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Department:
Exceptional Cases
CRIME:
MURDER
Case Officer:
Detective Inspector
Permission:
Public view
CASE IDENTIFIER: 42/7A/LIBRARY AKA:
Profile
Name: Sykes
Mobile Library Stop: Keynsham
Real Name: Derek Dodds
Age: 59
Job: Rock Star
Financial situation: Made a fortune from 1990s hit song Oktober (Revolution)
Reading: Strum Your Way In: The Beginner’s Guide to Guitar Bliss by Fret Boardman
Reason on Mobile: Press event. Sykes recently bought a nearby mansion along with contents and found a book from Keynsham Library that was borrowed in 1944 and not returned. Despite Keynsham Library no longer charging late fees , he is returning the book along with a £10,000 ‘fine’ (donation) in cash as a PR stunt.
Suspect Statement
Extract from Suspect Police Statement
Transcript:
Why cash? I don’t believe in banks – big brother is watching, know what I mean? Besides, cash is better for the press, you know?
Not like I’m going to give a giant cheque – I’m not doing the Postcode Lottery here, I’m a serious musician.
This is about getting my face out there again. I’m working on some new music – a follow up to Oktober (Revolution) and it’s going to be so much better, man.
What would I want, killing some kid I’ve never even met before? You want to look at that woman who was there with the kids – that social media one. She was dodgy, man. And she kept spraying everyone with that perfume – got me, got my PA, got everyone with it. I still stink of it – here, sniff this.
Evidence #1
Blackmail note, found in Suspect’s pocket
Transcript:
I will tell the world if you don’t pay me more money. You’re taking credit for what you didn’t do – I know your manager wrote it!
Evidence #2
Newspaper article, found in Suspect’s pocket
Transcript:
SYKES’ ROCK STAR LIE: DAD WAS A RAT CATCHER!
Local boy and one-hit-wonder Sykes has been called out for repeatedly claiming his dad was one of the first musicians to play at the original Glastonbury Festival in 1970. Sykes’ (real name Derek Dodds) dad was actually a pest controller, and Sykes spent his teenage years going out in the van with rat poison, not on a tour bus with guitars. Now that’s a real Oktober Revelation!
The B&NES Beacon – October 2001
Evidence #3
Photo taken on Mobile Library, sent as part of public appearance planning
Witness Statement
Extract of Witness Statement from the Mobile Library Driver, Sal
Transcript:
I didn’t take to that Sykes. Never did like his song – I like heavy metal, me.
It was a right circus with all the press round, though we didn’t let them on the Mobile ‘cos there was too many. He stood in the doorway with Ash to hand over the money and they all took their pictures from outside. And all that booze at ten in the morning so everyone could have champagne?! Only it turned out it wasn’t booze, it was all non-alcoholic.
The whole thing was a sham. He even made Ash have a drink and got pictures of them having a toast together. He was very particular that Ash drank it all. I stayed at the back out the way ‘til they all left.
