MI6 agent admits role in Julie Ward murder hunt

An MI6 agent admitted yesterday that he became involved in the investigation into the murder of the British tourist Julie Ward within days of the discovery of her mutilated remains in a Kenyan game park.

An MI6 agent admitted yesterday that he became involved in the investigation into the murder of the British tourist Julie Ward within days of the discovery of her mutilated remains in a Kenyan game park.

The Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) officer, known only as Mr A, told the inquest into the death of the wildlife photographer that he was asked to arrange for one of his agents, a former senior officer from the Kenyan Police, to help diplomats in charge of the British handling of the killing 16 years ago.

The contact, David Rowe, a retired assistant commissioner of the Kenyan force, who was jointly funded by London and Nairobi as a security and policing adviser, claimed that Mr A asked him to covertly supply information on the investigation to the British High Commission.

John Ward, 70, the father of Julie, said earlier this week that he wanted a new Kenyan inquiry into the murder to explore the possibility that senior Kenyan officials attempted to cover up the crime to protect a highly placed individual during the regime of the former president Daniel Arap Moi.

But the MI6 officer strenuously denied that SIS were directly interested in the case of Miss Ward, saying that he only became involved through his cover role as a political officer in the High Commission in charge of liaison with the Kenyan Police over training.

The inquest was told that Mr A's version of events clashed significantly with that of Mr Rowe.