A NIGHT of friendly revelry turned "into a complete nightmare" which could easily have seen more than just one murder, say detectives who carried out the inquiry into Tanis Bhandari's murder.
Det Insp Ian Ringrose, senior investigating officer and Det Sgt Chris Rooney spoke to The Herald about the lengthy and thorough investigation which resulted in Ryan Williams admitting his guilt just four days into the trial, and Donald Pemberton being found guilty of all charges by a majority verdict on the 16th day of proceedings.
Det Sgt Rooney noted what many in the city realised after the details came out during the trial – that the victims could have been anybody on that day.
He said: "This could have happened to so many people. Everyone could be put into the position that Tanis Bhandari was.
"We could have been looking at two or even three murders.
"Any one of those people involved in this altercation could have been the deceased.
"They [Williams and Pemberton] had intent to cause harm. They weren't going out as New Year's revellers."
As they gathered statements from witnesses, investigators became keenly aware of a singular issue regarding traumatic incidents involving a large number of people who had been drinking.
No two stories were exactly the same. Some remembered only brief exchanges, different words spoken, different movements. Some were so traumatised by the incident that even though they suffered serious injury they could remember next to nothing of the event.
Even among those who were stone-cold sober the stories revealed significant differences. Investigators had to piece together the scraps of information from witnesses and victims, add forensic evidences from the scene, suspected weapons and clothing to try and create a coherent picture of what took place.
Det Insp Ringrose said: "It can happen in such situations. You can get tunnel vision."
Despite there being a knife used at the scene, few remembered even seeing such a weapon.
Det Insp Ringrose said: "Knives are so dangerous and a knife is easily concealed."
Det Sgt Rooney said: "Some witnesses who were there had different versions of the incident. One had nothing. It's very understandable because this was the most horrific incident anyone there has ever been involved with."
Det Insp Ringrose, agreed, adding: "Including the police officers who turned up."
The investigators said around 10 999 calls were made to police and the ambulance service that night.
Officers arrived and instantly had to deal with multiple scenes – Station Road where Tanis lay dying, the green where the attack took place, The Kings Arms public house where witnesses and injured victims were taken, as well as the lengthy of Milford Lane where the suspects were last seen.
Det Sgt Rooney said: "Police and the ambulance service received many many calls from the Station Road area. Six officers were at that location, two firearms officers attended with a defibrillator, there were three or four different types of paramedic including a motorcyclist paramedic. There were police cars and ambulances all around the area.
"I can't get my head around all that those officers and paramedics had to do that night – different scenes to control, different locations to be at, numerous injured and distressed people."
As equally proud of his fellow officers and colleagues in the ambulance service, Det Sgt Rooney and Det Insp Ringrose have heaped praise on the victims of the terrifying assault, their families and the wider Tamerton Foliot community.
Det Sgt Rooney said: "The impact on the community cannot be underestimated.
"The thing that has stood out for me is the number of people affected by this, right across the Tamerton Foliot community.
"The support we've had from the families has been brilliant. Jamie Healy, George Walker, Sean Cordon, Matthew Daw, the family and friends of Tanis Bhandari – they have shown absolute dignity and the people of Tamerton Foliot helped us from the very first day.
"We've been able to go into a great deal of detail, carried out house to house inquiries, work out the exact route the pair travelled."
Some of the witnesses came forward of their own volition while investigators were able to trace others.
Det Sgt Rooney said: "Each added a piece to our inquiry. Sometimes it was thought by the witness to be a small, seemingly insignificant piece, but ultimately it showed what they [Williams and Pemberton] were heading towards."
Det Insp Ringrose agreed, noting: "They weren't out there as victims. They were out there looking for victims. They made sure of that. They stacked the odds in their favour from the outset.
"It turned into a complete nightmare. No-one could have second guessed what Williams and Pemberton would have done that night."
Det Sgt Rooney concurs, adding: "I hope no-one would ever find them selves in that situation.
"For whatever reasons they [Williams and Pemberton] left the party intent on doing something terrible."
And terrible it was, as Det Sgt Rooney said some witnesses, including police and paramedics, talked about seeing a scene which they thought they would "only ever see in a film".
Looking back at the case and the comments from witnesses, Det Sgt Rooney returns to the single most worrying aspect of the case – the complete randomness of the victims.
He said: "What makes it unique for me is who it could have been that night. We've had witnesses turn around and genuinely say 'that could've been me'. We had four people who could have been the victims just seconds before Williams and Pemberton attacked the larger group."
Det Sgt Rooney also noted how Tanis Bhandari suffered two wounds to his back while both Sean Cordon and Jamie Healy also suffered wounds to their backs.
Without making further comment about the cowardice an attack from behind on three men was, Det Sgt Rooney suggests the injuries themselves were "particularly telling" about the person who inflected them.
"They didn't even know they were injured at first," said Det Insp Ringrose.
He added: "Some of those involved in this case will ask themselves 'why
did I survive?'
"Others have questioned themselves 'why didn't I stop it?'
"It was a complete melee, people literally fighting for their lives and their friends' lives.
"Williams and Pemberton worked themselves up into a frenzy. You can't blame anyone else but those two.
"No-one could have stopped this and no way can they [the victims] be made to feel responsible.
"The only people responsible is Williams and Pemberton".
One officer linked to the investigation was keen to stress the efforts senior investigating officer Det Insp Ringrose went to in ensuring both Williams and Pemberton faced justice.
Search teams covered large areas of land, much of it dense woodland, on either side of Milford Lane, from it's junction with Tamerton Foliot Road to the area near Norwich Avenue where the pair were arrested.
The officer – who asked not to be named – said: "The search [for the weapons] was incredible.
"The weather was terrible and he got them in there looking. There was rope teams, officers strimming back the foliage, metal detectors, then sniffer dogs.
"He made sure they went back and searched further than anyone else would have gone.
"He was so determined to make sure we had those weapons.
"That's how important this job was to him [Det Insp Ringrose], to do this on behalf of Tanis, his family and the others."
Unaware of the admiration from his team, Det Insp Ringrose said: "It's a real privilege to be able to investigate something like this on someone's behalf. It's done on behalf of Tanis Bhandari – you become their voice and you become very protective of the case, to ensure it gets to court and is able to get justice for those who deserve it.
"We want a fair trial and justice for the people who've been injured in killed. They deserve that."
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