The 8th of January according to David Carr Burstow interviewed under caution at Melksham Police Station 27th - 30th January 2009

David Carr Burstow was arrested at about 14:00 on Tuesday the 27th January 2009. He was cautioned while sitting in the red Ford Fiesta that he had bought only 2 days before. At the time he was outside the police station in Trowbridge waiting in the car while Riley had gone inside to offer the police his help in the missing persons enquiry that had been set up. Unknown to both of them Wiltshire police had been busy examining CCTV images which showed the pair withdrawing money on numerous occasions from my mothers account at various cash machines across Trowbridge over the previous 20 days. This was enough evidence to arrest them both on suspicion of murder; a charge that would allow the police the maximum time to interview the suspects, although at this time the enquiry was still a missing persons one.

Carr Burstow was taken to Melksham police station for formal interview. Over the next 96 hours whilst in custody he was interviewed several times, these interviews when transcribed amounted to over 600 pages, this was distilled down to 60 pages to be used in court later. In turn I will try and write a short synopsis of his statements.

Carr Burstow’s statements were peppered with lies from the very start, he admitted to this while under caution and later on at his trial. This together with his constant “I can’t remember ‘cos I have ADHD* and stuff.” and his general non-cooperation made him a very difficult suspect. The basis of his statements were, “I don’t remember,' I didn’t do it,' Marc told me to,' Marc made me do it,' 'I was afraid of Marc.' Marc, Marc, Marc...

At first he told the interviewer that he had been a welcome guest in mum’s house, he described how in the early afternoon of January the 8th he had returned from shopping in Trowbridge to her home. He said that he had gone straight up to his room but had said hello to Antonietta who was in the living room. This, he said, was the extent of his conversation on that occasion. He went on to say that all his previous conversations with mum had been of a simalar superficial nature, all in passing and quick hello's and goodbyes. He said the Riley was also in the house that afternoon but he remained downstairs, Carr Burstow guessed when asked “that he was cleaning or something”. Over the next 3 hours or so he watched music TV upstairs in Riley’s room. At some point later he was called downstairs by Riley, he said that he went down to the kitchen where he saw Antonietta's body on the kitchen floor. There was blood all around and her head was part covered by a cloth, all he could see were her lips, Riley told him to “Fucking help,” he went to get the shower curtain and helped Riley then wrap her body. He claimed that throughout he was feeling sick “it was the smell and that.” and therefore could not remember the precise details of what happened. When asked about the hammer he said “I saw it on the side.” When questioned if he asked Riley why he had done it, his answer was “No” he went on to explain how he and Riley disposed of the body and continued the clean up operation. Although he said that he did not take as active a role in the clean up as the smell disturbed him too much.

During the subsequent interviews is became clear that Carr Burstow was lying about his relationship with my mother, he had never spoken to her on that day in fact he only used the front door when it was late and mum was in bed. Other than that he came and went by the bedroom window, asked why, well Marc told him too. Asked if he was lodging without the landlady consent? Not as far as he knew, Marc has asked her and she said that it was OK as long as they kept the noise down.

His first backtracking lies had begun. Carr Burstow said what seemed right or best for him at the time. He was asked about the injuries to the knuckles on his hand, these were some days old at the time of his arrest. Carr Burstow explained that he and Riley had argued and he had punched a door, the shattered wood had cut the knuckles. This door is immediately outside the bedroom door that Marc Riley was renting, upstairs in Antonietta's home. The argument was over sex toys, Carr Burstow wanted to use them, and Riley would not let him. Asked again about the time immediately after he came downstairs, why did he not call for help when he saw what had happened, well he “didn’t want to get in to any trouble.” and “you don’t grass up friends.” Again asked if he had discussed with Riley why he had killed his landlady he said “No.” not then, not that night and not in the 3 weeks after.

You could reasonably ask yourself why did he not ask? I believe I know the reason: because he knew exactly why she was dead , so why ask?

When next interviewed the police told Carr Burstow that Marc Riley had confessed to the killing. The interview was short Carr Burstow’s answers were all ‘No Comment’

In his next interviews the story of what happened after the murder, the visit to Gurner and Elvin’s flat that night, the disposal of the hammer, the attempted scrapping of the Yaris and well you know the rest.

In Short he claimed that he was upstairs in the bedroom when all of a sudden he was called downstairs to be greeted with his boyfriend who had just bludgeoned to death his 61 year old landlady in her own kitchen, he did not know why and never choose to ask but what he did immediately after probably explains more about his role than the 600 pages of police interviews/lies.

*Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder