The covert confessions of Darren Osment

Robert Murphy is the only journalist who covered the whole, ground-breaking trial of Darren Osment. He has been working on this case since 2021.

Osment killed his ex-partner Claire Holland. His confessions to a covert police officer are the first to be admitted in a murder trial in British legal history*.

Rob watched the legal argument before the trial started properly. Osment’s barrister argued that the confessions should not be put before the jury. But the judge disagreed, and the recorded admissions were allowed.

Rob watched as both Osment and the undercover officer ‘Paddy O’Hara’ gave evidence. Paddy recorded 1,200 hours of audio - gaining 16 audio and video confessions over 20 months from December 2020. He also detailed the covert ‘theatre’ he used during his 20-month deployment - an incredibly rare admission for a covert officer.

Rob worked closely with the family of Osment’s victim, Claire Holland. And he sat with them as the foreman of the jury returned the ‘guilty’ verdict. Rob was the only journalist in court at this dramatic moment.

Rob argued in court for the release of the covert footage and audio. Avon and Somerset Police and both the prosecution and defence barristers objected, claiming it might reveal undercover tactics and the technology used by covert teams. Rob argued that the footage did not show Paddy’s identity, that the videos played in court were a basic covert technique - unlike the sophicticated ‘theatre’ used elsewhere in the operation, and he said that the principle of open justice should prevail.

The judge agreed with Rob and allowed the release.

Rob - who has written books with and about covert officers - did not wish to do anything that would compromise the safety of officers in the field nor undermine covert tactics. But it was his job as a crime journalist to argue for the release of materials shown in open court before a jury. He has the greatest admiration for Paddy’s work.

* The Confessions made by Colin Stagg in the Rachel Nickell case and Keith Hall in the Pat Hall case were not admitted in court.