The suspicious death of an MI6 officer nearly 11 years ago is set be re-investigated by the Metropolitan Police in the light of improved investigatory techniques.
Gareth Williams, an MI6 officer on loan to GCHQ on account of his mathematical skills, was found dead inside a zipped holdall at an MI6-owned flat in the Pimlico area of London in August 2010.
An inquest in 2012 ruled that his death was “unnatural and likely to have been criminally meditated”.
Despite the damning ruling by the inquest – which clearly pointed to Williams having been murdered – the Met Police concluded its investigation in 2013 on the grounds that his highly unusual death was “probably accidental”.
In February the Sunday Times reported that advances in DNA science would allow the additional study of a single hair that was found at the crime scene.
The Sunday Times revelation spurred the Met Police to announce it would “review the information” even though no new forensic study had been commissioned.
In the latest development, a Met Police spokesman has confirmed a re-examination of key forensic evidence is under way and detectives are awaiting the results.
According to the Met Police official: “There is an established review process for investigations whereby new information and, or, forensic opportunities are considered”.
“The Met is currently undertaking a forensic review to assess whether there are any new investigative opportunities in this case and we await its outcome”, the official added.
Since Williams’ suspicious death in 2010 there has been feverish speculation in both the mainstream media and social media that his secret work for both MI6 and GCHQ had played a central role in his possible murder.