Sam Mullins

So as the timeline came into focus, it was clear. By placing Ron and Albert and Sheena all on the river dart on those key dates, the inquiry had unearthed a clear story of circumstance. But the fact remained. If you're going to tell a story of circumstance in a jury trial, you need something more. They needed Sheena. And they needed her to testify.

The police knew that they had some time. A trial date for something like this was at least a year out. They needed to use that time to earn Sheena's trust and build a relationship with her. And how were they going to do that? They didn't know. That was Officer Brian Slade's problem to figure out. I was asked to keep contact with her.

The police knew that they had some time. A trial date for something like this was at least a year out. They needed to use that time to earn Sheena's trust and build a relationship with her. And how were they going to do that? They didn't know. That was Officer Brian Slade's problem to figure out. I was asked to keep contact with her.

When Slade put Sheena on the plane back to Canada, he vowed to keep in touch with her over the phone in the coming weeks and months, to check in, to not be a stranger. But as he watched her go, he certainly didn't like his chances.

When Slade put Sheena on the plane back to Canada, he vowed to keep in touch with her over the phone in the coming weeks and months, to check in, to not be a stranger. But as he watched her go, he certainly didn't like his chances.

While everyone who had met her in the UK described her as quiet, deferential, soft-spoken, this didn't jive with the version of her that Slade met.

While everyone who had met her in the UK described her as quiet, deferential, soft-spoken, this didn't jive with the version of her that Slade met.

Every time Slade made contact in the early going, he was met with silence.

Every time Slade made contact in the early going, he was met with silence.

Even though she was trying to build a new life back in Canada, her feelings towards Slade and the police in general remained unchanged. It was still quite a testy relationship as such. But even though it was awkward at times, Slade kept calling.

Even though she was trying to build a new life back in Canada, her feelings towards Slade and the police in general remained unchanged. It was still quite a testy relationship as such. But even though it was awkward at times, Slade kept calling.

Over the course of weeks, Slade got to know the unknowable Sheena Walker.

Over the course of weeks, Slade got to know the unknowable Sheena Walker.

And with trust came understanding.

And with trust came understanding.

The way she talked about her father was not in a way that suggested she felt victimized by him. It was only when she talked about her current situation, re-acclimating to life inside her mother's house, that she sounded displeased with one of her parents.

The way she talked about her father was not in a way that suggested she felt victimized by him. It was only when she talked about her current situation, re-acclimating to life inside her mother's house, that she sounded displeased with one of her parents.

And this is the moment, a couple of months after her return to Canada, when Sheena receives a call from the UK, not from Slade, but from her father in prison. His calling card only gave him a couple of minutes, but he successfully got the message to Sheena that he needed to. He said, I need you to amend your statement. I need you to say that you did know that Ron was in Devon.

And this is the moment, a couple of months after her return to Canada, when Sheena receives a call from the UK, not from Slade, but from her father in prison. His calling card only gave him a couple of minutes, but he successfully got the message to Sheena that he needed to. He said, I need you to amend your statement. I need you to say that you did know that Ron was in Devon.

That while we were there, you knew that he was staying nearby. And then they were cut off. This was the test. The gut check. When he needed her the most, would she do her father's bidding?