Misjudgments led to bail for ‘desperate’ policeman
A judge released Garry Weddell, 47, on bail despite his own reservations and the prosecution’s warning he was a “desperate man” who might try to harm himself.
And magistrates failed to send the father of three back to custody when he breached a bail condition.
Transcripts of five court hearings were released yesterday following calls for an inquiry into why Weddell was released while awaiting trial for murdering his wife.
Sandra Weddell, 44, a London-born nurse, was found strangled at the couple’s home in Lancot Avenue, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, on January 31 last year.
Her husband, an inspector with the Metropolitan Police, was charged with her murder five months later and was due to stand trial at Luton Crown Court in May.
Judge John Bevan twice refused Weddell bail before releasing him on July 27 after his barrister brother put up a £200,000 (e267,780) bond.
The judge told him: “It is a borderline decision I have granted you bail at all, and if you breach any of these conditions you will be straight back into custody.”
On November 2, Weddell was brought before Woking Magistrates’ Court after allegedly breaching two of his bail conditions.
He was accused of speaking to his children’s guardian — a prosecution witness he was banned from contacting — and of going to a pub in Bedfordshire when he was prohibited from entering the county.
The magistrates found the second breach proved, but allowed him to remain on bail because it was “so minor”.
On January 12 the bodies of Weddell and his mother-in-law, Traute Maxfield, 70, were found 10 miles from each other in Hertfordshire.
Police believe that Weddell shot Mrs Maxfield, a retired carer and widow, at her home in Gustard Wood before committing suicide at Broomhills shooting club in Markyate.
A full hearing will be held in Dunstable on March 18.
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