Interrogations-and-Confessions-Handbook

The Identification and Measurement of ‘Oppressive’ Police Interviewing Tactics 103
is a moderate increase in distress, admission and seeks Information. This final
factor then rises to a marked level in both tape 11 and tape 12 and appears to
be in response to the continued use of the tactic persistent pressure.
Ever since the confession the officers have been leading the suspect through
their understanding of what took place:
1st Officer ‘Did that kill her George, with the brick?
George it didn’t did it, George?’
2nd Officer ‘There is more isn’t there?’
The suspect does not know and over these later tapes he is clearly guessing
and introducing qualifications to his answers according to the prompts from
the officers and what information he can glean from them. From the transcript
it would appear that Heron was prompted and led in connection with almost
every conceivable corroborative point. These included the point of entry to the
disused building, the victim’s clothing, the weapon or weapons, wounds (number
and type), the position of the body and the route used inside the premises.
It will not be possible to outline all of these points, but by concentrating on
the discussions surrounding the weapons used and the type of wound inflicted
it should be possible to portray an accurate synopsis of events. The impact
of a close examination of these passages is immediate and profound. Indeed
we would argue that it renders any commentary quite superfluous. The presentation
(spelling, punctuation, etc.) is taken unaltered from the manuscript
copy.
At the point of the confession, Heron states:
Heron ‘Picked up the nearest thing and hit her with it.’
Officer ‘And what was that?’
Heron ‘A brick.’
Officer ‘Where did you hit her George?’
Heron ‘On the head.’
Officer ‘How many times can you remember?’
Heron ‘No.’
Officer ‘How many times do you think?’
Heron ‘I lost count.’
After talking about where this took place the first of many prompts is evident.
Despite this tactic by the officers, Heron’s responses remain ambiguous. One
possible explanation could be that he might not know the actual answer, he is
‘sitting on the fence’ and waiting to feed off further cues or prompts.
Officer ‘That is not all you did George is it? Howay you have told us
the truth we are just about there George we are nearly finished
alright. Did the Brick knock her out George?’
Heron ‘There was blood.’
Officer ‘Did that kill her George with the Brick? George it didn’t did it,
George?’
2nd Officer ‘There is more isn’t there George?’