06/12/2007

Missing Canoeist Photo 'Is Real', Wife Admits

The wife of a canoeist who reappeared after being missing, presumed dead, for five years, has reportedly admitted that a photo of her and her husband taken in Panama last year is genuine.

The photograph of John Darwin, 57, with his 55-year-old wife Anne was published in the Daily Mirror on Wednesday.

Mr Darwin, who was presumed dead after the remains of his canoe were found on a beach in Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool in Teesside in March 2002, walked into a police station in central London at the weekend and told officers that he could not remember where he had been and thought he was a missing person. He said that he could not remember where he had been and thought he was a missing person. He said that he could not remember anything since June 2000.

He was arrested in suspicion of fraud by Hampshire Police on Tuesday evening and has been declared fit for questioning.

According to reports on Thursday, Mrs Darwin told the Daily Mirror that the photo was of her husband. She said: "My sons will never forgive me. They knew nothing. They thought John was dead. Now they are going to hate me."

It was later revealed that the couple's sons, Anthony and Mark, have not spoken to either of their parents since their father's arrest.

In a joint statement, the men said: "Having seen the recent media speculation surrounding our parents ever since our dad was arrested, we are very much in an angry and confused state of mind.

"If the papers' allegations of a confession from our mam are true, then we very much feel that we have been the victims in a large scam.

"How could our mam continue to let us believe our dad had died when he was very much alive?"

Mrs Darwin had sold the couple's home in Seaton Carew three months ago and moved to Panama.

On Wednesday, Detective Superintendent Tony Hutchinson from Cleveland Police revealed that the investigation into Mr Darwin's disappearance had been reopened three months, due to some information that police had received. However, he said that police did not know that Mr Darwin was alive until his reappearance at the weekend.

(KMcA)




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17 July 2008
'Back-From-The-Dead' Canoeist 'Cheated On Wife'
The wife of "back-from-the-dead" canoeist John Darwin has appeared in court today to give her own account in the money laundering and deception case. Anne Darwin told a jury that she forgave her husband after he cheated on her and that she considered leaving him but "didn't know how she would cope" without him.
16 July 2008
Canoe Man 'Cried And Begged' To Come Home
The wife of 'back-from-the-dead' canoeist John Darwin has told Teesside Crown Court that he had cried and begged her to let him come home after staging his own death. Anne Darwin, 56, faces six charges of deception and nine charges of money laundering linked to insurance payments, in connection with her husband's disappearance.
07 December 2007
Police Granted Extra Time To Question Canoeist
Police have been granted an extra 36 hours to continue questioning a "lost" canoeist, who reappeared after being missing, presumed dead, for five years. John Darwin, 57, is being held on suspicion of fraud. Meanwhile, his 55-year-old wife, Anne, is believed to be returning to the UK from Panama.
12 August 2008
Anne Darwin To Appeal Jail Sentence
The wife of the 'back-from-the-dead' canoeist John Darwin, has launched an appeal against her conviction and sentence, it has been revealed. Anne Darwin, 56, was found guilty of 15 charges of fraud and money laundering during a seven-day trial at Teeside Crown Court in July.
24 July 2008
'Canoe' Couple Assets Frozen
The assets of John and Anne Darwin have been frozen in the first stage of the asset recovery operation. The 'back-from-the-dead' canoeist and his wife were each sentenced to six years for fraud. There is now a worldwide freeze on their assets and the process to reclaim £250,000 has begun through the Proceeds of Crime Act.