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Rachel Nickell boyfriend's amazing apology to cleared murder suspect
Justin Davenport and Ted Hynds16 Nov 2009
The boyfriend of Rachel Nickell has written an extraordinary letter of apology to Colin Stagg.
Andre Hanscombe says he is sorry he continued to believe that Mr Stagg had murdered her on Wimbledon Common in 1992 even after the former suspect was cleared. In a letter which begins “Dear Colin” and is signed “Andre” he says he regrets his part in making Stagg's ordeal worse.
Mr Hanscombe said police led him to believe for 10 years that Mr Stagg had “got away with murder” when the case against him collapsed. Miss Nickell, 23, a model, was stabbed to death in front of her two- year-old son Alex.
Mr Stagg was charged with murder in 1993 but acquitted in October 1994 when the case was thrown out at the Old Bailey. However, for years afterwards Mr Stagg's name was linked to the killing. Last year the 46-year-old from Roehampton won £706,000 compensation for wrongful arrest.
In his letter, Mr Hanscombe, 46, says: “I am sorry for the ordeal that you have endured during virtually the whole length off this very sad affair, and any part that I might have had personally to make it worse.”
The tennis coach, who lives in France with his son, wrote: “I had been led to believe by officers of the Metropolitan Police that they considered you responsible for my partner's death.”
Only in November 2004, when a police phone call informed him Broadmoor patient Robert Napper was to be charged with the murder, did he begin to change his mind.
He wrote: “I know now that you were, and are, an innocent man who was mistakenly charged. I wish you a long, happy and productive life.”
Mr Stagg told the Standard: “It was a really kind gesture. I know how difficult it must have been for him to make.
“Understandably he spent years hating me. To him I was the man who destroyed the love of his life. After all those years it must have been very hard to come to terms with the proof that I was innocent. I accept his apology with gratitude. It means a lot to me.”
But Mr Stagg said he could never accept the lengths he believes the Met went to in trying to blacken his name.
He said: “Officers quietly told him and Rachel's family they weren't seriously looking for anyone else. They made it clear that I'd done it.
“Even when scientific advances identified a sample taken from her body the Met refused to take a DNA sample from me. That would at least have helped clear me in the public's mind. But they consistently refused.”
Mr Stagg said Mr Hanscombe was “deeply unhappy” at the way the original murder inquiry was conducted.
Earlier this year it emerged that Mr Hanscombe had instructed lawyers to sue Scotland Yard over blunders in the original inquiry which could have prevented Miss Nickell's murder and the killing of another young mother and her daughter.
In December last year a judge ordered Napper to be detained indefinitely at Broadmoor. Details emerged of a series of missed chances for police to arrest him before he embarked on a five year spree of up to 86 rapes.
Mr Stagg said Mr Hanscombe now wanted to a see a public inquiry.
Reader views (14)
While no one can deny the Met made a complete mess of this case and their appalling treatment of Mr Stagg, the compensation he received - £706,000 is quite simply mind blowing.
When our soldiers are injured as a result of combat they are lucky to get any compensation never mind a life changing sum such as this.
It just goes to show how injury to feelings, is treated so much more seriously than injury to body. We need to re-address this as it is a travesty of justice.
- Adam, Harrow, UK, 16/11/2009 21:22
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Mr Wong, I don't see why Mr Hanscombe should now refrain from sueing the police, if he has the wish to follow through on such an action. It is wholly understandable if he should not wish to, but such a law-suit would be a great public service on behalf of the many people who think that, for instance, the police's action reported here in refusing to allow Colin Stagg to clear himself with a DNA test is reprehensible.
- Bloke, Lambeth, 16/11/2009 13:29
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I am pleased for both Colin and Andre Hanscombe that this apology has finally been given. Hanscombe's book effectively accused Colin and it is good that they can both put this behind them.
Although my background was in writing thrillers, I wrote a book about the case with Colin ten years ago in which we systematically dissected the case against Colin and exposed it as virtually non-existent.
It had some limited effect in convincing some people that Colin had got a raw deal. But others clung to their beliefs, perhaps because they needed some one to blame and a named suspect is easier to attack than an anonymous murderer (although we did name the real killer as a credible suspect).
In any event, the case is now closed, the real murderer is behind bars. My only regret is that Nickell's parents and brother haven't contacted Colin.
I am proud to have written a book with Colin at a time when others thought he was guilty and I wish him well.
David Kessler
- David Kessler, London, 16/11/2009 13:26
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The Police service have a lot to answer for in this case,and many others,the use of agent provocateurs for one,who would not be lead along by some beautiful woman offering all sorts of sexual favours!Some times i wonder if all the police are good for is beating up demonstrators! I commend Mr Hanscombe,it takes a real man to apologize. I wonder if the officers involved in this case have!
- Kev, London-UK, 16/11/2009 13:18
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Colin Stagg, lives in my area, I personally never knew him, but many people I do know, did know him, and, all said he was not capable of such a crime! I think he had a very very hard time, but, if eveybody in the community felt he was guilty, it would have been much worse, and, I am not trying to diminish what he must have experienced, and, endured. The two surviving victims of this crime, both who suffered terribly, are the only ones to aquit themselves honourably, as for the police...! I would also add that the victims response should be applauded, and, seen as a beacon of light in an otherwise cynical, and, unforgiving world!
- Kevin Sullivan, Roehampton, London., 16/11/2009 13:08
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For anyone that knows how the police work, it comes as no surprise that they lied, manipulated and persecuted both of these men.
Sadly, the police get away with things like this (obviously not on the same scale) every day and even more worrying is that they are accountable to no one
- Lj, London, 16/11/2009 12:47
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Heart warming stuff. Both from Hanscombe and the graciously accepting Mr. Stagg. The police have massive charges against them now and they should face up to a public enquiry - if they think have any case at all to put. Why are the police like this? It is very disturbing.
- Tallulah, Hove, UK, 16/11/2009 12:09
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I met Andre shortly before his wife was killed, our meeting stuck in my mind because he came across as such a warm, polite and balanced individual, this guy was overdosing on life, a happier individual you could not have met.
A few months later like everybody else I heard the terrible news.
For him to find out that the Police could have stopped this awful event must have been a very hard pill to swallow.
- Steve M, London, 16/11/2009 11:51
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Is there anybody still deluded enough to think the Police are here to serve the citizens? We are (and have been for quite some time) living in a Police state.
- Bob, Basildon, Essex, 16/11/2009 11:26
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Why exactly is this amazing? Of all the talk of apologies this week I think this has to be the most genuine and most deserved. Far more than the empty regrets that are churned out on a weekly basis but vote seeking politicians.
Well done to Andre for writing to Colin Stagg - he held a grudge for years thanks mainly to misinformation but has now had the decency to admit he was wrong. If this was a political situation Stagg wouldn't get an apology until 2061.
- Luke, London, 16/11/2009 11:16
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well said Michael, Dhan Raj's comments border on the derranged.
- Scotty, London, 16/11/2009 11:14
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@ Dhan Raj. It takes a lot to shock me, but that has to be one of the most indefensibly disgusting comments that I think I've ever read on this website - which is saying something.
Stagg was outrageously led on by an undercover police officer pretending to be some kind of sadomasochistic fantasist and blatantly exploiting his naivete and inexperience. Even at the time, Stagg was clearly deeply unsure about what she wanted, but played along because he found her attractive. He denied from the start that he had anything to do with the Rachel Nickell murder.
- Michael, London, 16/11/2009 10:08
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EDITED by admin @ 12.20 on November 16 2009
Breach of community guidelines
- Dhan Raj, Basildon, 16/11/2009 09:40
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perhaps now mr hanscombe shall let go and let it all rest. instead of sueing the police. its a long time to be carrying this metaphorical burden.
- Anthony Wong, london uk, 16/11/2009 09:31
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