Do we believe this "confession"?

[Snoopy]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/article/0,,2212574,00.html

I am old enough to remember this ~ of course I lived in Southampton at the time and Portsmouth is not very far away so perhaps it was spoken of more but I am sure most of you will know the story. The question is are we being "conned" or is this elderly Russian clearing his conscience before he "meets his maker"?

[Barman]

I heard this on the wireless the other day…

It certainly seems unlikely that he was attaching a bomb to the ship – what would that have achieved?

As to if the Russians killed him or not I lean towards that as a likely scenario…

[Snoopy]

I've always felt that they did for him ~ though this story does not explain why his body, when found, was headless.

Certainly he would have been more likely to have been attaching a tracking or listening device than a mine. Why blow up a Russian ship in Portsmouth ~ bit hard to deny that one I'd have thought ~ even for a politician (Though I 'spect Blair would give it a try)