Ref: A00-300995 Case No. 871626 Macpherson II
Volume II, Pages 50-53, Friday 9th June, 1989
(In the presence of the jury)
Detective Sergeant LESLIE AYRES: Sworn
Examined by Mr. Temple
THE WITNESS: Detective Sergeant Leslie Ayres, Scotland Yard Anti
Terrorist Branch, my Lord.
MR. TEMPLE: Can you confirm that you are in a position to give
us details of the journey made by this defendant in a
Mercedes vehicle to the Cypriot Embassy on the morning of
14th May? A. Yes.
Q. Were notes kept of these events by yourself? A. Yes.
Q. When you compiled the notebook were the matters fresh in your
mind? A. Yes.
MR. TEMPLE: May he have your leave?
MR. JUSTICE MACPHERSON: Yes, certainly.
MR. TEMPLE: You have leave to refresh your memory from your
notebook if required. Just to set the scene, was it shortly
before half past ten that morning when you first saw the
defendant? A. Yes.
Q. Where was he and what was he doing? A. The defendant came
from his address and he got into the Mercedes vehicle.
Q. If asked, can you deal with the route taken by the car?
A. Roughly, yes. I mean, under these circumstances
(inaudible) it is a little bit hazy and every single word I
cannot remember now.
Q. I am not going to ask you any detail of the journey save
this: did there come a time when the car stopped at or
outside Victoria Station? A. That is correct.
Q. What happened? A. The target, the defendant, got out of
the vehicle and went into the station, Victoria Station,
Wilton Road entrance, and I lost sight of him then. I then
left the car and went up on Park Street area.
Q. Later on did you see the vehicle in the Park Street area
driven by a Mr. O'Neill with Koupparis as a passenger?
A. Yes.
MR. TEMPLE: The rest of the events we have been told about by
other witnesses and I need not trouble you.
CROSS-EXAMINED BY MR. BECKMAN
Q. You went up to Park Street because you knew he was going
there? A. Yes.
Q. Who gave you your instructions? A. At that stage I think
it was Mr. Edwards.
Q. Anyone else you got your instructions from apart from
Mr. Edwards? A. Not that I can recall. Instructions came
over the radio but as far as I was aware, Mr. Edwards was in
charge of the operation. He instructed us where to go.
MR. JUSTICE MACPHERSON: He is a detective chief inspector?
A. Yes, he was at the time.
MR. BECKMAN: I take it he has gone up since then? A. Detective
chief superintendent.
Q. What was the purpose and nature of your instructions and the
purpose of the surveillance? A. To wait at Park Street for
a possible Mercedes to turn up with Mr. Koupparis and
Mr. O'Neill in it.
Q. After he had been inside the Embassy to arrest him? A. Yes.
Q. Did you have any connection with the Cypriot authorities?
A. No, none whatsoever.
Q. Do you know from your own direct knowledge what connection
there was with the Cypriot authorities in relation to what
was going on? A. No, I don't know; I never knew that. My
part in the operation was just to do as I have already ---
Q. So whatever had been arranged with those in the Embassy,
whatever had been arranged with those concerned with this
from Cyprus in connection with this matter, you know nothing
about it? A. No.
Q. Again, you also saw him in an exceptional hat, a black
trilby, and saw him from time to time wearing only one glove?
A. Yes, that is correct.
(The witness withdrew)
MR. TEMPLE: My Lord, may I ask your Lordship for an early
adjournment? May I make an apology; I am sure your Lordship
will appreciate how difficult it is to estimate the time it
takes.
MR. JUSTICE MACPHERSON: Mr. Temple, as I said yesterday, as long
as we are ahead of time I never mind at all.
MR. TEMPLE: If I may say so, one can measure the time saved
almost in weeks.
MR. JUSTICE MACPHERSON: I hope so. The more I look at this case
the more I thinbk [sic] it is quite a short one.
(The trial was adjourned for a short time)
MR. JUSTICE MACPHERSON: Mr. Hamblin, is there a problem?
MR. HAMBLIN: My Lord, I was speaking to Mr. Beckman - he is
absent from the court at the moment. I know he is in the
building and he is not absent from your court as a matter of
being discourteous.
MR. JUSTICE MACPHERSON: I am sorry about that, I do not want to
put him into difficulty.
MR. HAMBLIN: I have sent one of my colleagues out to see where
he is.
(Mr. Beckman came into court)
MR. JUSTICE MACPHERSON: We have not begun, we have been waiting.
MR. BECKMAN: In that case, my Lord, I will apologise.
MR. JUSTICE MACPHERSON: Do not worry, Mr. Hamblin is very
capable.
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