07/12/2007

Police Granted Extra Time To Question Canoeist

Police have been granted an extra 36 hours to continue questioning a "lost" canoeist, who reappeared after being missing, presumed dead, for five years.

John Darwin, 57, is being held on suspicion of fraud. Meanwhile, his 55-year-old wife, Anne, is believed to be returning to the UK from Panama. Police have said that they also want to question her upon her return.

Chief Inspector Andy Greenwood confirmed that Mr Darwin was giving police "some sort of account" of what had happened during questioning. Ch Insp Greenwood also said that he would be "keen" to speak to Mrs Darwin.

Mr Darwin, who was presumed dead after the remains of his canoe were found on a beach in Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool in Teesside in March 2002, walked into a police station in central London last weekend and told officers that he could not remember where he had been and thought he was a 'missing person'.

Mrs Darwin is quoted in both the 'Daily Mirror' and the 'Daily Mail' today as saying that she has been living her life as "a lie". The papers have also reported her as apologising to her two sons, Anthony and Mark.

Both the couple's sons, who both recently left their jobs, have said that they did not want anything to do with their parents.

They released a joint statement yesterday, which said: "Having seen the recent media speculation surrounding our parents ever since our dad was arrested, we are very much in an angry and confused state of mind.

"If the papers' allegations of a confession from our mam are true, then we very much feel that we have been the victims in a large scam.

"How could our mam continue to let us believe our dad had died when he was very much alive?"

(KMcA)


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16 July 2008
Canoe Man 'Cried And Begged' To Come Home
The wife of 'back-from-the-dead' canoeist John Darwin has told Teesside Crown Court that he had cried and begged her to let him come home after staging his own death. Anne Darwin, 56, faces six charges of deception and nine charges of money laundering linked to insurance payments, in connection with her husband's disappearance.
17 July 2008
'Back-From-The-Dead' Canoeist 'Cheated On Wife'
The wife of "back-from-the-dead" canoeist John Darwin has appeared in court today to give her own account in the money laundering and deception case. Anne Darwin told a jury that she forgave her husband after he cheated on her and that she considered leaving him but "didn't know how she would cope" without him.
14 December 2007
No Festive Cheer For Remanded 'Missing' Canoeist Couple
There is not much festive cheer for the beleaguered back-from-the-dead canoeist, John Darwin, who will now spend Christmas behind bars. Magistrates have remanded the 57-year-old in custody after the former prison officer was charged with dishonestly obtaining £25,000 and making an untrue statement to procure a passport.
06 December 2007
Missing Canoeist Photo 'Is Real', Wife Admits
The wife of a canoeist who reappeared after being missing, presumed dead, for five years, has reportedly admitted that a photo of her and her husband taken in Panama last year is genuine. The photograph of John Darwin, 57, with his 55-year-old wife Anne was published in the Daily Mirror on Wednesday.
23 July 2008
'Lost' Canoiest Wife Jailed
The wife of "back-from-the-dead" canoeist has been sentenced to six years and six months for fraud. Anne Darwin, 56, has been convicted at Teeside Crown Court for her role in claiming £250,00 after helping her husband fake his death.