UNCLASSIFIED
0022
MDTTAN 0111
EXAMINE TOO CLOSELY A GIRL WHOSE SURVIVAL FROM THE CRASH WAS UNCERTAIN FOR WEEKS, AND WHOSE BOYFRIEND WAS KILLED. PAZ HAD KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME THAT CARDOSO HAD IN FACT ALWAYS REMEMBERED
2 THINGS CHARNOCK BEING IN THE DRIVING SEAT AND HER ASKING WILLIAMS TO SLOW DOWN. SINCE THE 2 SEEMED INCOMPATIBLE, CARDOSO HAD NOT WANTED TO SAY ANYTHING AND PAZ HAD NOT WANTED TO ASK HER, BECAUSE THESE COMMENTS ALONE WERE NOT HELPFUL TO CHARNOCK'S
5.
CASE.
THE JUDGE DECIDED THAT CARDOSO'S DOCTOR SHOULD MAKE A
STATEMENT ON HER PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CONDITION TO EXCLUDE ANY
POSSIBILITY OF CONFUSED MEMORY OR IMAGINATION PROVOKING THE
STATEMENT. I UNDERSTAND THAT PRIVATELY AFTERWARDS THE JUDGE SAID THIS WAS LARGELY TO SATISFY MEDIA INTEREST (SCMP) AND THAT HE
BELIEVED CARDOSO'S STATEMENT COMPLETELY.
6.
IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHETHER THE JUDGE DROPS CHARGES AGAINST
CHARNOCK OR ACQUITS HIM OF THE CHARGES AND PROSECUTES WILLIAMS.
THE LATTER IS THOUGHT TO HAVE LEFT MACAU. EITHER WAY CHARNOCK'S
REPUTATION SHOULD HAVE NO SLUR LEFT ON IT.
7. AS A FOOTNOTE MACAU DIPLOMATIC ADVISER FONSECA TOLD ME THAT
THE PORTUGUESE AMBASSADOR TO AUSTRALIA HAD BEEN IN TOUCH WITH HIM. IT APPEARED THAT THE FATHER OF MANNING CONE OF THOSE
KILLED) WAS A LABOUR MP WHO WAS CAMPAIGNING VIGOUROUSLY IN
AUSTRALIA TO CLEAR THE NAME OF HIS SON (ORIGINALLY NAMED BY
WILLIAMS AS THE DRIVER). THAT MIGHT HELP EXPLAIN WHY WILLIAMS
DECIDED TO SHIFT THE BLAME ON TO CHARNOCK. THE COURT OF COURSE
WAS NOT ASKED TO DISCOVER HOW IT WAS THAT 2 LARGE MEN WERE THROWN
OUT OF A CAR OVER SOME HIGH RAILINGS ON A BRIDGE AND INTO THE
SEA.
EVERYONE HAS ASSUMED, HOWEVER, THAT BOTH WERE SITTING ON THE BONNET AND THAT, THEREFORE, ONE OR OTHER OF WILLIAMS OR CHARNOCK HAD TO BE THE DRIVER. THIS PERHAPS ALSO NARROWED
WILLIAMS' OPTIONS STILL FURTHER.
8. I INTEND IF POSSIBLE TO BE THERE ON 2 APRIL TO HEAR
CHARNOCK'S INNOCENCE ANNOUNCED. NO ONE HAS ANYTHING BUT PRAISE
FOR THE MODESTY AND HONESTY WITH WHICH HE HAS BEHAVED THROUGHOUT.
HE TOLD ME SEVERAL TIMES LAST WEEK THAT WHAT MATTERED MOST WAS
HIS CHILDREN AT SCHOOL NOT BEING ACCUSED OF HAVING A MURDERER AS FATHER. AS FOR HIMSELF, HE LOOKED FORWARD TO PEACE OF CONSCIENCE.
SIGNED GRAHAM
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