Lawyer: Harper made up ‘remains’ story

FORMER deputy police chief Lenny Harper knew that the potential human remains reportedly found at Haut de le Garenne predated the building of the children’s home when he announced the find, it was claimed in court yesterday.

The Assize jury in the abuse trial of Gordon Claude Wateridge, a former houseparent at the home, were told by defence advocate Mike Preston that Mr Harper had ‘made the story up’ and prompted international media to ‘flock to the story’.

He said that the reality turned out be somewhat different from those initial announcements.

He made his comments as he summed up his case to the jury yesterday. The jury retired at about 3.30 pm and are considering whether Mr Wateridge (78) is guilty of 21 offences.

Apart from the 19 charges of committing indecent assaults on five young girls in his care while he worked at the home in the early 1970s – which he denies – he also denies assaulting a boy and inciting boys to commit an indecent assault on a girl.

The jury are expected to make a decision today.