Transcript of Tape-Recorded Interview conducted at St Aldates Police Station on Wednesday 28th October 1998. Present: DCI E. Morse, Sgt S. Blackbird, Dr J. Ampleforth.
EM: Dr Ampleforth, we’re going to get straight down to business, I’m afraid. You were the last person to see Gideon Buckland. This clearly places you in a difficult position, so it would be prudent to ensure that the information you give us is correct and indisputable.
JA: Yes, I see.
EM: So what happened on Saturday?
JA: Hmm?
SB: Are you ok, James? Can we get you some water? A cup of tea?
JA: Yes, yes, please. A cup of tea would be, you know… It’s just all a bit of a shock.
EM: There is nothing at this stage to suggest anything other than a perfectly innocent explanation, sir, but you are going to have to help us if we are to raise a cloud of suspicion on you. Let’s start differently – what do you think has happened to Dr Buckland?
JA: Well, I assumed he must have had some form of accident on his way home. But we haven’t heard anything from the hospital or yourselves, so I’ve begun to fear the worse.
SB: That he’s dead?
JA: I… I don’t… I just hope he hasn’t done anything stupid.
SB: You aren’t worried that he may have been killed?
JA: What? You mean accidentally? Or..?
SB: On purpose.
JA: Murder? I can’t think of anyone who would possibly want to kill Gid. Are you talking some kind of random killing?
EM: I think we should return to the original point. What happened on Saturday night after the others had left?
JA: Gid finished his drink and left abruptly. I stayed a few minutes longer then finished mine and went home.
EM: So Gideon left first?
JA: Yes, at about 11.25, I think.
EM: Did you see which way he went?
JA: Left out of the front door.
EM: So in the, er, Windmill Road direction. But his bicycle was chained to the right as one leaves the pub.
JA: I didn’t think of that. Anyway, he left quite quickly.
EM: What were you talking about after the others left?
JA: We, er, we didn’t really talk at all. Gid was just really quiet. I tried to talk about the crawl and about Sunday’s ride, but he didn’t really engage.
EM: Did he say anything about Kate?
JA: Kate? No, why… why would he?
EM: And then you went straight home?
JA: Yes, I pushed my bike across the London Road back to Old Headington.
EM: That would be White Hart Close where you live?
JA: Yes, about fifteen minutes’ walk from the Butchers.
EM: Did you see Gideon on the way?
JA: No. I wouldn’t expect to. I presumed he would be heading back to Marston.
EM: And someone can, of course, vouch for your being at home all night until the bicycle ride in the morning?
JA: Yes, Rose can – my wife, I mean.
EM: It will be an easy thing for the Sergeant to check.
SB: Absolutely, sir.
JA: Well, check, if you have to.
EM: And your movements after the bike ride and on Monday?
JA: I went home after the ride. Stayed at home all day. Rose was out visiting her parents most of the afternoon. She came back about 6, and we stayed in all night. Monday I was getting ready to head to the Clarendon lab when Kate called to ask if I’d seen Gideon recently. I said not since Saturday night. She said she was phoning the Police as he was missing. I went to the lab, was there all day – you can check the security logs if you want, Sergeant – and I took the cycle path from the Science Area across to Marston to call at Kate’s house. Gid was still missing and Kate was going spare. She said she’s already spoken to you lot. I stayed with her most of the evening and then went home when it was clear I couldn’t help.
EM: You and Gideon were the closest of friends, yes?
JA: We’ve been friends since starting university, yes.
EM: And he could tell you anything, any of his problems?
JA: Well, yes, I suppose so.
EM: And you to him?
JA: I… of course.
EM: Hmm. A bit of a miss on Saturday? “Red Dragon’s in the bath, or vice versa”?
JA: (coughs) Well, everyone can have an off day.
EM: May I have the envelope of clues for the next crawl?
JA: It’s… it’s here in my folder on the table.
EM: Ah, yes. Sealed, apparently. Are you sure you haven’t opened this, sir? It looks a bit soggy.
JA: No, I haven’t
EM: Thank you, Dr Ampleforth, you’re free to go.
(Sounds of chair scraping, movement and door opening and closing)
(Sounds of paper ripping)
EM: Well nothing unusual in here for his best friend. Clues the same as others, nothing else. Unless he’s opened it.
SB: Does look like a bit of a kettle job, sir.
EM: Well, Sergeant, get all this typed up. I’m leaving – I have an appointment tonight.
SB: A hot date, sir?
EM: I would that it were. And turn that bloody tape recorder off!
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