Daniel Morgan, a private investigator, was found dead in a pub car park in London on the 10th March 1987. He had been murdered and suffered head injuries, caused by an axe. It has been said that at the time, Morgan was investigating police corruption. Despite an inquest and five previous investigations, the killer of Morgan has never been found. Throughout the case, there have been several accusations of police corruption made by Morgan’s family, and a recent report has raised the question of whether the case was handled correctly. At the heart of this case is a bereaved family; Daniel left behind a wife, two young children as well as his parents, and the failure to prosecute anyone for his murder over the last three decades has caused them great distress.
Case Background
Daniel Morgan first began working as a private investigator in January 1977, and in 1980, set up his own private investigation business – DJM Investigations.
On the 10th March 1987, he was found dead in the car park of the Golden Lion pub in South London, having spent the evening there. An axe was embedded into his head and two sticky plastic strips had been attached to the axe handle to prevent fingerprint evidence from being found. There have been indications since 1987 that Morgan had been reporting police corruption, and selling stories to the media on corruption. The nature of that corruption has never been investigated.
There have been suggestions and concerns from both the Morgan family and the public that the police were somehow involved in the murder. There have been five separate investigations into the murder, each of these leading to an acquittal, meaning no one has ever been convicted for his death. The latest investigation was concluded in 2011.
The Investigations
The first investigation into the murder (known as the Morgan One Investigation) was conducted by the Metropolitan Police, and the Morgan family have held that there were a number of failures throughout. It was reported that the crime scene was handled in a ‘totally inadequate’ manner as it was not thoroughly searched and was left unguarded, meaning it could have been tampered with. Jonathan Rees, Glenn Vian, Garry Vian, DS Sidney Fillery, DC Alan Purvis and DC Peter Foley were all arrested due to their involvement with security for Morgan’s private investigation company. However, it was suggested that all of the suspects had prior warning about their arrests, due to a leak in the media. No alibis were found for the suspects, and the Morgan family stated that the search warrants obtained were ‘seriously inadequate’ meaning crucial evidence may have been missed.
A second investigation was then launched in 1988, known as the Hampshire Police Complaints Authority Investigation. Due to the Metropolitan Police corruption allegations, it was decided that the Hampshire Constabulary would carry out the investigation, alongside the Police Complaints Authority. The aim of this investigation was to conclude whether ‘police were involved in the murder of Morgan and any matters arising therefrom.’ It was intended to be completely independent, but a senior Metropolitan Police Officer with full access to the investigation was appointed to work within the Hampshire Constabulary, further fuelling the suspicions of police corruption within the case. It was concluded that there was no evidence to implicate a police officer by name or the police in general as being involved, and no evidence of any action by any member of the Morgan One Investigation to prevent the crime scene being properly investigated. Therefore, nobody was prosecuted for the murder. There was contradictory evidence, but Hampshire Police also concluded that the Metropolitan Police had acted in a manner that showed ‘determination’ to bring the murderer to justice.
The third investigation began in 2002, which compromised of two parts and was named the Abelard One/Morgan Two Investigation. Several tip-offs were investigated and two people were arrested for conspiring to provide James Cook (who was arrested) with an alibi, but there again was insufficient evidence to prosecute anyone for the murder. Due to this, it was also decided there should be no prosecution for the suspected conspiracy to provide an alibi for Cook. The cost of this investigation exceeded £2 million and was described as one of the most expensive re-investigations that the Metropolitan Police had ever conducted. In 2012, it was concluded by the CPS that there was insufficient evidence to bring a prosecution for the suspects arrested.
Following the emergence of a new witness, the fourth investigation, known as the Abelard Two Investigation, began. There were issues within this investigation from the beginning, as DCS Cook was appointed as Senior Investigating Officer, but did not have the management or supervisory powers to conduct an efficient, accountable investigation. Following an extensive forensic review and reconstruction of the murder, Jonathan Rees, James Cook, Glenn Vian and Garry Vian were charged with the murder of Daniel Morgan. Additionally, many allegations of police misconduct were made – some against very senior officers. One included that DCS David Cook had improper contact with witnesses and had attempted to influence the development of evidence through unauthorised contacts.
Where do things stand now?
The Daniel Morgan case has resurfaced in the media in recent times due to the emergence of a report, conducted by the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel. This panel found evidence that Jonathan Rees (previously arrested in connection with the murder) drank in pubs with police officers close to the investigation, even after becoming a suspect. Rees stated that he did not consider exchanging information with police officers as being corrupt.
Following the many allegations of police corruption made in the recent report, two police watchdogs are considering launching a formal investigation into Dame Cressida Dick, the commissioner of the Metropolitan police. The report specifically mentioned Dick and blamed her for personally obstructing access to documents that the panel thought were vital. Both Cressida Dick and the Metropolitan Police have denied these claims.
It is clear this case is extremely complex due to the amount of time passed and the number of failed investigations conducted, but hopefully, the work of the Independent Panel will lead the Morgan family to justice, and a prosecution will be brought for Daniel Morgan’s murder.
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