GB - JOHN MURRAY v SALEH IBRAHIM MABROUK

(via hybrid hearing)

MR JUSTICE MARTIN SPENCER:

Introduction

WPC Yvonne Fletcher and PC John Murray were what you could call the salt of the earth in terms of police officers in the Metropolitan Police. Between 1981 and 1984 they worked as partners doing what is called ‘community policing’, focusing on developing relationships with members of the community. They were based in Covent Garden and would work with local schools, businesses and residents, and they were the first port of call if anyone in the community had any problems. They also worked together assisting new police recruits with their initial training; they would take the new recruits out on the streets and show them around. They taught the recruits the ways and means of the job.

PCs Fletcher and Murray worked as partners and saw each other virtually every day. They developed a tight bond and became the very best of friends. Mr Murray puts it this way:

Outside of working hours, we also spent a lot of our time together, often going for drinks and dinners. We were great confidants for each other and would talk about, and give each other advice on, absolutely everything. I helped her move home (into her flat in Chelsea in 1982) and knew her fiancé well – we were involved in every part of each other’s lives. Yvonne and I were a close-knit partnership, and I lost one of my closest friends on the day she died.

Mr Murray says that he felt an enormous amount of affection for her and I have no doubt that she felt the same way about him. They looked after each other and If either of them got into a bit of trouble, which would sometimes happen, they would look out for each other. They trusted each other. They were both good at their jobs and they had great respect and really cared for each other. Again, I have no doubt that their colleagues and their senior officers had great respect for them and the job which they did on a daily basis, enhancing the community they served and the reputation of the Metropolitan police at the same time.

Tuesday, 17 April 1984 should have been no different to any other day. They paraded at 08.00 on duty at Bow Street police station and were expecting to be taking probationers out that day to learn the beats. However, the duty inspector instead asked them to go to St James’s Square to help to police a demonstration which was due to take place outside the premises of the Libyan Embassy or, as it had now been termed by the Libyan regime of Col Gaddafi, the People’s Bureau

(via hybrid hearing)

MR JUSTICE MARTIN SPENCER:

Introduction

PCs Fletcher and Murray worked as partners and saw each other virtually every day. They developed a tight bond and became the very best of friends. Mr Murray puts it this way:

JOHN MURRAY v SALEH IBRAHIM MABROUK

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