Charles turned up again in London one early morning and called me from the lodgings above a pub off the motorway leading into London from the South Coast. Some days or weeks earlier, [Charles’s wife] Chantal [Compagnon] had asked me if I would write a film script about Charles and that she would tell the story, as far as she knew it, and I could ask Charles about his supposed escape from Tihar Jail. When Charles said he wanted to talk to me, I assumed it was confession or, at least, anecdote time, especially as he said, “Jus’ come quickly, Farrukh. It will be helpful to you.”

In all the time I knew him, my friends, family and I joked about the possibility of him turning on me and perhaps murdering me to steal my wallet and credit cards. But it was always a joke. It never once crossed my mind that he would attempt another murder, but I never invited him to my house and was very vigilant when we went to a restaurant to make sure that he wasn’t poisoning my food or drink.