UK cops close to arrest over British spy found dead in a bag?

Andrew Winning / Reuters

Ian and Ellen Williams and Cerri Subbe, the mother, father and sister of British MI6 agent Gareth Williams, leave Westminster Coroner's Court, in central London April 23, 2012.

Criminal charges over the death of a British spy – whose body was found in a sports bag – are a “real possibility,” a lawyer for police reportedly told a coroner Monday.

Gareth Williams, 31, a math prodigy who graduated from university at the age of 17, was found dead in his immaculate apartment in Pimlico, London, in August 2010.


At the opening of a hearing into the cause of his death, Vincent Williams, a lawyer for London’s Metropolitan Police, said he sought to block the coroner from making video footage related to the case public, The Guardian newspaper reported.

The lawyer said a "careful line must be struck between open justice" at the hearing and the investigation by police, according to The Guardian.

Asked why information should not be made public, the lawyer told the coroner “because there is a live, complex, ongoing investigation taking place.”

Spy death inquiry looks at bondage link

"It is because there may be criminal proceedings further down the line that the commissioner feels that the pattern of disclosure … has to be done with some care,” the lawyer added, saying charges were still a "real possibility."

Coroner Fiona Wilcox said there was a risk of harm to the U.K.’s national security and relations with other countries if some of those giving evidence at the hearing were named, The Guardian reported.

Mystery couple sought in UK cyberspy's bizarre death

Williams’ relatives have expressed fears that "some agency specializing in the dark arts" will prevent them from finding out the truth about his death, The Guardian said.

The dead man’s sister, Ceri Subbe, told the hearing she did not enjoy the culture of “flash car competitions,” “post-work drinking” and “rat race” at MI6, the U.K.’s secret intelligence service, The Telegraph newspaper reported.

Wilcox asked Subbe if she was surprised that more than £20,000 worth of female clothing was found in Williams’ apartment.

“I am not surprised, he was very generous with gifts,” Subbe said, adding that he may have collected the clothes because of his interest in fashion.

She said Williams was a cautious man and would not have let anyone inside his home if they had not been security vetted.

The hearing at Westminster Coroner’s Court in London is continuing.

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Discuss this post

The name is Bond. James Bond, cross dresser for mi6.

  • 1 vote
Reply#1 - Mon Apr 23, 2012 8:33 PM EDT

Stop falling for the red herring. Cross dressing had nothing to do with his death.

    #1.1 - Thu May 3, 2012 10:31 AM EDT
    Reply

    "What was it that gave me away, Pussy?" James asked. " Perhaps it was your 5 oclock shadow and your adams apple." Pussy relied.

      Reply#2 - Mon Apr 23, 2012 8:39 PM EDT

      This is not funny. A man was executed. And you all are tripping on the cross dressing issues. You are falling right into the trap.

        #2.1 - Thu May 3, 2012 10:32 AM EDT
        Reply

        Or perhaps it was unsightly legs. Dont let this happen to you! Use Wilkensen Sword Blades for that close shave, be it your legs or your face!...... Im sorry. I know it is in poor taste. But its so much fun....

          Reply#3 - Mon Apr 23, 2012 8:43 PM EDT

          My girl friend wants to know; Is there an estate sale, and what shoe size was he?

            Reply#4 - Mon Apr 23, 2012 8:45 PM EDT

            "Oh Gunther," murmured James," You are such a Hunk!" "Hush, my liebchkin, and kiss me."Gunther whispered." Oh my Gott! Vat ees dot? It ees un weinerschneitzal!" Gunther bellowed in a rage.

              Reply#5 - Mon Apr 23, 2012 9:04 PM EDT

              Somebody, PLEASE STOP ME. HAHAHA.

                Reply#6 - Mon Apr 23, 2012 9:06 PM EDT

                A math prodigy ending up in a sports bag, that's illogical.

                  Reply#7 - Tue Apr 24, 2012 3:16 AM EDT

                  He was put in the bag. It was no kinky sex act as you are led to believe.

                    #7.1 - Thu May 3, 2012 10:35 AM EDT

                    The sports bag served to control the ODOR or decomposition. Certain persons didn't want his body discovered BEFORE enough time could pass where decomposition would taint all the murder/execution evidence.

                      #7.2 - Thu May 3, 2012 10:42 AM EDT
                      Reply

                      Good thing they were able to identify the guy. It is pretty difficult in the U.K. to identify bodies, since they have no dental records. Bad taste? Yes, everything tastes bad over there.

                      • 1 vote
                      Reply#8 - Tue Apr 24, 2012 10:51 AM EDT

                      You almost made me chuckle. But this is a serious case.

                        #8.1 - Thu May 3, 2012 10:36 AM EDT
                        Reply

                        my turtle looks like madeline albright

                          Reply#9 - Wed Apr 25, 2012 1:50 PM EDT

                          can turtles die in the same manner.

                            Reply#10 - Wed Apr 25, 2012 1:52 PM EDT

                            My condolences to this man's family. I am sorry for your loss. Working in the secret world of spies has so many perils that are beyond our understanding. Imagine being a single spy going on a date with a beautiful woman only to discover she's an assassin! Assassins normally don't confront you eye to eye. Often death by assasin is performed in a manner that you are not aware of such as poision, or surprise. Figuring out who to trust must be madening. We need spies but what a world they live in. At this point my greatest hope for the surviving family is that Gareth Williams was loyal to his country and his death has nothing to do with any possible betrayal of his oath to his country. I firmly believe if this agent was a loyal one MI6 will bring justice to those who murdered him. Good Day, Joe.

                              Reply#11 - Wed May 2, 2012 2:42 PM EDT

                              You watch too much James Bond. Gareth was executed. It was an internal hit. Whether he was cross dressing OR NOT, is besides the point. It is not the reason he was killed.

                              So being a spy is dangerous, not just because of external threats we can all imagine, BUT INTERNAL ONES AS WELL.

                                #11.1 - Thu May 3, 2012 10:39 AM EDT
                                Reply

                                Gareth Williams had a execution hit put on him by the ___, his agency, and the execution was carried out by independent contractors. The cleaners are most likely the same people. The wig, womens clothes, internet visits was to put suspicioun upon Gareth and cast doubt on his morality. His nakedness was to show that his life was OWNED, for lack of a better word. Gareth procurred some information that could potentially "bring down the system," if you know what I mean. After he was executed, stripped, put in the douffle bag and placed in the bathtub to neatly "tie up" the job. The heat was turned on to speed decomposition. The douffle bag was used to control the decompositional odor. The cleaners secured the douffle bag. Everything was arranged neatly in place. After a certain amount of time, decomposition permanently taints the execution evidence.

                                  Reply#12 - Thu May 3, 2012 1:12 AM EDT
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