Gareth Williams Death: Detective To Explain Why 'Spy In A Bag' Inquiry Drew A Blank

A senior detective will tell an inquest today why her 21-month inquiry into the death of MI6 spy Gareth Williams has drawn a blank.

Detective Chief Inspector Jackie Sebire will be called along with Mr Williams's friend Elizabeth Guthrie on the second day of evidence.

Ms Guthrie appears after Scotland Yard was forced to apologise for "administrative errors" which led to them repeatedly spelling her name wrong.

Coroner Fiona Wilcox told a pre-inquest review "there has been some confusion" over Ms Guthrie's identity.

The inquest opened yesterday with Ms Wilcox hearing Mr Williams had been unhappy living in London and complained about "friction" at the intelligence agency.

He hated the post-work drinking culture and "flash car competitions" at the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), his sister Ceri Subbe said.

Mr Williams was due to move back to the West Country a week after his naked body was discovered padlocked inside a holdall in the bath of his flat in Pimlico, central London, on August 23, 2010.

In April 2010 he applied to return to GCHQ earlier than planned. MI6 "dragged their feet" in approving his request but eventually agreed he could go back to Cheltenham on September 1, 2010.

Mr Williams, of Anglesey, North Wales, failed to turn up for a meeting at MI6 on August 16, 2010, the inquest heard.

The discovery of the spy's body curled up in a large holdall at his top floor flat in Alderney Street, Pimlico, sparked a painstaking investigation, worldwide media frenzy and several conspiracy theories.