Bail Confusion Over Dead PC; Judge Can’t Explain Why He Freed Suspect

A JUDGE who freed a policeman accused of murdering his wife, enabling him to apparently kill again, said today that he could not remember why he granted bail.

An investigation is under way into why Garry Weddell, 47, was released from custody before standing trial accused of strangling his wife Sandra and faking her suicide.

The Metropolitan Police inspector is thought to have shot himself in a field near a shooting club after killing

his mother-in-law Traute Maxfield, who was due to give evidence against him.

Judge John Bevan, who granted bail, said today: "I hope there will be transcripts of the two bail applications. These would explain things.

"I can’t remember the precise details so it would be wholly inappropriate to comment at this time."

Calls have intensified for an inquiry into how someone on such a serious charge could have been granted bail.

It has also emerged that Weddell’s legal team attempted to get his bail conditions relaxed even further once he had been freed. These banned him from entering Bedfordshire and gave him limited, supervised access to his three young children.

Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Herbert said:

"This case raises very serious questions and the public will find it extraordinary that anybody on a murder charge should be given bail.

"There should be a full inquiry."

The Crown Prosecution Service said it opposed bail and subsequent attempts to relax the bail conditions.

The police officer’s body was discovered on Saturday morning in a field at Broomhills Shooting Club in Markyate, Hertfordshire.

The body of his 70-year-old mother-in-law was found on Saturday afternoon, about 10 miles from the shooting club at a house in Gustard Wood.

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