Gloves Off New Tricks

Sandra.

You been waiting long?

30 seconds is too long in this place.

Who sent you this?

Mate on the Flying Squad. Nick Kellogg, who shot the Security Guard, is here on remand, awaiting trial.

-Things are looking up.

-I doubt it.

I'm Detective Superintendent Pullman, this is Jack Halford, UCOS.

You must be thrilled.

Do you know what this is?

-Pass.

-It's a ballistics report on the gun you were carrying.

Bad news is it's the same gun that was used to kill a guy called Eddie Mayfair in 1999.

-Never heard of him.

-Eddie was a boxer, 21.

I saw him fight once. He was very good. Until somebody shot him.

-Hang on, are you trying to dump this on me?

-We know you were doing time in '99, so we're not looking at you.

-All we want to know is where you got the gun.

-Don't be silly.

Silly was getting caught with it.

Whoever it was gave it to you didn't care that you were carrying a murder weapon, did he?

Help us and you can only help yourself at your trial. A name.

Look, I'm sorry...

you must have mistaken me for something that looks like grass.

-So you're happy to give up the chance of a favourable word in the judge's ear?

-Last time of asking.

I tell you what...

..why don't you take that report,

and you roll it up nice and tight

and then you shove it where a monkey shoves his nuts?

# It's all right, it's OK

# Doesn't really matter if you're old and grey

# It's all right, I say, it's OK

# Listen to what I say

# It's all right, doing fine

# Doesn't really matter if the sun don't shine

# It's all right, I say, it's OK

# We're getting to the end of the day. #

CLASSICAL SINGING PLAYS OVER SCENE

Quick hands.

Oof!

Mind you, this Joseph's not as bad as I thought he was going to be.

Now, watch this.

Bang!

And, goodnight, Nurse. Oh, he really was quality, wasn't he?

-Top drawer.

-Quality what? There's a doctor in the ring, cos the other fella's not moving!

-Milton Joseph ended up in hospital. Injuries were so bad he never fought again.

-That's appalling!

-Well, it's boxing. I mean, nobody WANTS it to happen...

-It's brutal.

Brutal? It's barbaric.

-You don't know what you're talking about.

-I know boxing's nothing more than legitimised thuggery.

-The nearest you ever got to a ring was your playpen.

-I suppose you did!

-I did, as it happens, and I'm proud of it.

-Oh, aye, I'll bet. That would explain the brain damage.

-Oi!

-Oh, shut up!

Jack, please, lay out all the gory details for us.

November 1999. Eddie Mayfair was found shot dead at 8am

by two cleaners in the gym above the Sun in Splendour pub in Stepney.

That was exactly a week after that fight. No-one heard the shot or saw anyone go in and out of the building.

Last person to see him alive was his best mate, Danny Branston,

who saw him leave for the gym about 6:30 in the morning.

-Branston? He was a pro fighter too, weren't he?

-Used to spar for Eddie.

He went on to fight for the British welterweight title against, erm...

- Steve Grint. - In Manchester.

-Yeah, it was stopped in the third...

-Fourth. Stopped in the fourth.

-Branston had cuts over both eyes. His cornerman couldn't stem the left one.

-So, are you a fight fan, sir?

-It has been known. Started at school. I boxed for my House.

-Did you?

Yeah, and at university. I remember Eddie Mayfair very well. Tough. Big puncher.

13 straight wins undefeated, eight KOs.

Danny Branston and Eddie's family and friends were convinced Milton Joseph, or someone close to him,

shot Eddie in revenge for what had happened the week before.

But how could he have done, if he was in hospital?

-He came out the day before Eddie was killed.

-The Murder Squad got next to nothing out of Milton and co,

so with no information, no forensics, case went nowhere.

Until last week, when the murder weapon reappeared.

Now, interestingly, both Danny Branston and Milton Joseph have since gained criminal records.

-So why don't you start with them?

-What a good idea, sir.

Who'd have thought it? Stwickers a pugilist!

Hello? Hello?

-Anyone home...

-Yeah!

All right, er...

-Can't give you more than 200 for that, mate.

-Come again?

The scrap prices are low.

-Do what?!

-Danny Branston?

-Might be. Who wants to know?

I'm Jack Halford, this is Gerry Standing, Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad.

We'd like to talk to you about Eddie Mayfair.

-Eddie? What's happened, somebody finally put their hands up?

-Not exactly.

We're re-examining the case. And we'd like to know what you remember.

You saw him the morning he died.

I was staying at his mum and dad's, yeah.

We'd only just stopped celebrating him getting the title shot.

-Eddie was up early as usual and went off to start getting himself back into shape.

-And you?

-No.

Early mornings was Eddie's thing, not mine.

I was going to join him later...

then I got the call.

I saw you fight Steve Grint.

That was unlucky. That was a nasty cut.

Yeah, that's how it goes, innit?

I was all right, I could throw a few,

nothing like Eddie, though. That boy was mustard,

real deal.

We was like that, me and Ed.

We had such a laugh together.

After he died... it was never the same.

Everything changed.

Like you getting a criminal record.

-I fell in with the wrong crowd.

-Wrong crowd?

Look, it was a one-off, all right? A stupid mistake.

What about uniform being called to your flat about a domestic?

Was that a one-off as well?

It must have been, cos they ain't been back.

So you're not involved in the fight game any more?

No, not really.

-I work the corners for the odd bout every now and then. Cutsman.

-Oh, yeah?

Yeah... It's nothing like fighting, though, is it?

-So, you boys going to go talk to Milton?

-Milton Joseph?

-Yeah. He's the one that did it, ain't he?

-Really?

Course he did. Look, Eddie put paid to him good and proper.

It was the end of Milton's dream, weren't it?

No more payday, no more glory.

Just a battered-up old nobody.

So, that's what you think?

Not just me.

Ask around.

'I said everything I've got to say about him after he died.'

I have nothing to do with killing that man.

You came out of hospital the day before Eddie Mayfair was shot.

Yeah...on sticks.

I was in no fit state. And I was with...

-friends.

-We're going to talk to them too. Plus your manager.

Mitch Graham? I want to be around for that conversation. He's in a hole in the ground.

He's dead?

Well, if he's not he's doing a damn good impression.

What, you didn't know he died? Wow...

you must be headed for promotion.

-How'd it happen?

-Car crash on the M4.

Car he was in overturned. Mitch was a good man.

A lot of people thought you wanted to kill Eddie Mayfair, because of how the fight ended.

You, badly hurt...humiliated.

A lot of people want to bring back hanging. Don't mean they're not talking shit.

Look, I went through this 11 years ago. You found out nothing to put me there when the guy died.

And no-one saw a black guy go in and out of that hole in Stepney, so why don't you just leave me alone?

11 years ago, you were clean.

Four years ago, you beat a guy senseless at a red light.

He spat in my face.

You put him in hospital.

I got a suspended sentence.

The judge said I was "severely provoked".

Oh. Is that what happens when you get severely provoked?

So, Milton... who do YOU think killed Eddie?

Pass.

Don't you want to know?

If only to finally clear the cloud that's over your head?

There's no cloud over me, because I know what I know.

He's dead.

Who killed him?

Now, do you want something to eat or drink?

Then don't waste my time.

Cor, it must be, what, 30 years since I've been here.

-35.

-Yeah!

Look, she didn't actually say wait outside.

-We could go in and just...

-Too late.

God, it's a monstrosity, isn't it?

-RADIO: '..is shining here at the Oval...'

-Ah, it's great, innit?

-Wonderful.

-Excuse me. Detective Superintendent Pullman.

-I called earlier about taking a look upstairs.

-That way.

Thank you.

-Oh, no, did you hear that? We've only lost another wicket!

-I know...

No, no, no, let him come on to you! Suck him in, then counter.

You go toe to toe with Hunter and he'll knock you flat on your arse!

-Doug Palmer?

-Yes, madam?

Detective Superintendent Pullman.

We're here about Eddie Mayfair. We're investigating his murder.

All right, all right, that's enough.

Don, go and take a shower.

-Eric, do some bloody work.

-All right...

Excuse my French. Eddie. Yeah.

Downstairs said you was coming in.

You trained him.

I had that singular honour, yeah.

I saw him a couple of times. I was there when he beat Mark Jago.

Were you?! Yeah, that was a bit of a ding-dong, weren't it?

- Class will out. - You're a man of taste, sir.

You obviously knew Eddie very well.

-What was he like?

-Pound for pound, the best fighter I ever trained.

And in the ring,

probably the best puncher I ever saw.

I loved him. One of the biggest regrets of my life

-was being with Harry at the Dorchester that morning, instead of here.

-Harry?

Harry Gallo. Eddie's manager,

and my good friend.

If I'd have been here, maybe...

You might have been dead an' all.

Yeah, well...

He was a sweet boy, Eddie. Sweet boy.

-And he was ready for it.

-"It"?

Everything that was coming to him.

The show. The big time.

He was made for it...no question.

-Why was your meeting with Mr Gallo so early?

-Eddie.

We were discussing his title shot.

It was tricky because of what happened to Milton.

Talking up Eddie's chances so soon after in public would have

come across as pretty crass, so we had to be secretive about it.

Secretive? At the Dorchester Hotel?

Harry kept a suite there.

He's a showman. Likes to do things with style. Even when it's on the QT.

Erm, who do you think shot Eddie?

I've no idea.

Doesn't make sense. Everybody loved him.

I doubt Milton did.

No! Milton's a good lad.

I don't buy it. All that manure about him and his people.

Even after Eddie finished his career so brutally?

Eddie knocked opponents out.

That's why people went to see him.

He was a crowd pleaser.

The Hackney Hammer.

They loved him.

We all did.

Is that the way to the changing room?

Er, yeah. Er, if the boy's still in there, chuck him out.

Yeah, sad.

The alcohol?

Couldn't you smell it?

Oh...sorry.

See anything you like?

-It's a vast improvement from looking at you lot all day long.

-That kind of physique is very overrated.

Well, Brian, you would say that.

It's near-enough unchanged. Not even a lick of paint.

Eddie was shot in the chest at point-blank range,

which suggests that, if someone got so near, he either knew his killer or...

-Or they surprised him.

-One door.

Yeah, and how did he get into the building? I mean, so early.

-He was a special case so the pub gave him a key.

-Killer could have followed him in.

-Well, the ease with which he came in and out suggests he knew the place.

-Knew enough not to leave any prints.

Yeah, what I don't understand is how nobody in the street saw anyone leave.

Well, early morning, area like this, probably pretty deserted that time of day.

An area like this is called the East End.

People have a habit of not seeing anything... especially when asked by the police.

Pwoar...whole place stinks of sweat.

Some women find that attractive.

And you wonder why you never made it past Sergeant, Gerry.

Oh, he's nice. That taller one.

"Nice"?!

What are you talking about? They're trying to kill each other.

Well, that's boxing, isn't it?

What kind of justification is that?

Not everybody finds physical confrontation as upsetting as you do.

What's that supposed to mean?

Well, I mean, it can be quite elegant, can't it? Muhammad Ali...

Oh, not you an' all!

Anyway, it doesn't stop him being handsome.

Handsome is as handsome does. And he's trying to DO him.

Besides...he's dead. Murdered.

Oh, that's a shame. HE SIGHS

ESTHER TUTS Ooh!

Yes, that's right.

Not so pretty now, is he?

Shall we eat?

Yeah, that's great. OK, thanks a lot, bye.

-GERRY GROANS

-Well, Milton's "people" are turning out to be a bit scarce.

How do you mean?

Well, his manager/trainer did die in a car crash. 2006.

And out of all the other guys who were questioned back in '99 - Steven Garrido, also dead.

Drive-by shooting in Balham, 2008.

Kelwyn Baptiste was deported to Jamaica in 2003.

Strickland's talking to the people over there and waiting for them to get back to him.

But this Ashley McCollin, he just seems to have disappeared.

Is he wanted for anything?

-No, I don't think so.

-All sounds a bit unfortunate.

And coincidental.

Yeah, well, shit happens.

Better try and see if there's anything more to it.

What are you still watching that for?

-Superintendent Pullman?

-Yes, and this is Brian Lane.

Hi. I'm Harry's PA. Er, can I ask you what it is you want to see him about?

We're re-examining the murder of one of Mr Gallo's former clients.

An Eddie Mayfair.

-Are you OK?

-Eddie was my son.

Oh, my God. I'm so sorry...

No, no...it's OK. It's just a bit of a shock, that's all.

-Well, we've been trying to contact you.

-Please. Don't apologise.

-Sorry, we didn't know you worked for Mr Gallo.

-I...I came here after Eddie's father died.

He never got over what happened. Harry was really good to me.

-Sorry.

-No. No, not at all.

Come on, I'll take you to meet Harry.

11 years on? Aren't you a bit late?

The case remains open. We want to close it by finding his killer.

Good. If only for Ronnie's sake.

I'm not just saying it because she's here but...Eddie was quite something.

I don't know if genius is the right word but I do know he was unique.

As a boxer?

I'm one of the top promoters this side of the Atlantic.

I managed the boy...and I guided him.

And if I tell you Eddie Mayfair was simply sensational,

you'd better believe it.

Ronnie, she brought him up in the right way, but he still had this... hunger. He was desperate to win.

And when you have that combination, you've got a champion on your hands.

-Who could have killed him?

-Well, a lot of people say it was Milton, because of what Eddie did to him.

Truth is, I can't think of anyone else who would wish Eddie ill.

And you have to say that Milton was badly damaged.

What about some of the other boxers that Eddie bashed up?

Boxing doesn't ordinarily make you desirous of that kind of revenge.

It's a hard trade, but it's a bit more noble than that.

Doug Palmer isn't so sure that Milton was responsible.

Yeah, well...Doug's a romantic.

Sentimental, even.

He doesn't just think boxing's noble, he thinks it's pure.

Yeah, and he's still working for you. Despite the drinking.

Doug's a first-class trainer...

and he's a friend. We go back a long way.

Did you ever fall out with Eddie?

I have to say I find that rather insulting.

Especially in front of the boy's mother.

That's a no, then, is it?

Eddie would have gone on to make a lot of money, I presume.

So his death must also have damaged you financially.

If you want to look at it that way.

Do you think the killer could have been targeting you,

albeit in a rather extreme way?

Well, you don't get where I am without upsetting some people along the way.

But it's hard to believe they'd try to get to me by killing Eddie.

Well, if they did, it obviously didn't work.

You've done very well since then.

I know my trade.

And I'm good at what I do.

But I'd give it all up to still have Eddie in my stable...still alive.

You've had other boxers. Good ones.

Never another like him.

What about Danny Branston?

Not in Eddie's league.

Danny was a good man, though. He was... He was decent.

If he weren't, Eddie's Eve wouldn't have married him.

-Eddie's Eve?

-Eve Aspinall. Her and Eddie were engaged.

It broke her heart, what happened, so...Danny helped her put it back together again.

Bit like Harry did for me.

We live together.

Best move I ever made.

Reckons he's one of the top promoters "this side of the Atlantic".

Lots of photos of sports stars all over the place.

It was only boxing when he started.

He's branched out into all sorts now. But he made his reputation by finding new young boxing talent.

Yeah, also has a reputation for not being able to hold on to them.

Gallo got a couple started, but they've tended to move on.

-Really?

-Yeah, there was an article about him in The Ring magazine last year.

-Still nothing from the Jamaican authorities. I'll try and chivvy them up.

-Thank you.

So, Danny and Eve Aspinall. Eddie's former girlfriend is now married to his best mate.

Yeah, maybe they just wanted to comfort each other.

Still it's neat and tidy, unlike Milton's lot.

I wouldn't call it neat. I'd call it incestuous. The whole boxing world.

Oh, don't start all that again!

Well, look at that crowd at the fight!

They were baying for blood!

-Might as well have been dog-fighting or bear-baiting.

-Listen, you idiot, boxing channels aggression.

It's the best way of stopping young blokes becoming thugs.

Oh, right, so...Eddie Mayfair being shot in the chest

and his best mate being done for receiving stolen goods,

and Milton's close circle, killed in a drive-by shooting, deported, disappeared,

-that's a boxing success story, is it?

-Guys, can we get back to the point, please?

No, the point is that boxing is purely nihilistic.

It teaches you nothing except might is right.

I tell you what it taught me.

-It taught me that you are a grade-A, 22-carat prat!

-Enough!

-Who can't accept that a physical challenge between two grown men...

-Oh, here we go!

..going head to head, toe to toe, is a simple but honest test of bravery.

-Really?

-Yeah! And you know what I think? I think it scares you.

-Yeah, it's a sign of cowardice.

-What did you say?

-I said, enough!

-You heard.

-Call me a coward?!

-And the rest!

Piss off!

Ohh! Ohhh!

Ohh, that really hurt.

Brilliant.

Brian, go and get yourself cleaned up.

Jack...get him out of here!

I didn't hit him hard.

Well, you saw it, he came at me. It was instinct!

Well, say something.

I thought your footwork was a bit rusty.

This is it.

Oh, yeah. Very tasteful!

Well, not bad for a 34-year-old scrap dealer.

Eve Branston?

-I'm Jack Halford, this is Gerry Standing.

-Are you here about Eddie?

-That's right.

-Come in.

-Thank you.

I am so glad you're doing this.

Just for people to know, you know?

His mum, friends...

It's just about doing what's right, isn't it?

Well, maybe with your help, we'll get a result.

Do you remember the fight between Eddie and Milton?

I remember around it.

I never used to watch Eddie in the ring. I found it too painful. Coffee?

-Thank you.

-Yeah, that'd be nice.

After the fight, did Eddie seem upset at all? Worried?

No. He used to...

Please.

..get anxious before a bout, but afterwards he was always excited.

He was overjoyed really.

Especially this one. The chance to fight for the title and everything.

-Thank you.

-Cheers.

Is it right that you were away the day Eddie died?

Paris.

Eddie had paid for me and my mum to go away for the weekend.

He was going to join us. It was going to be a special...

-I'm sorry.

-No, no, no, just...take your time.

I'm OK.

Eventually, you started going out with Danny Branston.

Danny and I always used to cry when we saw each other.

I'd just lost the... love of my life,

the man I loved, and, er, Danny his best friend.

Brought us together, I suppose.

The police were called to your flat not long after you were married.

You called them,

about Danny.

No marriage is perfect.

It wasn't easy for either of us in the beginning, Danny and me.

Well, we didn't have any money for a start.

Danny wasn't a big star like Eddie, you know.

He was always getting letters from the bank.

-Doesn't look like he's getting 'em any more.

-No, Danny is a good provider. We're doing very well.

-Did Eddie mention anyone with a grudge, someone who might have wanted to hurt him?

-Yeah, loads in the ring.

But not outside.

After the fight, did he talk about Milton at all?

-No.

-Was he sorry that Milton ended up in hospital?

No. No, I don't think he was.

You must have been very young when you first met Eddie?

Just 16.

I met him when he first came to Hackney.

I thought he came from Hackney.

No. He moved there in 1995.

So he was, well, just 17.

Where did he move from?

South of the river. Stockwell, I think.

Apparently, he was a right terror, getting into fights and stuff.

-In Stockwell?

-Yeah.

His mum thought he needed a bit of a firm hand before it got out of hand.

Channelled it all into his boxing.

It's hard to believe, but...you look like you've been in a fight.

Just listen, yeah?

-Oh...so you lost.

-Ashley McCollin. Where can we find him?

-Don't ask me.

I ain't seen him in a long time.

He's one of your best friends. Was.

-Along with Kelwyn Baptiste, Steven Garrido...

I ain't seen him. I ain't seen any of 'em.

-What, you lose touch with friends just like that?

-Yeah. I lost touch.

People go their separate ways, but you still tend to hear about them.

I mean, you'd hear if they'd been in a car crash, or shot, deported...

Your friends have some bad luck, don't they, Milton?

-What you talking about?

-Ashley.

Not dead as well, is he? Cos then we'd have to start wondering whether this really was just bad luck.

You know, I think you're trying to scare me.

And I ain't scared of you.

And I think there's something you're not saying. Which is...?

OK. Well, if you do hear about your friends

you will let me know, won't you?

-UCOS?

-Yes, you just spoke to some of our colleagues yesterday.

-What is it? Have you found something?

-More something we haven't found.

I hear that Eddie wasn't born in Hackney.

That you moved there when he was about 17.

-That's right, yeah.

-From Stockwell?

-I hear he got into a bit of trouble.

-Well, not really. Just a bit of... teenage stuff. Nothing serious.

Eddie was in a gang and me and his father weren't happy about it.

-What sort of gang?

-Well, just... boys. We were right to move.

Most of the kids he hung out with are inside now.

-Who else was in the gang, can you remember any names?

-Er...Dermot Thomas.

Er, Gary Harris. Nick Kellogg...

-What are you doing?

-I'm watching the boxing match.

-I can see that.

-I just can't quite believe it, that's all.

-Oh, don't be so sanctimonious.

I don't see that indulging the baser aspects of human nature by willingly exposing your...

-Look, have you seen this?

-Yeah, the trainer's footage. Of course I have.

No. Here. This.

Look, just before the end of the fight.

-There, see?

-What?

What's he saying?

-Saying?

-The black boy.

"Get off me, you maniac," I imagine.

No, I don't think so.

He almost looks...surprised.

Hmm, he's about to be.

You see? He's not saying anything now.

-I prefer the other one.

-That's cos you don't know her.

Sit down.

The gun.

I'm sorry, you've lost me already.

Well, did you buy it outright or did you rent it from an armourer?

-What's so funny?

-You.

-You're very old-fashioned, do you know that?

-Yeah, yes, I know. I know, I'm ancient.

But, you know, being so old helps me to recognise certain aspects of human behaviour, such as lying.

Now, you're a liar, Nick.

Archetypal. For instance, you lied when you said you didn't know Eddie Mayfair.

Are you tired? Well, let's see if we can keep you awake.

We're going to solve Eddie's murder. I know it. I can feel it in my water.

That's another of the benefits of experience.

And when we bring his killer to trial, I'm going to make it known how much you helped me.

What you talking about?

I'm talking about when I give evidence in court.

I'm going to let your name slip.

Now, the judge will rule my remarks as hearsay and order them to be struck from the record,

the jury told to disregard them so that no-one will have heard your name.

Except, of course, the officials in court...

and the public gallery.

-You can't do that!

-Why not? I've done it before. Works a treat.

You bastard! You bastard!

Ba...argh!

HE CRIES IN PAIN

Ah, Guv'nor, the DVLA have come back negative

on Milton's old mate Ashley McCollin.

He lost his license in 2004. He hit a nine-year-old girl while speeding.

She ended up in a wheelchair and he got a three-year ban.

The point is, he hasn't renewed his license since.

Yeah, right. Like he's given up driving! I don't think so.

Maybe he's got himself a chauffeur? Maybe he's got himself a bicycle.

-HE SNORTS

-Haven't you kissed and made-up yet?

-He won't let me. I'm not his type.

-He called me a coward!

What did you say about boxing? What did you call it?

Nihilistic. Oh, look it up.

For heaven's sake! Will you two just get on or get out?!

Gerry, apologise.

I apologise.

I'm very, very, sorry.

-Brian?

-What, me?!

-Yes, you!

-Sorry.

I just spoke to the Jamaican Justice Department in Kingston.

Kelwyn Baptiste was shot and killed during a prison break in February 2008.

-What was he inside for?

-Murder.

Where's Jack?

Yes, the gun was hired.

But you don't get a name. Do you understand?

I never saw that piece until a fortnight ago, so...

OK. So what about Eddie?

Yeah, we was in Sweet Nine.

-Come again?

-Sweet Nine. We used to call ourselves after where we lived.

SW9? Sweet Nine.

Very imaginative.

Used to hang with guys from nearby. Gangs.

It got heavy. Ended up with us having a set-to with a crew from Camberwell.

Milton Joseph was on their team. Eddie cut him.

-Cut? You mean stabbed?

-Yeah.

They ran...

Actually, so did we.

-So Eddie and Milton knew each other?

-They hated each other.

And if you think we were bad, these men were maniacs.

Garrido, Ashley McCollin, Kelwyn Baptiste?

These are serious people. D'you know what I'm saying?

No-one's going to give them up.

If you want to know who fizzed Eddie, that's who you should be looking at.

OK?

But you didn't hear it from me.

MOBILE PHONE RINGS Oh?

-Oh! Er, look, Sandra, I'm sorry, but I...

-'Oh, I bet you are!'

I honestly thought he wouldn't talk if you were there. As it happens, he might well have done.

-'Meaning what?'

-He opened up.

He said he rented the gun from an armourer, but wouldn't give a name.

He also said that he and Eddie used to be in a gang in Stockwell.

And get this. Their gang used to come up against

-'another bunch from Camberwell starring?'

-Milton Joseph.

McCollin, Garrido...

-'Baptiste...'

-Ah, now, Kelwyn Baptiste is dead.

He was shot busting out of a Jamaican prison in 2008.

And back in the nineties, Eddie stabbed Milton.

-'Stabbed him?'

-Well, maybe Milton forgot to mention it?

Kellogg just told you all this, did he?

Well, perhaps it was playing on his conscience.

-What did you do to get him to talk?

-Say that again, I didn't catch it!

-I said, what did you do to...?

-No, you're breaking up. I'm in a tunnel.

HE HANGS UP

-Time to talk, Milton.

-That's it, this is harassment, man!

You think this is harassment? Wait till the lawyers get on your case.

You hear that, everyone? This woman's threatening me now!

-Let's not do it here, where you can only embarrass yourself.

-Girl, I ain't the one who looks stupid.

Girl? Wow, flattered. OK...if that's what you want.

I've been going through the original notes on Eddie Mayfair's murder

and I can't find any mention in the interviews you did

-that you and he knew each other as teenagers.

-That's cos we didn't.

So you don't remember him stabbing you?

King's College Hospital, December the 19th, 1995, 11:18pm.

A Milton Emanuel Joseph was admitted to A&E with two knife wounds to the left buttock.

Not life threatening, but very humiliating.

Come on, you lied to the original investigation. D'you want to chance your arm a second time?

You might want to close early. He won't be back today.

I knew Mayfair...

when I was a kid. 15, 16.

And there was a lot of times we had a beef with each other.

But then, after he stabbed me, I ain't see him no more.

I heard he went north of the river, but I never seen him again until the fight.

Not till the weigh-in.

You must have felt very angry about being stabbed.

You could say that. But I never killed him.

-Is that because you got someone else to do it?

-No.

-I was going to get my revenge in the ring.

-KNOCK ON DOOR, DOOR OPENS

Well, I can see that that will be Plan A, except he beat you up.

-You don't understand.

-What don't I understand?

Listen to me.

I never said nothing back then, because...

What?

Because Eddie was supposed to throw the fight.

Wasn't he, Milton? Yeah.

The great Eddie Mayfair.

-He was supposed to take a dive.

-Except he didn't.

No, exactly.

-BOXING MATCH ON TV

-You ever watch this?

-No, I suppose you wouldn't.

-Right, here we go. Look.

Now I'll just rewind that.

Now this time, here, listen.

CROWD CHEERING

-Listen to what? All I can hear is...

-Yeah, hang on.

A bit more magic of sound separation and then we have...

'What you doing? What you playing at, man?'

You're supposed to go down! Go down! THE CLIP IS STOPPED

-You're supposed to go down?

-Which I presume means take a dive. Correct?

But if you thought he was supposed to throw the fight, and he didn't,

-doesn't that give you more reason to want to kill him?

-No, no way.

Look, I got...b-beat, but I still thought I might have a career.

That's why I never said nothing back in '99.

-How do you know he was supposed to throw the fight? Who told you?

-Kelwyn Baptiste.

He told me not to worry, he knew for sure the fight was...

the fight was mine and that I was going to get a title shot.

Well, that's great, apart from the small fact that Kelwyn is dead. So who else knew?

-No-one that I know of.

-Oh, come on! You know you're going to win the title and don't get any mates

-to bet on the result?

-I was told to keep my mouth shut. Seriously closed. That's the truth. I swear.

So what happened, they told you, but they didn't tell Eddie?

I don't know! Look, he was supposed to go down,

that's all I was told. Instead he goes ape!

And it's me on the floor.

It's me.

And I'm gone.

Why d'you think I end up with no money?

Working in a lousy cafe for a living? Huh?!

-Where's Madam?

-Oh, she's gone with Brian to see Dougie the dypso.

-No, no, don't take your coat off. You're not stopping.

-Where we going?

Dulwich. The National Records Office been back to me.

-In 2004, Ashley McCollin changed his name by deed poll to Ainsley O'Connor.

-Did he?

Yeah, his mummy's maiden name. Sweet, eh?

-Yeah, it's nice out there, I'll put the roof down.

-We're not going in yours!

Afternoon. How's it going?

Well, we spoke to Milton Joseph a short time ago.

-Oh, yeah? How's he doing?

-He said something that, had you been straight with us,

-we would've heard from you.

-I'm sorry, I don't understand.

The fight with Eddie. Maybe it wasn't so clear-cut as it seemed?

-What you talking about?

-Milton said the fight was supposed to have been fixed.

-Fixed?!

-Yeah, Eddie was supposed to have thrown it.

-No!

It's a lie, he's lying. Eddie would never...

Doug, we're not trying to...

No! I'm not having you come in here casting mud on the reputation

of one of the finest kids that ever put on gloves. Get out!

Nice car.

Nice place.

-Thank you.

-Ainsley O'Connor?

-You'll be from the Met.

-Yes, I'm Jack Halford, this is Gerry Standing.

Unsolved Crimes and Open Case Squad.

-We're re-investigating the murder of Eddie Mayfair.

-Uh-huh.

You used to be Ashley McCollin.

Used to be.

You weren't easy to find.

-I would hope so. I left Ashley behind a long time ago.

-Because?

Because...he was not an advantageous person to be.

Ainsley O'Connor is... somewhat more refined.

I'd like to talk to the other you. The one that knew Eddie Mayfair.

Eddie who?

You were in rival gangs when you were kids.

Something you didn't tell the original enquiry when Eddie was murdered.

Sit down.

-Thank you.

-Cheers.

I don't know about now. I don't tend to have much to do with ordinary policemen,

unless we're playing golf, but back then,

I found they had a habit of putting two and two together and making six.

-You were there when Eddie stabbed Milton.

-Yeah, I was.

And Milton was not happy about it. But you want to know if, four years later, Milton killed Eddie Mayfair?

Or got someone else to do it?

No. And if you had proof, me or Milton would be under arrest.

-Give us time.

-Time?

You've had 11 years.

HE SIGHS

We never killed him.

-Kelwyn Baptiste has killed someone since.

-Yeah, and Kelwyn's dead.

What stops everyone saying he pulled the trigger? Or Steven Garrido or Mitch Graham?

Any of them might have done it, but not me.

Why would I have taken such a stupid risk?

Because it cost you money.

-Say what?

-Because Eddie was supposed to take a dive

That information would've been worth a small fortune to a betting man.

Dive? Eddie Mayfair?!

Correct. And you lot must have lost a fortune between yourselves.

Yeah, they did.

-But not me.

-What do you mean?

I mean I didn't lose any money on that fight, because I backed Eddie.

What, you bet on Eddie Mayfair against your own friend?

Course I did. Yeah, I heard Eddie was supposed to go down,

-but I ain't that stupid.

-I'm not with you.

-Whoever it was decided that fight was going to be thrown, it wasn't Eddie.

-Why not?

Because he hated Milton! A guy like Eddie might roll over and take a count one day,

but in a title elimination against a guy he stabbed in the arse?! Get real.

I knew Milton, remember, better than anyone.

He didn't have a prayer. Look at him! He's a loser!

So how did you know Eddie was going to take a dive? Who told you?

-Heard it from a friend of mine. Bookie.

-Called?

-So how did he know?

-A guy from Eddie Mayfair's camp comes into my friend's shop.

This guy don't realise, but my friend recognises him.

-The guy puts two grand on Milton to win.

-So?

My friend knows of at least three other biggish bets

all put down by this same guy all with different bookmakers.

All that money on their own man to lose? Doesn't take much figuring out after that.

This "guy from the Mayfair camp" - does he have a name?

He's a sparring partner. Made a name for himself a few years later,

but he didn't have what it takes either.

-HE CLICKS HIS FINGERS

-Danny Branston. Another loser.

So what do you reckon? Bullshit?

Unfortunately, I don't think it was.

Listen, he might have changed his name, but I give you even money he's as bent as a nine bob note.

-You phoning the guv'nor?

-DVLA.

Doug Palmer got knocked down in the Mile End Road.

Been on a bender all afternoon. He's in the London Hospital.

How do you feel?

-I feel like I need a drink.

-Oh, I don't think so.

You were paralytic when the bus hit you.

Why did you go on a bender, Doug, straight after seeing us?

-Doesn't feel like a coincidence.

-It never was when I got hammered.

I was going to say, am I in trouble?

But it all seems a bit meaningless by comparison.

-Trouble?

-For not being totally straight with you.

-Saying I was with Harry when Eddie died.

-What, you weren't?

No.

Well, I mean, yes, I was.

But...not just him.

Go on.

I was supposed to meet Harry in his room at the Dorchester.

When I got there... I found the two of them.

Them?

Harry and Ronnie...together.

Eddie's mum?

Did you know they were sleeping together?

-No.

-Did Eddie know?

I don't know.

According to the DVLA,

Ainsley O'Connor passed his driving test in 2004.

-Four months before Ashley McCollin was banned.

-Very naughty.

But what's more to the point is that a Mr Ainsley O'Connor

was behind the wheel of the car in which Mitch Graham died.

So driving while banned with a license obtained through deception

-and killing someone! Very, very naughty!

-You still think he was telling the truth about the fight?

Yeah, Milton confirmed it - that's how they fell out.

Because Milton discovered that Ainsley / Ashley bet against him.

Despite what novels and films might say...

boxers throwing fights are incredibly rare, especially in this country.

-How would anyone know?

-It's very difficult to pull off.

Bookies are alerted to unusual betting patterns very quickly.

But if it was true and the fight was fixed?

-The only people with the power to fix fights are fighters, managers and promoters.

-Harry Gallo.

-Yeah, but why?

-The bet. The money.

Why would Harry Gallo risk everything with a potential gold mine in Eddie Mayfair anyway?

Yeah, and we also know that he and Ronnie have an alibi.

-Danny Branston doesn't!

-Well, then, you better make a move.

Oh, Jack. Don't use your mobile when you're driving.

Hello, Eve.

-Hi.

-Danny there?

-No, I'm afraid he's not here at the moment.

-Eve!

-Please!

-I told you. He's not here.

-Not been gone long, though, has he?

What was it about?

-Nothing.

-That's a lot of nothing.

It's never about anything.

Yeah, don't tell us, it only happens from time to time.

And in a nice, big detached house like this, I doubt if anyone else can hear.

-You don't have to put up with it, you know.

-Yeah!

-There are places you can go.

-Right!

Eddie ever hit you?

No, I didn't think so.

-What did you want to see Danny about?

-Where is he, at the yard?

Don't tell him!

That you've seen me.

Please.

Don't worry.

You lied, you lied about your alibi at the time of Eddie's death.

You both did. We know, because Doug Palmer just told us.

He told us about finding you both at the Dorchester.

-Look, Harry and I...

-Ronnie, Ronnie, it's OK, it's OK.

Yeah, we, er, did lie.

-But that was only because Ronnie's husband never knew.

-I bet he didn't.

We didn't mean for it to happen. We didn't want to hurt anyone.

-Did Eddie know?

-No.

-You sure about that?

-Yeah, course.

-Maybe that's why Eddie didn't take that dive, because he found out about you and his mum.

-A dive?!

Where do you get that crap? When's he supposed to have taken this dive?

-He had a straight 13-win career!

-The fight with Milton Joseph.

Oh, that fight where he put Milton in intensive care? I'm sorry, am I missing something here?

When Doug Palmer found out about your affair, how long did you think you could keep it secret?

-Did you intend to tell Eddie?

-I think we're through here, don't you?

Danny!

So...find anything out?

I found that, the longer I work on this case, the more difficult it is to know who's telling the truth.

-We've been told that Eddie was supposed to throw that fight with Milton.

-Now who told you that?

The same person who told us that you put a big bet on it.

-Well, whoever that was, they're lying.

-You see what I mean?

Now, you slept at Eddie's place the night before he died.

Now, you got up an hour or so after Eddie had gone to the gym?

And you saw Ronnie...

-Eddie's mum.

-Yeah, I think so.

-You think so?

It was years ago, weren't it? I mean, what did I say at the time?

You said you saw Ronnie up and about.

-Well, that's it, then.

-But how could you?

-She was at the Dorchester.

-I'm not with you.

Ronnie Mayfair was at the Dorchester Hotel that morning.

You see how hard my job is? Now I'm sorry to bang on about this,

but either Ronnie was there or she wasn't.

-I thought I saw her when I woke up, but...maybe I was mistaken!

-That's not good enough, Danny!

You see, out of all the people we've spoken to, you're the only one nobody saw that morning.

-Hold on, hold on, you're saying that I killed him?

-Well, did you?

Me? His best mate. Why would I kill him?

Cos you thought Eddie would lose that fight against Milton and laid down

eight grand in the hope of winning a great deal more.

Only it didn't quite work out that way, did it?

Are you out of your mind?! He was my best mate!

We sparred together, day in, day out.

Every fight he had, I was there, ringside, cheering him on!

And when he won, it was like...

it was just the best feeling.

We were like brothers!

Is that a fact?

-How'd it go with Harry and Ronnie?

-Well, they admitted the affair -

she was quite cut up about it - but they both denied any knowledge of Eddie throwing the fight.

-What's this?

-Oh, footage of Eddie's other fights.

-We could only find three.

-Oh, what a shame(!)

-Watch.

Here's a fight from earlier in the year.

-What am I supposed to be watching?

-Harry, Doug, Danny.

They're all in the ring at the end. Same as the other fights we watched.

Now watch this.

Eddie puts Milton down.

Now watch Gallo and Branston.

They're leaving.

And that's where they were sitting. Side by side.

-Where have they gone?

-You mean, why aren't they celebrating the greatest win in Eddie's career?

You see, what interests me is why this supposedly fixed fight ended up with the wrong result.

We know it's the wrong result, because a guy like you, who didn't have very much money at the time,

isn't going to lay out eight grand, unless it's a cert.

I never had a bet in my life, let alone eight grand.

Not one bet, a series of bets spread round different bookies.

But don't worry. We know that most of the cash can't have been yours.

Only person you knew with that kind of money was Harry Gallo.

-Harry Gallo?

-Harry thought Eddie would do as he was told. So did you.

-That's why you put everything on him throwing that fight.

-You reckon?

"Every fight he had, I was there, ringside, cheering him on!"

That's what you said. Well, where were you that night, Danny?

When Eddie was up there, beating his chest?!

Why weren't you and Harry straight into the ring, carrying your best mate shoulder high?

-Cos you had nothing to celebrate, did you? You were busy making other arrangements.

-Eddie's dead,

and the next thing we know, you've got his girl and a shot at the title.

People I've spoken to never rated you, Danny.

They said you had an easy path to the title fight.

Too easy.

That's Eddie screaming at two empty seats - yours and Harry's.

And he's screaming, because he knows he's had you over.

He's won and there was nothing you could do about it.

And that's why you killed him.

You got nothing.

Oh, I think we have.

I think we've got more than enough.

Do you want anything?

Glass of water?

He did it, didn't he?

Yes.

But I'm sorry, he's right. We haven't got enough.

Eve, if we can prove it, he'll go down for a long, long time.

Long enough for you never to have to worry about him ever again, I promise you.

He has a lock-up. It's in Tufnell Park.

Jack. It turns out Mr Branston is a member of a very large and very unusual gun club.

You took your time. Can I go now?

Sit down.

I wanted to tell you something off the record.

The reason this case got kick-started again is because the weapon

that killed Eddie suddenly turned up three weeks ago.

Very stupidly, someone allowed themselves to get nicked

carrying that gun, having rented it from an underworld armourer.

Now it would be almost impossible for us to track that gun back over the years

and link it to anyone who might have handled it...

-Look, mate, my missus is going to wonder where I've got to.

-In this case, it's not necessary.

Because the person who was found with that gun has told us where he got it.

In fact, Nick Kellogg has been very helpful all round.

-No, you're full of shit.

-Oh, now, don't worry.

He'll go down for armed robbery. But he reckons that, by helping us,

he'll be out a lot earlier than you.

Especially now we've got your lock up.

No, no, no, no! This is not happening!

-You tell him he'll be picking up his teeth with broken fingers!

-What's happening?!

-What did I say?

You tell him, Halford, let's see how chatty he is with a broken jaw!

You can't keep coming here without any prior warning.

Yeah, well, I think this'll be the last time.

Are you trying to prove something? Waltzing in...

Harold Ryan Gallo, I am arresting you on suspicion of involvement in the murder

-of Edward Terence Mayfair.

-Are you out of your mind?!

-Is this a joke?

-Danny Branston killed Eddie.

-Don't be ridiculous! Rubbish!

-Didn't Harry tell you?

-She's trying to scare you. Ignore it. It's garbage.

Why did you give Danny an alibi, Ronnie, when you were questioned?

-You said you were at home with him. You were at the Dorchester.

-That was...

-Don't say anything.

Did Harry ask you to say that?

Did he also say that Danny would give you an alibi to safeguard your affair?

Harry told Eddie to throw the fight, cos he'd bet on Eddie to lose.

But Eddie just pretended to go along with it. And, when he won, Harry lost a small fortune.

That's bollocks! Why would I kill Eddie, huh?!

-He was a future champion! He was my champion!

-Was, but not after that fight.

If Eddie took a dive, you would've had something over him all his life. But Eddie was smart and straight.

When he find out you were bent, he was off and you could do nothing,

cos he'd say you wanted him to throw that fight, so you got Danny to kill him.

-You are talking out of your arse!

-Yeah, well, let's see what a jury thinks. Cuff him.

I'm really sorry.

The Specialist Crime Directorate reckon on two maybe three serious underworld armourers

operating in the South East in the last five years. Danny Branston is a real catch.

-I can't believe he killed his best friend.

-Oh, I can.

I think he was jealous. Constantly in Eddie's shadow.

A mate who has all the talent in the world, a big future, gorgeous girlfriend.

Then, to cap it all, he ends up by making Branston lose his shirt.

-Do you think Eddie actually knew about his mum and Harry?

-What a waste.

Anyway, well done. Good work.

Thank you. See, aren't you glad you got interested in boxing now?

Boxing?

Yes, very interesting.

Right, if anybody needs me, I'm in the pub.

-Good idea, Gerry, I'll buy you a pint.

-Thank you.

-Jack?

Can I have a word?

You told Danny Branston that we had an informant?

I told him Nick Kellogg gave him up.

That Nick told us Danny had given him the gun.

-That was a lie.

-Well, I prefer the word diversion.

-You put Kellogg's life on the line. More than likely, he'll have a contract out on him now.

-So what?

-So what?!

-Yes.

If it means that Eve Branston is now completely out of the picture, not under suspicion,

-she won't have to appear in the witness box...

-You have absolutely no right to take that risk!

And what right did you have making promises to Eve Branston

that you couldn't possibly keep?! You told that girl she'd be safe!

Safe?! From a guy who slaps her about every other week?

-From an underworld armourer as connected as he is?!

-She gave us information, because I said...

No! She gave us that information in spite of what you said!

She told us because she knew that piece of shit had killed the love of her life!

I have given her the best protection she could hope for. And if you think

I'm going to lose any sleep over someone like Nick Kellogg,

then you really don't know me at all.

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