
2011
Sian O’Callaghan, a 22-year-old office worker, spends the evening of March 18 with her pals in Swindon. Her family reports her as missing the next day when she fails to come home.
Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher, who is conducting the inquiry, said on March 21 that he has been attempting to determine Miss O’Callaghan’s movements.
Christopher Halliwell becomes a “Tie” on March 22 – a person to Trace, Interview, and Eliminate – when his vehicle is seen in the location where Miss O’Callaghan vanished.
The arrest of Halliwell on March 24. Police officers conduct a “urgent interview.” Halliwell begins his trek to the Gable Cross police station, but is redirected to Barbury Castle, where he encounters Mr. Fulcher.
Halliwell guides officers to the area where he concealed Miss O’Callaghan’s remains and then to Eastleach, Gloucestershire, where he buried Miss Godden years earlier.
Officers report the discovery of human remains in Eastleach on March 26 after thorough searches. Mr. Fulcher was informed that they belonged to a lady kidnapped in Swindon between 2003 and 2005.
Halliwell is accused with the murder of Miss O’Callaghan on March 26.
The police inform Miss Godden’s mother, Karen Edwards, that they have discovered the corpse of her daughter on April 4. It would have been the 29th birthday of Miss Godden.
Becky Godden-Edwards’ stepfather Charlie Edwards (left) takes her casket into Christ Church, Old Town, Swindon, for her burial ceremony in 2011.
Halliwell is charged with Miss Godden’s murder on May 23.
Mr. Fulcher resigns as the case’s senior investigating officer (SIO) on June 4, and is subsequently probed for wrongdoing in relation to the manner in which Halliwell’s confession was acquired.
The case has lacked a SIO for almost a year.
2012
Bristol Crown Court starts a week-long abuse of process hearing on January 30. Attorneys believe that Halliwell cannot get a fair trial because to Mr. Fulcher’s media briefings and violations of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (Pace) rules.
Mrs. Justice Cox, the trial judge, determines that Halliwell’s admissions to the killings of both women are inadmissible due to violations of Pace.
Halliwell pleads guilty to the murder of Miss O’Callaghan at Bristol Crown Court on October 19. Mrs. Justice Cox sentences him to life in prison with a minimum of 25 years to be served.
2015
Halliwell is arrested on February 18 on suspicion of murdering Miss Godden. He informs Superintendent Sean Memory that he will take responsibility for the murder of Miss Godden so long as the police do not probe him further about other crimes he may have committed.
2016
Halliwell is accused with the murder of Miss Godden on March 30.
The trial of Halliwell for the murder of Miss Godden begins at Bristol Crown Court on September 5.
Halliwell is convicted of murdering Miss Godden on September 19.
On September 23, the court sentences Halliwell to life in prison without the possibility of release.
2022
The Independent Office for Police Complaints releases a report on September 2 concluding that there was sufficient evidence to charge Halliwell for the murder of Miss Godden in 2011.
In other instances, Wiltshire Police did not follow up on leads for years.
Wiltshire Police delivers an official apologies to the family of Miss Godden.