Gareth Williams - murdered?

Well, they deny this, but even if true, it pertains only to people outside the UK:

Section 7 is entitled Authorisation of Acts outside the British Islands, and says: "If, apart from this section, a person would be liable in the United Kingdom for any act done outside the British Islands, he shall not be so liable if the act is one which is authorised to be done by virtue of an authorisation given by the secretary of state under this section.""

MI6 has repeatedly denied that they have ever actually used assassination - the source you quote is, as I suspected, journalistic speculation, albeit the act confirms the theoretical possibility of sanctioned foreign killing.

Killing of UK citizens on UK soil by our security services in anything other than a combat situation (eg, something like a police officer shooting someone where their or other lives where in immediate danger) would be murder, pure and simple.

I'm finding this whole affair fascinating. MI6 have surely cleaned up countless murders, most of us just dont think about it and prefer to live in ignorance. I cant help but feel that if this was their doing, then the death would be a lot less suspicious. They would have bumped him off in a traffic accident or however they do these things, and kept it under the radar...

I agree with both. For some reason I just have the feeling this has something to do with the Russians....they carry out their assasinations with a certain strange flair (e.g. Alexander Litvinenko)

Some of what you guys are saying is ridiculous.

And it will never come out if it was the Russian government as that may well be considered an act of war, something noone wants...

I think (at least I hope) that you are fantasising - they would arrest someone like that and press charges. If the evidence wasn't good enough for court, they would sack and marginalise them. If MI6 genuinely have the authority to murder their own staff at will then I despair of this country - what would be the difference between the UK and Nazi Germany? Do you think it right that authorities can simply order extra-judicial killings?

As I say, let's just hope you're both wrong and idiotic.

If MI6 was involved in the death of this poor bloke, then my faith in our secret service has increased! No finger or footprints, no signs of third party involvment, no signs of a break in in the flat. Nothing that would suggest 'murder' other than the fact that it's impossible to lock yourself in a bag in a bath.
So whoever did it did a bloody good job cleaning up after themselves!

I agree with both. For some reason I just have the feeling this has something to do with the Russians....they carry out their assasinations with a certain strange flair (e.g. Alexander Litvinenko)

You're forgetting what MI6 is, a Secret Intelligence agency hence anything they say must be taken with suspicion. MI6 most likely are investigating this and dealing with it with their own resources. I think it's pretty pointless forming a opinion on a matter when we're dealing with intelligence agencies because you aren't going to get the full picture.

Well, they deny this, but even if true, it pertains only to people outside the UK:

Section 7 is entitled Authorisation of Acts outside the British Islands, and says: "If, apart from this section, a person would be liable in the United Kingdom for any act done outside the British Islands, he shall not be so liable if the act is one which is authorised to be done by virtue of an authorisation given by the secretary of state under this section.""

MI6 has repeatedly denied that they have ever actually used assassination - the source you quote is, as I suspected, journalistic speculation, albeit the act confirms the theoretical possibility of sanctioned foreign killing.

Killing of UK citizens on UK soil by our security services in anything other than a combat situation (eg, something like a police officer shooting someone where their or other lives where in immediate danger) would be murder, pure and simple.

Am I the only one who doesn't think he was killed by someone else?

I think, if the evidence we have is to be taken as reliable, that he did it himself by accident. Apparently he tied himself, naked, to his bed and his landlord had to set him free, plus he has bondage stuff on his internet history - how can you just overlook that? I think it was some form of kinky game gone wrong.

Whether it was an MI6 agent (unlikely) or someone from another section of a government agency who killed the guy (more likely) the usual murder laws simply would not be applied to them if their actions were sanctioned by the state, right or wrong that is the way these organizations have to operate and it is highly unlikely anyone outside the SIS possibly excluding the authorizing secretary of state (if this was state sanctioned) and possibly a select few members of his/her staff are even aware of the actual details behind this case never mind if anyone knows who actually killed him.

They are a necessary evil which for all intents and purposes are able to operate outside the law to protect the British public and British interests around the world.

This story reeks of a long-established truth about our "security services" - that they are just not very good, that they cost a great deal of (unaccountable) money and that their main skill lies in the area of covering up their own mistakes.

Am I the only one who doesn't think he was killed by someone else?