Issue 23 // Friday May 7 2010
The independent student newspaper of the University of Sheffield // www.forgetoday.com
Thomas Turgoose interview
‘I am not at fault for Blair Peach killing,’ says Uni lecturer 4Murray suspects he is police officer blamed with protester’s death 4He blasts Scotland Yard’s Cass report as ‘fundamentally flawed’ Kirsty McEwen
Fuse pages 6-7
TRAVEL
The windy city
Exploring the dizzying heights of Chicago, America’s second city
Travel page 19
FEATURES
From the stage to the soapbox Eddie Izzard on the Labour campaign trail
University of Sheffield lecturer Alan Murray has repeated his innocence of any involvement with the death of a protester in 1979 following the publication of the previously secret Cass report by the police. Blair Peach, a 33-year old schoolteacher from New Zealand, was killed by a blow to the head whilst he was at a demonstration in Southall against the National Front. Fourteen eyewitnesses claimed to see a police officer strike Mr. Peach on the head. Dr Murray, a Management School lecturer and a former Scotland Yard inspector, was leading a Special Patrol Group (SPG) during the demonstration. He denied any responsibility for the death of Blair Peach and stated that he thought the report was “fundamentally flawed”.
Features pages 12-13
LIFESTYLE
Sizzling summer
Make the most of the Sheffield sun with our tasty BBQ ideas Lifestyle pages 16-17
Have your say Comment on this article at Forgetoday.com Send a letter to letters@forgetoday.com “I did not have anything to do with the death of that unfortunate man,” he said. “I find myself in the role of suspect. I was never cautioned, arrested, charged, and yet 30 years later someone says: ‘It was him’. It is a flawed case with insufficient evidence, and it’s not fair.” The report states that there was a “grave suspicion” over a police officer only identified as “Officer E” for being the person responsible for Mr. Peach’s death. Dr Murray said that he believed he was being labelled as the officer responsible. “I’ve never read the report, but I’ve always thought that I was the one that Cass had put up as prime suspect.” The report also accuses the officers involved in the incident of colluding to prevent the person responsible from being identified. Dr Murray said he thought this was ridiculous. “Why would I not want the
COMMENT University lecturer, Alan Murray and (inset) Blair Peach, who was killed during a demonstration in 1979. individual identified? Why would John Cass in 1979 but was not police officer. I protect someone’s identity for published due to “insufficient His family are still waiting for thirty years?” evidence for prosecution”. the Crown Prosecution Service “The idea that a group Mr Peach’s partner, Celia (CPS) to decide whether to bring of ordinary policemen can Stubbs, said she was happy a prosecution against the officer bamboozle the best detectives at that the report had finally been allegedly responsible. Scotland Yard would be funny if released. Metropolitan Police it weren’t so ridiculous.” “I never really expected a Commissioner Sir Paul He said that if he had seen prosecution. I don’t regret that, I Stephenson decided to publish the what had happened at the am just pleased that we have the Cass report after the comparisons demonstration he would not have report so that we can see what made with Mr Tomlinson’s hesitated to act. happened on the day.” death. “If I had seen an officer acting Many sources have noted the He said that the report made unlawfully I would have arrested similarity between Mr Peach’s ‘uncomfortable reading’ and that him. I had no problem with taking death and the death of Ian it was of ‘deep regret’ that the action against my men.” Tomlinson at the G20 protest last police could not give Mr Peach’s “I cooperated fully with the year. family a ‘definitive answer’. inquiry and attended every Mr Tomlinson was walking The CPS said that a charge interview that was required.” home from work when it is could only be brought if there was The report was written by alleged he was hit with a baton significant new evidence, such as Metropolitan Police Commander and pushed to the ground by a a confession.
Spy games
Are student spies the latest weapon in the war on terror? Comment page 8