Killer's mother 'hacked into Met Police computer to unmask witness'

Killer: The mother of Rupert Ross is accused of hacking into a police computer
Met Police
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The mother of a killer hacked into the police computers to unmask a key witness who had helped convict her son, the Old Bailey heard.

Diana Lank, 60, allegedly hatched the plan after her son, former public schoolboy Rupert Ross, was jailed for life for gunning down Darcy Austin-Bruce outside Wandsworth Prison in 2009.

She is accused of enlisting the help of Met Police worker Lydia Lauro, 33, whose boyfriend Leon De St Aubin had also been convicted at the Old Bailey trial of the same murder.

Lauro, who joined the police as a designated detention officer two months after the murder convictions, used the password of colleague Hayden Cheremeh, 35, to access the secure police files, it is said.

Prosecutor Mark Heywood QC said it was "a consistent, determined and ultimately successful attempt by these three defendants to gain access to and penetrate the digital criminal intelligence system of the Metropolitan Police Service for their own purpose.

"The access was generated by Lydia Lauro and Hayden Cheremeh, on the instigated of Diana Lank.

"They were seeking to get details in order to identify a witness."

Darcy Austin-Bruce was shot dead outside Wandsworth Prison

He said the trial of Ross and De St Aubin became "notorious" as they were found guilty of murdering Mr Austin-Bruce when he went to visit an inmate.

"A male wearing a suit and motorcycle helmet shot him five times at close range and his injuries were fatal", said the prosecutor.

An eyewitness who had seen Ross travelling towards the prison just before the shooting, was given anonymity by the judge and steps were taken to keep her identity a secret.

"Her true identity was never disclosed, either in court or outside court", said Mr Heywood.

"She gave evidence from behind a screen and by means of voice manipulation.

"The defendants in the trial were not told who she was, they couldn't see her as she gave evidence, but they could hear what she said."

It is said following the end of the murder trial in November 2011, Lank, Lauro, and Cheremeh set about finding out her identity using the police computer system at Hammersmith Police custody suite.

"The allegation is Lydia Lauro, having taken a job as civilian staff with the police, used the access identity belonging to Cheremeh to search and get her hands on a great deal of information to which she should have no access whatsoever", said Mr Heywood.

"She shouldn't even have had access to the system.

"Acting together, these defendant abused the very great trust placed in them in their working use of these systems."

Lank, a clothes shop worker from Daws Road, Fulham, Lauro, of Nevern Road, Earl's Court, and Cheremeh, of Allard Gardens, Brixton, each deny conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.

The trial continues.

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