DNA Studies Could Solve 'Spy In The Bag' Death, Ex-Cop Claims

A former police chief believes that new DNA studies could help to solve the mystery of the 'spy in the bag'.

The decomposing body of MI6 analyst Gareth Williams was found in a locked holdall in the bath of his flat in Pimlico, London, in August 2010.

In 2013, the Metropolitan Police concluded that the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) codebreaker's death was 'probably an accident' and closed the case, but his family have long suspected foul play.

Metropolitan Police

Now, former Detective Chief Superintendent Hamish Campbell - who led the probe prior to retirement - has called for a new review of the case, citing DNA analysis as the key to solving the mystery.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, he said: "There may be new forensic possibilities around some of the evidence we found in the flat.

"It might be a sensible option to take another look as part of a forensic review. You can never say never in relation to forensic reviews.

"Forensics do move on. I have experience of reviews where forensics alone will bring a case forward. Not a lot else will.

"It may be that an independent forensic company could be asked to have another look at it within a proper framework. That would be a sensible and reasonable thing to do."

BBC Studios

Two police sources' claims that some of Williams' work focussed on Russia sparked speculation he may have been assassinated. Campbell doesn't buy this theory, though.

He said: "What would have been achieved by killing a junior analyst?

"He was a phone analyst, an expert in terms of mobile phones and the transference of data. What would the Russians or any other state have achieved by killing him?"

A semen stain found on the bathroom floor indicated that the 31-year-old had been involved in sexual activity in the hours prior to his death, which further reduces the plausibility of an assassination, in Campbell's view.

Metropolitan Police

He said: "I felt like it was improbable his body fluid could be present in a violent, non-consenting scenario.

"Considering Gareth's tidiness and cleanliness, we surmised the semen was from the day of his entry into the bag. This would have been consensual activity.

"But was he alone or not? It would be difficult to imagine him having intimacy with a Russian hitman or a female spy."

He added: "What the evidence leaves you with is that Gareth consented to get inside the bag, either on his own or with other parties not yet identified."

Topics: UK News, crime

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey