The body of Daniel Collard was found wrapped in plastic bin bags, in an industrial refrigerator in his restaurant on 27 December. He was last seen on CCTV in the restaurant on 24 December and is known to have from his home address on 25 December. On 26 December, CCTV images from the restaurant show what appears to be a masked man dragging his body through the restaurant. Autopsy reports confirm overdose of Cladazepan — a sleeping medication not available in the UK. His wife, Sophie, is currently in a coma. Daniel Collard was born in 1974 in Cambridge. Chef and restaurant manager. in 2006, he bought the Broadwick and turned it into a successful and popular business. Well-known in the local community. Married to Sophie, with one son, James. Employed brother Joey as deputy manager of the Broadwick. Prior conviction for seriously injuring his wife in a drink-driving accident but now known to be teetotal. Described by one member of the staff as "popular with the ladies". Also has been described as "volatile" by another. Supporter of many local charities. "Danny was a top bloke. The best brother you could hope for. We grew up with nothing but he really turned himself around after the drink-driving thing. Was he having an affair? Well, yeah, yeah I think he was. I dunno who with. I think Sophie knew but I can't be sure. But, you know, nobody's perfect. Who would want to kill him? Well, his son who couldn't stand him but he's a good lad." — Joey Collard "Mr. Collard was a great boss. He'd just given us all a huge Christmas bonus and he made sure we always got taxis home. He was really... friendly. An affair? No, I mean, I'd heard about... There were rumours he had in the past but I'm pretty certain I'd have noticed if he was sleeping with someone from work. I don't know who'd want to kill him. I mean, his brother inherits the restaurant but... he's his brother!" — Michaela Shon "Danny was lovely. A real gent. Best boss I've ever had. Oh no. No, that's just gossip. The girls here they like to gossip. So do the boys, actually. I don't. I don't even listen to gossip. Well, I did hear that his brother will inherit the restaurant and they did say he's got money troubles. Then there's his wife, she's odd. Separate beds, apparently. Oh and his son... he's strange. Terri said she saw him smoke drugs once!" — Roberta Morris Suspects: Sophie Collard. Did she know about husband's possible affair? James Collard. Once protested at father's restaurant for selling foie gras. Known to have volatile relationship with father. Joey Collard. Financial problems. Daniel's will was recently changed to James the sole beneficiary of his business and other assets. Unknown mistress. Spurned lover? "Like I said, he was a good bloke, a good brother. Helped me out when I needed it. I know how it looks, me getting the restaurant but I didn't even know he'd gone and done that until Roberta at the restaurant told me. He payed me loads already. I don't need it. Sophie's lovely as well. I just can't see why someone would do this to them. I spent Christmas in a number of bars in Soho. Yeah, I know it's no alibi but there must be like CCTV and stuff, yeah?" — Joey Collard "I'm sorry he's dead, obviously. But that doesn't change the facts. He was a monster and I'm not going to lie about that. He treated me and mum like dirt, It's her I'm worried about. The doctor's aren't sure she'll make it. I spent the holidays with my girlfriend and her family. About six months ago I noticed that mum had stopped wearing her wedding ring and she was going out drinking. A lot. She told me he'd been having an affair. He did that to her." — James Collard "James has been living with us since the Summer and he was with us all over Christmas. We do a bug family Christmas so we don't leave the house except to go to church. His father was... unpleasant." — Marie Landie, James Collard's girlfriend Local newspaper reports on party at restaurant. Photos were taken by a reporter who took a number of photos that night. Daniel was having an affair with one of this waitresses, Michaela. She was interviewed again. "I'm pregnant. That's why he ended it. I'm sorry I lied, but... I didn't do it. I'm just all over the place. I don't know if his wife knew, no. She's a lovely woman, spends a lot of time at the restaurant. I just... he was so dynamic... you know? I was at work on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and I was at home on Boxing Day. By myself. My boyfriend left me because he found out about Daniel. He didn't do it. Ask anyone at the restaurant, I was there all Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and loads of people saw me and it was really busy cos we even ran out of meat and stuff and people saw me! And Boxing Day... I don't know. My neighbours might have seen me? I just stayed in and watched telly. I was nowhere near the restaurant." — Michael Shon CCTV confirms Michaela is telling the truth. CCTV also shows a masked man dragging the body in the direction of the fridge. Small residue of melted plastic by the body. Receipts. Clues? Daniel Collard's final tweets. Sent from his IP address at home on Christmas Day. In the picture, Sophie was wearing her wedding ring, so the picture was not taken Christmas that year. Did Sophie fake the tweets as a cover up? By process of elimination, we know either James Collard or Michael Shon was not the killer. Michael Shon was at the restaurant on both Christmas Eve and Christmas day, as confirmed by CCTV. If she is not the killer, who is? SOLVED! Summary to follow: Daniel knew about his wife and brother's affair. Daniel orders meat and sleeping pills with his wife's credit card. On Christmas day, Daniel drugs his wife to get her out of the way, and writes the tweets. On Boxing Day, wearing a stocking over his head, he wraps the meat in bin bags to resemble a body on the CCTV footage. He then puts the meat on the shelves and gets into the bin bags. He burns the hoodie and the stocking, and takes the sleeping pills. All of the evidence he placed points to Sophie doing the killing and Joey disposing of the body, but Daniel Collard really killed himself and framed them for his death out of revenge. These are the facts, and my thoughts on the case provided by Sherlock Holmes. More information can be found at the BBC website.
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