The family of a man murdered 17 years ago is to take legal
action to force the Government to hold a public inquiry into his mysterious
death.
Private investigator Daniel Morgan, 37, was killed with an axe in a pub
car park in Sydenham.
His family believes he was murdered by a professional hitman because he was
about to expose a web of corruption involving several senior police
officers.
And today it emerged the family has been given financial aid from the Legal
Service Commission to challenge the Home Office decision not to hold an
inquiry into his death.
No one has been convicted despite four police investigations. Mr Morgan's
brother Alistair said: “Only a public inquiry will reveal the truth of what
happened to my brother.”
“I believe Daniel was murdered to prevent him going public with information he
uncovered about police corruption.” Daniel Morgan, from South Norwood,
was found near his silver BMW in the Golden Lion car park in March 1987 with an
axe in his head.
Robbery was ruled out as a motive because £1,000 cash was left in the dead
man’s pocket.
He had been struck five times with the axe, which had sticking plaster on the
handle to ensure no fingerprints were left.
Mr Morgan’s business partner at Southern Investigations, Jonathan Rees, was
arrested but charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence.
Mr Morgan, a married father-of-two, had fallen out with Rees over the illegal
employment of off-duty police officers by the agency. Rees was friendly with a
number of officers who were later accused of being involved in the killing.
Detective Sgt Sid Fillery from Catford CID, who conducted the first few days of
the murder inquiry, was one of the detectives implicated. He was removed
from the investigation when his relationship with Rees was revealed.
Several other officers were arrested but were exonerated at Mr Morgan’s inquest
- and were paid damages for false imprisonment.
Rees appointed Fillery as his new partner. In 1999 Rees was jailed in a drugs
conspiracy case. Fillery was later convicted of possessing indecent images and
given a three year rehabilitation order.
Alistair Morgan, 55, said: “There has been a systematic cover-up from the top of
the Met down.”
The London Programme featuring Daniel Morgan’s murder case will be
screened on ITV at 11pm tonight.
