David Swindle
Independent Reviewer and Crime Expert and former Detective Superintendent David Swindle BA http://www.davidswindle.com/ worked on hundreds of murders and complex high profile UK wide investigations during his 34 years in the police including the serial killer Peter Tobin and Glasgow Airport Terrorist Attack investigations.
He continues to utilise his high profile investigative, crime expertise and international networks with his company “ David Swindle Crime Solutions” providing multilingual expert international advice, review and investigative support for families of victims killed abroad as a result of homicide or in suspicious unexplained circumstances.
David’s determined attitude regarding a victim focussed approach to serious crime investigations and crime case reviews for victims’ families are reflected in his company strapline “the search for the truth” and “leave no stone unturned”.
In addition to the media interest David’s work attracts, he is a regular contributor to TV Crime documentaries.
David said: “As a homicide detective and the work I now do to help victims, I liken myself to a football manager as I am only as good as my team. I could not do what I do without support of The Victims Abroad team of linguists and experts who are amazing caring empathetic professionals who do their best and more to provide support for people in their time of need. If you have an issue please don’t hesitate to contact the team at the contact details of this website.”
Contact David - david@davidswindle.com or help@victimsabroad.com
Eva Maria Navarro Puchaes
Professionally fluent in Spanish, Catalan, French and English and is actively involved in various killed abroad cases including appearing on BBC and MTV programs regarding the work she does with David Swindle.
Eva said “I was born in Alicante, Spain, and I have lived in Spain, France and the UK.
The main areas of my professional career have been languages and customer service. I began to work in Spain in administrative export positions, handling official documents from countries where different international laws made it necessary to integrate and reconcile them.
In Spain, then in France and later in the United Kingdom, my main occupation was as an interpreter and translator. Working for the Police, the Red Cross, NHS, City Councils and business, I assisted foreigners in social matters, in legal procedures and with public administration, health and commercial issues.
I started working for David Swindle in August 2014, initially with some translations in Catalan and very soon doing very different tasks in contact with victims’ families and stakeholders in various cases. Working in David's team where everyone goes the extra mile in their will to help those who are in a vulnerable situation, and where all our experience contribute, has allowed me to give and receive a lot, both from a professional and personal perspective.
Contact Eva - eva@davidswindle.com or help@victimsabroad.com
Lesley McEwan
Fluent in Spanish and English and brings an additional dimension to the team of having owned successful businesses in Spain where she lived for 20 Years. Lesley understands both the British and Spanish psyche and can help manage tourist and expat expectations.
Lesley said: "I was born in Edinburgh and having worked as a Managing & Board Director, CEO and NED, I moved to Spain and founded a well- known Online estate Agency. I was disappointed by the professional standards of the Spanish estate agency scene and through my own company, I came in to contact with many foreign property buyers, renters and owners who needed legal advice on anything from having bought an illegal property, to rental rights/legalities, land issues and neighbour disputes. I ran property clinics, lobbied the Spanish and UK governments for change within the industry, worked as a consultant with the British Embassy, was a Court advisor on the property market in Spain for UK and USA and became a spokes person on the subject of property disputes and citizen rights in Spain. I also worked with the families of people who had encountered serious issues in Spain including attempted murder, suicide and loss of a loved one and I saw first hand the pain these issues bring to a family, in a foreign country, where they do not speak the language. On returning to the UK after 20 years, I now work a few days a month with the Appropriate Adult service supporting people with learning difficulties/mental health issues within the criminal justice system. I joined David Swindle Consultants in 2018 to help make a difference to the journey of a victim´s family by using my knowledge, skills and connections".
Contact Lesley - lesley@davidswindle.com or help@victimsabroad.com
Debbie Smirthwaite
Fluent in Spanish, Catalan, Portuguese and English and has worked as a professional translator in Spain for 25 years. Debbie is actively involved in assisting in several ongoing killed abroad cases, including cases in Spain and Mexico.
Debbie said:
"Based on Spain’s Costa Brava, I’m originally from Walsall and studied languages at Leeds. I worked for UK companies dealing with clients in Spain, Portugal and Latin America, firstly in London then moving to Madrid in 1992.
I’ve been a full-time professional translator in Catalonia for 25 years, translating mainly from Catalan and Spanish, and occasionally Portuguese. Voluntary work has always been important to me, firstly with people with disabilities (intellectual and/or sensory) and later in animal rescue. In 2002, I founded a Spanish animal rescue group that helps disabled pets.
I’m fascinated by human and veterinary medicine, psychology, and communication. I also have a keen interest in justice, crime, criminal psychology, victimology and open-source investigation. I started working with David Swindle after seeing the campaign about a local murder case he was working on (Craig Mallon). I contacted him in 2019 when trying to help a German family whose teenage son had died in mysterious circumstances while on holiday in Spain.
As a victim/survivor of violence in Spain myself, I have unfortunately had first-hand experience of the police/legal/court and psychological ordeals faced by victims of crime abroad. Although fluent in the language and familiar with local culture, I found it traumatic, so am acutely aware of the needs and sensitive to the difficulties faced by victims of crime abroad. I hope to turn a negative into a positive by combining my own experience and language skills to help people. So I’m thrilled to be able to work with David Swindle and his Victims Abroad team, with its diverse range of expertise and knowledge combined with a unique sensitivity and caring approach towards victims of crime and their families."
Contact Debbie - debbie@multilingualcrime.com or help@victimsabroad.com
SUSAN TERRIS
Former UK Crime Investigation and Homicide detective who lived in Spain for 23 years and is fluent in Spanish.
Susan is actively involved in several killed abroad case and a historical complex potential fraud case in Spain. She appeared on a BBC documentary regarding her work with David Swindle
Contact Susan - susan@davidswindle.com or help@victimsabroad.com