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The conviction of Ricky Percival for murder using Gordon Osborne as a prosecution witness
Gordon Osborne’s evidence was probably the most crucial independent evidence produced in the murder trial that the jury in Ricky Percivals trial was asked to consider. Without his evidence being heard, the prosecution would have struggled and probably floundered in proving their case.
Had the jury accepted another witness named Hansel Andrayas's evidence over Osborne’s Ricky Percival would not have even been charged with Boshells murder. Andrayas had said that she had heard significant noises around 02.00hrs. Not only had she heard them, but they had awoken her daughter. Percival had parted company with Alvin long before this time and was sleeping soundly in his own bed. Unfortunately, Osbornes time as a Royal Marine and his boasting about his knowledge of firearms had convinced the jury that such a man, couldn’t possibly be wrong.
Reading the seven pages of Gordon Osborne’s previous convictions, alarm bells regarding his credibility and the accuracy of his statement should have rang loud and clear in the ears of everybody connected with the case. Despite the significant changes made by Osborne in his statements and knowing that he was a fugitive from this country, everybody concerned failed to delve further into his background. Simply by contacting the Royal Marines I have discovered that despite signing the following declaration on each of the statements he made, "I shall be liable to prosecution if I have wilfully stated anything which I know to be false or do not believe to be true",
Gordon Osborne deliberately lied.
When he was visited by the police on the first occasion, Osborne had told them, "half of me thinks that I may have heard a bang but I couldn’t be sure. I don’t know what time I may have heard this bang but it was possibly 23.00hrs - 23.30hrs".
Three and a half months later, Osborne suddenly had vivid memories of the night Boshell had died. He told the police, "about 23.00hrs, I was awoken by the sound of two or three gunshots coming from the direction of the allotments. My bedroom window is always open and I got up to look out of the window towards the allotments but could not see anything as it was pitch black. I can say from my experience in the armed forces that the shots I heard were from a handgun and not a shotgun."
Four and a half years later, Osborne’s memory had continued to improve. When the police had visited him at his new home in Spain he had told them, "I woke up about 23.00hrs that evening. I had heard two or three gunshots coming from the allotment. I can’t be more specific about the time but I had a digital alarm clock by the bed which I did look at. I immediately recognized the sounds as coming from a handgun, this type of weapon has a distinctive sound, totally different to a shotgun or rifle. I have had experience of firearms since I was eleven years of age when I shot rifles with the Sea Cadets. I remained in the Cadets until the age of sixteen. At the age of seventeen I joined the Royal Marines staying with them for eighteen months.
During training with the Marines I had training on the Browning 9mm semi automatic pistol, self loading rifles, Lee Enfield Rifles, American M16 rifles, German Mausers and Lugers. Since leaving the Marines I have not had any dealings with firearms, but like riding a bike you never forget what you have learned and the sound each weapons makes. I cant say how far away these shots were, all I can say is that the sounds definitely came from the back of my house."
The reason I say Gordon Osborne deliberately lied is simple, he has never been in the Royal Marines. He has never undergone the weapon training that he boasted about and therefore his claim that he can distinguish the sounds of these various weapons being fired is also a lie.
Acting Steward, Gordon Osborne, Service number P100762, enlisted in the Royal Navy on the 30th of January 1967. He was discharged less than five months later on the 24th of June 1967 because he was deemed to be "unsuitable".
According to the Royal Navy, as an Acting Steward, Osborne’s duties would have been providing hospitality services and learning "core skills in the hotel trade" aboard ship. If Acting Stewards are on board a ship during military conflict they are responsible for the upkeep of the Officers accommodation and dining areas, where they hone their skills in the hotel services area so that the Officers can concentrate on the military task in hand.
Rather than being trained in using an arsenal of different weapons, the Royal Navy have informed me that Acting Stewards, which Osborne briefly was, `are specially trained to carry out a range of Hospitality tasks, including the organisation, preparation, serving and accounting for food and drink of all kind.
In short, Gordon Osborne was a waiter or Porter that failed to make the grade. I have stated on more than one occasion during this book that I do not know if Ricky Percival is guilty or innocent. After reading this who can honestly say that they disagree? I did not write this book just for Ricky Percivals benefit. I believe that the Tretton family, Jenny Dickenson, the Manager of the Wickford Snooker Club and last but by no means least; Beverley Boshell deserves to know the truth.
Beverley has already endured one traumatic hoax. When Alvin appeared in court to stand trial for her sons murder she prepared herself to face the man police said was his killer. Eleven months later, Beverley was back in court and being asked to believe that Percival had murdered her son. What will Beverley face after yet another trial featuring not only Percival, but a whole host of previously unheard witnesses? There must be another trial; no civilised society would permit a young man to spend twenty eight years in a prison cell based on the evidence of some of the people who testified against him.
Gordon Osborne Found
El Patio de Karen
Restaurant and bar with English, Spanish, Indian and Thai cuisine, Sunday
roasts, barbecues, live acts, children's magician.
Open Monday to Thursday
20:00-02:00, Friday 18:00-00:00, Saturday and Sunday 20:00-late. Calle
Musical, Villar del Arzobispo.
Tel: 662 576 841
Following Essex polices Appeal in the Evening Echo concerning the whereabouts of Gordon Osborne I rang to inform them that man they have been allegedly seeking for more than four years, is in fact the guy they have been taking statements from :
Gordon Osborne Criminal record
Listen to the call
Having traced a man I believed to be Gordon Osborne within hours of the police appeal, I rang Look For It Búscalo magazine Editor in Spain whose staff have been subjected to threats and abuse from Osborne to ask if she would identify the photo on this site.
June/July 08 - LET'S SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT!
Listen to the call and the remarkable claims made by Osborne since the trial.
Using a pseudonym I telephoned Osborne to check the phone number and address I have for him are correct.
Listen to call here
I rang Osborne to confront him with the fact he has lied to the police and assisted in convicting a man for murder in doing so.
Listen to call here
I rang Essex police to pass on Osborne’s phone number and address and to confront them about their apparent reluctance to arrest him for an outstanding warrant.
Listen to call here
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