04/03/01 - Statement of Damien Alvin
WITNESS STATEMENT
(CJ Act 1967, s.9; MC Act 1980, ss.5A(3) (a) and 5B; MC Rules 1981, r.70)
Statement of: DAMIEN ALVIN
Age if under 18: (if over 18 insert 'over 18')
Occupation:
This statement (consisting of 9 page(s) each signed by me) is true to the best of my knowledge and belief and I make it knowing that, if it is tendered in evidence, I shall be liable to prosecution if I have wilfully stated anything which I know to be false or do not believe to be true.
Signed: D ALVIN
Date: 04/03/2001
I have been asked to say what I knew of Dean BOSHELL. I first met Dean about 3 years ago whilst I was on remand in Chelmsford Prison . Dean was in the next cell to me and we would travel to court together. Dean was on remand for car theft. I received a 18 month sentence and Dean was released.
Dean kept in contact with me, he would write to me and when I was sentenced to Hollisay Bay he would bring my girlfriend at the time Barbara RUSSELL up to see me on a regular basis. When I was released I moved back to Southend I kept in contact with Dean. He would phone me all the time and I occasionally gave him money. I would say he treated me as his best friend.
I remember about a year ago he was seeing a girl called Sarah and he had introduced me to her as his brother. I found this out as one night I was going to meet him with her and he wanted to forewarn me that he had said to her. I found it a bit embarrassing but I went along with it. I knew Dean had some brothers but all the time I knew him he would never see or speak to them.
Although Dean would class me as his best friend I had a number of other friends and would find him a bit of pain as he was always be phoning me but I would put up with it as he did not have anyone else.
He would associate with some of my friends in the Woodcutters P.H. like Trevor ADAMS , Sean BUCKLEY, LESTER, Ricky PERCIVAL and Kevin WALSH .I would drink in the Woodcutters most weekends and Dean would sometimes join us in there.
In September 1999 (00/09/1999) I was arrested with Dean for which he received an 18 month sentence. He was sent to Hollisay Bay Prison. I would visit him about once a month. I mainly went on my own and I would take him out for the day. I believed on one occasion I took my girlfriend Claire was with me. I do not think Dean had any other visitors apart from me.
I think Dean served about 9 months the day he was released I picked him up at train station and he stayed with me for 3-4 days. I would sort him out with some old clothes of mine and would give him some money. I remember I gave him a bright orange puffa jacket which I didn't want. I remember he used to wear this jacket most of the time.
After he moved out of my house I believe he went and stayed with some of his girlfriends houses. I cannot remember which ones. He seemed to have a lot of girlfriends. In November 2000 (00/11/2000) Dean told me he had got a flat at 225A Elmsleigh Drive he asked me for the deposit for it which I gave him. It was £350 (three hundred and fifty pounds). He said he would pay me back but he never did.
As stated I lent him money on a regular basis, he would pay me back usually in instalments whenever I saw him with money. Dean lived at this address 225A Elmsleigh Drive up about a month ago. He moved out as he fell behind with the rent. I don't know at that time where he moved to but I know it was the Southend area, but he would still keep in contact with me and I would meet him now and again for a drink.
I remember that about 2 weeks ago I think it was a Friday, he phoned me up and asked to borrow some money until his giro came. I was with my girlfriend Claire and my daughter Stacey. We were in either my Red Audi Cabriolet or my Red Rover 214.
I think we were going to video shop. I agreed to meet him in the car park at White Horse P.H. in Southchurch Road . I think it was about 7 (1900) - 8pm (2000) as it was dark. We drove into the car park and I saw Dean crossing the road. I cannot remember what he was wearing but he did not have the bright orange puffa jacket on.
Dean asked for £40 (forty pounds) but I only gave him £20 (twenty pounds). I can't remember what conversation I had with him, but before I pulled back out of the car park Dean had returned inside the pub and I could see he was sitting down with a girl next to the pool table. I can't recall if this was the last time I met him but I know I have spoken with him over the phone. I believe the last time I spoke to him was over the weekend when during our conversation he said he was working at the Orient Express Restaurant.
On Monday 26th February 2001 (26/02/2001) I spent the day working my half brother Darren RUSSELL in Queen Annes Drive . We were putting in a concrete shed base. I finished work about 5pm (1700 ) and then went home. I stayed in that night with my girlfriend Claire SANDERS and watched television.
On Tuesday 27th February 2001 (27/02/2001) I went to work with my brother again . I left my house about 9am (0900) I drove to Stanbridge Road /Villa Drive Rochford where we were building an extension. I worked there until about 2 (1400) - 3pm (1500) then I went home. No one was at home when I got there as Claire was still at work.
I got changed and then about 5pm (1700) left to go to my friend Kevin WALSH house in Shannon Close . I was wearing dark trousers and a dark jumper and a blue 'Kick Jacket'. I drove there in my Red Audi Convertible. I arrived at Kevin's flat I saw Sean BUCKLEY entering the front door of the flats. We both went into Kevin's flat. Kevin and Sean had something to eat.
At about 6.15pm (1815) Ricky PERCIVAL arrived and we all went to the Woodcutters Pub arriving at about 7pm (1900). I stayed in the pub until about 9pm (2100) when I went home to have a bath and sort out some things at home. I got to my house I think about 9.30pm (2130) shortly afterwards Ricky PERCIVAL arrived. We stayed at my house until about 10.15pm (2215) then went back to Kevin's home.
I left my car at home and got to Kevins in Rickies car a creamy yellow Sierra .We arrived at Kevin's home about 10.45pm (2245) where in the flat was Kevin and his girlfriend Kate . We stayed there drinking. Ricky left about just after midnight (0000) . I was picked up by my girlfriend Claire around about 12.30am (0030). I think she picked me up in the Rover 214. We arrived back home just before 1am (0100) and we stayed the rest of the night there.
On Wednesday 28th February 2001 (28/02/2001) I cannot remember what time I got up as I was not working that day. I can't remember what I did this day but I would have went to my brothers and may have went to the Woodcutters pub. I think I heard in the afternoon that somebody had been found dead in Manchester Drive, it was not until Thursday 1st March 2001 (01/03/2001) in the afternoon I received a phone call from Kate to say that the person who had been killed was Dean BOSHELL.
I was quite upset when I heard this I know of no reason why someone would want to kill him. I would have describe Dean as a friend, he was more friendly to me than I was to him. He would confide in me if he was in any trouble and the last time I saw him or spoke to him he seemed quite happy, he did not appear worried about anything.
As stated Dean would contact me on my mobile. I can't remember the number as I have misplaced it since the weekend. It was an orange phone I believe it may have been a Nokia model. The face of the phone was black. I have since bought a new phone but I can't remember the number. I have not heard of any reason why Dean should have been killed but I have let it be known in the area I will pay £500 (five hundred pounds) as will Ricky PERCIVAL and LESTER to any person who can help catch the person responsible.
I would like to clarify that on Tuesday 27th February 2001 (27/02/2001) I never drove to work I was picked up by my brother in his white Renault Pick up truck . I have been asked about an envelope addressed to BOSHELL which was found in Sean BUCKLEY'S flat. This letter relates to a catalogue statement that Dean had originally got and I took over the payments and had made further orders.
I remember that the letter was in my car and that I was at Seans flat last weekend and that I spilt a ham sandwich in the car so I decided to clean all the contents out and I left a bag containing some of my property and the letter in Sean's flat.
Signed: D ALVIN
Signature Witnessed by: 2003(1)
