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FAMILY OFFER £100,000 REWARD TO FIND JOHN PALMER’S KILLER “Every victim of crime, irrespective of their past or reputation, deserves justice”: police
T
HREE years on from the murder of John Palmer in the garden of his Brentwood home, Essex police are renewing their appeal for information. It comes as the Palmer family, with the support of Crimestoppers, offers a £100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for Mr Palmer ’s murder. Police believe it was a contract killing. Well-known Tenerife businessman, Mr Palmer, 65, was at his home in Sandpit Lane, South Weald in Brentwood on Wednesday, June 24th, 2015, when he was murdered. Mr Palmer had been burning rubbish in the garden, in an area not covered by CCTV. At around 5.18pm, he was captured on CCTV at his property using a ride-on vehicle to transfer rubbish to the area where he was burning it. At around 5.30pm, police believe the killer entered the garden over the fence and shot Mr Palmer six times. After being shot, Mr Palmer managed to walk a short distance towards the house before collapsing. This was also not covered by CCTV. His body was discovered in the garden by his son’s then girlfriend at around 5.30pm.
Paramedics arrived at the scene and spent around 30minutes attempting to resuscitate him. At 6.23pm, Essex Police was notified by the East of England Ambulance Service of a sudden death. Initially, the death was treated as non-suspicious. A post-mortem examination on June 29th was stopped when additional injuries were identified and it appeared the cause of death could be suspicious. A forensic post-mortem examination was subsequently carried out on June 30th which established that Mr Palmer had been shot six times. “Mr Palmer’s murder bears all the hallmarks of a contract killing,” say Essex police. Detectives believe a hole found in a garden fence of the property near to the incinerator suggests the killer may have been watching Mr Palmer, possibly in the days leading up to his death. Since then a lengthy and complex investigation has been carried out by specialist detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate. Mr Palmer had a long cri-
minal history in both the UK and Europe and had been the subject of numerous media reports about his activities. At the time of his death, he was shortly due to stand trial for real estate fraud in Tenerife. In investigating this murder the directorate has: explored a number of hypotheses; closely examined Mr Palmer’s criminal history and associations in the UK and abroad; gathered evidence and intelligence in the UK and abroad; taken hundreds of witness statements, traced 85 vehicles, explored more than 1,400 documents and pursued more than 700 lines of enquiry. “To date no-one has been brought to justice but we remain committed to solving this murder,” said a spokesman for the police. Senior Investigating Officer DCI Stephen Jennings of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “We have spent the last three years exploring all elements of Mr Palmer’s life, his past and his associations.” “This has been a complex and lengthy investigation, during which we have explored more than 700 lines of enquiry and taken hundreds of witness statements.” “The fact that we believe Mr
Palmer ’s murder was a contract killing has brought further challenges in that potential witnesses or those with information have possibly avoided contacting the police for fear of reprisals.” “Before Mr Palmer’s death, and during the course of this investigation, there has been lots of speculation in the media about his connections to organised criminals, specific high profile crimes, suggestions that he was a police informant and further speculation that charges brought against him in Tenerife were about to be dropped. “There is every possibility that those in the criminal fraternity believed this speculation.” “There is also every possibility that the answer to solving Mr Palmer’s murder lies within the underworld.
“There are undoubtedly people who move within those circles who have information that could help us. I would ask those people to remember Mr Palmer has left behind a grieving family who are desperate for answers.” “Regardless of Mr Palmer’s past or associations, he was murdered in cold blood at his own home. Every victim of crime, irrespective of their past or reputation, deserves justice.” “We remain committed to this investigation and we will relentlessly pursue all those involved in all types of serious and organised criminality. “If anyone does have information we can reassure you that the Crimestoppers charity operates completely independently of the police and all information given to them is anonymous and treated in the strictest con-
fidence. “If you have information now is the time to do the right thing and come forward.” Detectives are also continuing to appeal for information about a man and woman seen near to Mr Palmer’s home the day before the murder. A man was also seen in Weald Country Park, which is next to Mr Palmer’s home at 5.50pm on the day he was shot. He was white, in his early 20s, around 5ft 10in tall, of slim build and had short dark blonde hair. He was wearing light blue jeans and a light coloured baggy sweat top. Anyone who believes they have any information about the murder of Mr Palmer can call Essex Police on 101( if in the UK). Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.