The Great Dane

Chapter 8

MG11-8213025/14-CH03 Witness Statement - Mr. Thomas Francis

Note: Best man

"... It was a normal lads' stag do. Booze, lots of booze. Ridiculous outfits, challenges. You know what I mean..."

"... Marriage? He couldn't wait. Loved her. Never a moment's hesitation..."

"We were together I'd say ninety five percent up to that point. Stayed in the same room when we showered and changed. Only really apart if he went to the bogs..."

"Football late morning. Eleven to twelve. Six a side, silly stuff. Some donkey and challenges to get him forfeits like booting the ball at his arse..."

"... First pub, I'd say was two, Crown and Keys. Everyone got food and we started on the easy stuff. Lager, stout. We there until four and then we progressed into town and got there at six. We did one drink and one shot in every bar on the way. In town we did a few bars in order of the main strip before getting to Mr Zs at seven forty five, eight I can't be sure. There until ten and we went into Anthology, the club and until the end..."

"... He never left my side. Never bought a drink. Okay, he had to go off and do changes but only really near us. We could always see him..."

"Loved her. He changed with her. For the better. I don't know. Just, less, lost. It got this new purpose and direction..."

"... Time of his life. He loved it! We all thought he'd gone to the bog in the club. We then lost track of time. Only really noticed at maybe quarter past twelve? Maybe? It was when Johno was booted out for giving too many piggybacks. It was so busy and there were loads of us..."

"... It's my fault. I should've stuck with him. Looked after him. He'd have never been anywhere near water to fall into."

"... It's my fault..."

MG11-8213025/14-CH08 Witness Statement - Mr. James Tharpe

Note: University housemate

"...he was fine. Demeanor? Excited. Into it. Going along with the challenges. What more do you want? It was normal."

"...well except for the oldies. They'd left earlier..."

"... safe to say we were all steaming..."

"... we all looked around, called him on his phone. No answer. Assumed he'd gone to the hotel as he was a right homing pigeon. So many times he'd take a tactical exit at uni and you'd get back and see him passed out in bed..."

"... look mate. I was hammered. Can remember most people but it's a club, there are loads of people..."

"...when he wasn't at the hotel we didn't know what to do. When he didn't return in the morning, we decided to call the police. What else can we do?"

MG11-8213025/14-CH01 Witness Statement - Mr. David Hill

Note: Anthology bouncer

"... yes I can confirm that the CCTV is correct at 11.32pm. That's the man Charles Haywood and he left on his own. We still had a queue of 30 or so to come in and we were slowly letting people through because of the rain. He was texting, so not totally out of it... staggering a bit and engrossed in his phone. I'd say very drunk but not completely out of it. He was mentally present. I've seen people so out of it they walk into walls, sit and snooze. He headed off down the street quite okay, when you think that he'd drunk as much as you said..."