The Death of David Kelly - The Secret Helicopter Landing of 18th July 2003

This post consists largely of the text of a communication sent to Kevin McGinty of the Attorney General's Office on 3rd April 2011.

Alert readers will observe similarities with the recent article, Mystery of the helicopter that landed at scene of Dr Kelly's death after his body was found, which appeared in the Daily Mail on 14th May 2011.

It remains to be established whether that helicopter landing was innocent or sinister.

The title of the email was:

David Kelly - Secret Helicopter Landing at Harrowdown Hill on 18/07/2003

The text of the email was:

[This email is for the attention of Dominic Grieve QC, Attorney General in connection with his possible application to the High Court to seek an order that an inquest be held into the death of Dr. David Kelly.]

Mr McGinty,

I write to draw to the attention of the Attorney General "new evidence" in relation to the death of Dr. David Kelly in July 2003.

Specifically, it has emerged from an FOI response by Thames Valley Police that a Police helicopter landed at Harrowdown Hill at around 10.55 on 18th July 2003.

The existence of that helicopter landing was concealed from the Hutton Inquiry (at least in oral evidence) as was its purpose.

The information about the helicopter landing is contained on page 5 of the document which, at the time of writing, is currently located here:
http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/aboutus/aboutus-depts/aboutus-depts-infman/aboutus-depts-foi/aboutus-depts-foi-disclosure-log/aboutus-depts-foi-disclosure-log-investigate/rfi2010000727_helicopter_reports_1_-2.pdf.

Should Thames Valley Police remove the document from their website, I attach a copy of the PDF document for convenience.

The reference to the landing is in the Summary at the bottom of the fifth page of the PDF file. As the Attorney General will see the Summary is heavily redacted.

I have no significant doubt that the information about the helicopter landing is "new evidence" in the meaning of Section 13 of the Coroners Act 1988.

One question which remains to be answered is whether or not such a helicopter landing was "innocent" or had some more sinister purpose.

If the helicopter landing was "innocent" one has to ask why Thames Valley Police (in the persons of ACC Page, PC Franklin, PC Sawyer and others) withheld information about it from the Hutton Inquiry.

I would be grateful if you would confirm receipt of this new evidence and that the Attorney General will consider this new information when arriving at his decision as to whether or not to seek from the High Court an order to hold an inquest into the death of Dr. David Kelly.

Thank you

(Dr) Andrew Watt