[29] Fox split from Jean Justice in the 1970s, but continued the fight to clear Hanratty until his death in 1999, three years before the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction on the basis of the DNA evidence retrieved from Hanratty's corpse. Crime A6 Murder of Michael Gregsten. If you do as I tell you, you will be alright., Extracted from The Long Silence: The True Story of James Hanratty and the A6 Murder by Valerie Storie, the Woman Who Lived to Tell the Tale by Paul Stickler. She was always absolutely certain that she was right, there was no question about that.'. [8], The first policeman on the scene was handed a census form on which Kerr had written down Storie's account of what she recalled at that moment; the document was never seen again. Paul's book describes the events in great detail of the night in illuminating detail, based on Valerie's accounts. He also wrote a letter to the coroner, in which he referred to the great harm done to the family by Hanratty. A strong, disabled woman's story. Charles France was also the recipient of highly unpleasant anonymous phone calls. Paul Foot and some other campaigners argued elsewhere that the DNA evidence could have been contaminated, in view of the fact that the small DNA samples from items of clothing, kept in a police laboratory for over 40 years in conditions that, as they argue, "do not satisfy modern evidential standards", had to be subjected to amplification techniques to yield any genetic profile. Hanratty put a cloth over Michael's bloodied head before raping Valerie on the back seat of the car. At about 9pm on August 22, 1961, Michael Gregsten, 36, and his girlfriend Valerie Storie, 22, were sitting in their Morris Minor 1000 car in a lay-by at Dorney Reach, Buckinghamshire, when. Michaels duffel bag containing freshly laundered clothing rested next to it. He ordered them to drive to . However, in a new edition of his book, 36 Murders and Two Immoral Earnings, printed immediately after the publication of the Hanratty DNA evidence, he retracted his assertions of Hanratty's innocence.[26]. [4][5][6][7] By 1937, the family had moved to Wembley in northwest London. He then stated that he had in fact been in the Welsh coastal town of Rhyl. This should have been the end of the matter, but for the rest of her life Valerie was hounded by the media, campaign groups and celebrities including John Lennon and Yoko Ono, who insisted Hanratty was innocent. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. If you do as I tell you, you will be all right." As a result of these facts, after the A6 murder, Valerie was often unfairly characterised as a "loose woman". Hanratty's initial defence was that he had been in Liverpool on the day of the murder, but then, halfway through the trial, he changed part of his story, claiming that he had in fact been in Rhyl, North Wales. Gregsten's girlfriend, Valerie Storie, was raped, shot five times, and left paralysed. Satisfied he had killed her, the gunman drove off southward with much crashing of gears, in the direction of Luton. Journalists such as Paul Foot and Bob Woffinden campaigned for years to prove Hanratty's innocence, casting doubt on Valerie's evidence. On 11 October, Hanratty was arrested by police in Blackpool, at the Stevonia cafe. Inside a parked Morris Minor was a 36-year-old scientist, Michael Gregsten, and his 22-year-old girlfriend, Valerie Storie. But then the other suspect, Peter Alphon, publicly confesses to the crime. Hanratty telephoned Scotland Yard several times, saying he had fled because he had no credible alibi for the date in question, but repeated each time that he had nothing to do with the A6 murder. More than 300 homes approved as part of new Luton development, Improvements are set to be made to surrounding roads as part of the development. Michael gregsten wife / june 11, 2022 june 11, 2022 / were achilles and patroclus cousins. Having recently re-read the late Paul Foot's excellent book "Who killed Hanratty", which he painstakingly researched for over 5 years I remain convinced (rightly or wrongly) that the original suspect, Peter Louis Alphon, is the real murderer of Michael Gregsten. However, what isn't well known is Valerie's side of the story. For disappearances in France on the A6 between Paris and Lyon, see, GRO Register of Deaths SEP 1978 11 0739 BRENT - James Francis Hanratty, DoB = 3 October 1907, GRO Register of Marriages DEC 1936 2a 1724 BROMLEY - James Hanratty = Mary A. Wilson, GRO Register of Deaths JUL 1999 C81A 2421C 97 LEWISHAM - Mary Ann Hanratty, DoB = 6 April 1917, GRO Register of Births DEC 1936 2a 1038 BROMLEY - James Hanratty, mmn = Wilson, GRO Register of Births: MAR 1925 3a 660 BARNET. 2022 Casefile True Crime Podcast. [citation needed] Hanratty's defence claimed that Mrs Dinwoodie was mistaken about the date. The gunman knew the Bear Hotel, Maidenhead. Even Valerie's own Member of Parliament, Joan Lestor, insisted Hanratty was innocent, and once sent a letter to Valerie inviting her to join the campaign for the A6 Committee. It details 22 attempts made by Michael and Valerie to escape or frustrate the gunman, including hatching a plan to drive into a policeman if they came across one on the journey in order to get his attention. After six hours they returned to ask the judge for the definition of 'reasonable doubt'. michael gregsten wife. The following extract describes the moments leading up to the events on that fateful nightin August 1961 that turned her life upside down Valeries shopping basket rested on the back seat. She was of the opinion that it is for all of us to make the most of what we have been dealt.'. The James Hanratty case is perhaps Bedfordshire's most notorious murder. He then ordered her to drag Michael's body out of the car to the edge of the lay-by before ordering her to show him how to operate the vehicle. In 2002 Valerie was finally vindicated when DNA evidence proved beyond reasonable doubt that Hanratty was guilty. Eventually, the jury retired. Were going to have traffic chaos. "James Hanratty killed Michael Gregsten. The man then said he wanted to sleep, and that he would have to tie them up. One of the final eight people in the UK to be executed before capital punishment was abolished, the petty criminal was hanged at Bedford Jail in 1962 for the murder of Michael Gregsten at Deadman's Hill, near Clophill, on the A6. [12] Kerr alerted Sydney Burton, a farm labourer, who flagged down two cars and asked the drivers to call an ambulance. After climbing into the car's back seat, he ordered Gregsten to drive. They compared his DNA to that found on Valerie's underwear and the handkerchief in which the murder weapon had been contained, and found a conclusive match. Her testimony was critical in securing a guilty verdict, but this was questioned by many who felt the supporting evidence too weak to justify conviction, and Hanratty's brother fought for decades to have the verdict overturned. It was about 1954 that Hanratty became attracted to Soho, where he frequented various clubs and other haunts of the criminal underworld. Whilst he was a professional thief, he had no convictions for violence, and apparently had never possessed a gun, although he later admitted to the police that he had attempted to obtain one after his last release from prison in March 1961. She told them: "I have never had a problem with the truth. But for the next 40 years Valerie was slammed by campaign groups and celebrities who were convinced Hanratty was innocent, making her reluctant to speak to the media during her lifetime. When Valerie died and her papers were given to me I became determined to retell the story with her perspective at its heart. She didn't change her story one iota.'. This is a hold-up, a mans voice said. She wanted to write a book to finally give her version of events but did not get round to this before her death in 2016. In March 1958, aged 21, at the County of London Sessions, Hanratty was again convicted of car theft, and of driving while disqualified, and sentenced to three years' corrective training at Wandsworth Prison, and then to Maidstone Prison. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. Neutral Citation Number: [2002] Crim 1141", "James Hanratty: Close to a final verdict? [8], Gregsten was a scientist at the Road Research Laboratory in Slough. Alphon was the son of a senior figure at Scotland Yard. It was now approximately 3am, six hours after the ordeal had started at Dorney Reach. [citation needed] She remembered a man resembling Hanratty, and at first said he stayed there during the week of 1926 August but later said she couldnt really remember what week he did stay. View 1 apartments for rent in corsicana, tx. Michael Gregsten with his wife Janet before he was murdered in his car on the A6 by James Hanratty. Another man obtained a gun for Alphon, whereupon he set off and hijacked the pair. Alphon claimed he gave Gregsten two chances to get away but "each time the bloody man kept coming back". Search above He was found guilty for the murder of a 36 year old scientist Michael Gregsten in August 22nd 1961. He was then buried in the grounds of Bedford Gaol. After a failed escape attempt, Hanratty was transferred to Camp Hill Prison, Isle of Wight. [36] His DNA was compared with other DNA extracted from, firstly, mucus preserved in the handkerchief within which the murder weapon had been found wrapped and, secondly, semen preserved in the underwear worn by Storie when she was raped. 'Feral pigeons' are terrorising Biggleswade's businesses, meeting hears, The 'infestation' has grown to around 50 pigeons, according to one town councillor, Closures expected with Lloyds Pharmacy set to sell off stores across UK, This follows the news that the pharmacy brand is also closing all of the 237 Lloyds outlets inside Sainsbury's, More than 40,000 defrauded from Luton Borough Council during cyber-attack, Councillor Rob Roche, portfolio holder for finance, said: "Money stolen from the council is money stolen from the residents of Luton. Woman left with serious injuries after dog attack on residential road in Luton. Why did you shoot him?" After driving them around the English countryside for hours, the intruder shot both Michael and Valerie, leaving them on the side of the road at a location known as Deadmans Hill. After leaving the school in 1951 at the age of 15, Hanratty, still illiterate, joined the Public Cleansing Department of Wembley Borough Council as a refuse sorter. Alphon subsequently surrendered himself, and was subjected to an intense interrogation. Among the prosecution team at the trial was Geoffrey Lane, who was subsequently appointed Lord Chief Justice. The campaign got even more attention when Beatle John Lennon, and his partner, Yoko Ono, joined the campaign. No defence on the basis of mental history was raised at Hanrattys trial. House-to-house inquiries have also been carried out. Search for stock images, vectors and videos, Available for editorial use only. James Hanratty was born on 4 October 1936 in Farnborough, Kent,[3] the eldest of four sons of James Francis Hanratty (19071978) and his wife Mary Ann Hanratty (19171999). In August 1961, Michael Gregsten and Valerie Storie were sitting in their car in Dorney Reach, UK when an intruder forced his way into the backseat brandishing a gun. His last words to his family were "Mick, I am completely innocent. I would ask you now to respect my wish to be left in piece.". They took with them maps and other things to organise a car rally being held at their office this weekend. Storie was an assistant at the same laboratory and had been having an affair with Gregsten, although this did not become public knowledge until Storie wrote a series of articles for the popular Today magazine in June 1962, five months after the trial. Michael Gregsten is a 36-year-old research scientist at the Road Research Laboratory at Langley, near Slough. Her wish was honoured when The Long Silence was released with the title that Valerie had planned to give to her book. In July of the following year he fell from his bicycle, injuring his head and remaining unconscious for 10 hours; he was admitted to Wembley Hospital, where he remained for nine days. The police raided the hotel, and questioned Nudds again, who then changed his story, claiming that Alphon had in fact been in the basement and 'Ryan' in Room 6 but, for reasons unknown, had swapped rooms during the night. Mr Gregsten's body was tonight identified by his wife, Janet. Transferred briefly to Durham Prison, he was returned to Strangeways where, having served his full term, he was released in March 1961, aged 24. However, she was certain that this occurred on Monday 21 August. (just round the corner from the authors house). Alphon stuck to his confession and continued to repeat it until about 1971, when he withdrew his claims. She was able to see only the body of the man between his waist and shoulders, but his smart appearance seemed at odds with his threatening behaviour. The Court concludes that this number of alleged coincidences mean that they are not coincidences but provide overwhelming proof of the safety of the conviction from an evidential perspective. Find the right content for your market. The gunman then made to leave but suddenly turned back and shot Valerie several times, with five bullets hitting her. I do this act in the knowledge that it will clear my family's character of any act or wrong'. [35], James Hanratty's body was exhumed in 2001 to extract his DNA. Shortly after his discharge, Hanratty left home for Brighton, where he obtained casual work with a road haulier. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Nudds' statement also said that Alphon had stayed in the hotel as he claimed, and had remained in his room, Room 6, all night. On 14 October, Valerie Storie identified Hanratty in an identity parade, after each of the men in the parade had repeated the phrase used by the murderer: "Be quiet, will you? [citation needed]. Moreover, the murderer drove badly, whereas Hanratty was an experienced car thief. According to this, Hanratty had gone to Rhyl to sell a stolen watch to a 'fence', arriving there in the evening of Tuesday 22 August and staying in a boarding house near the railway line. A woman who was raped and shot in a car with her lover - and was then hounded by people who were convinced her attacker was innocent, has told her story in a new book from beyond the grave. He was a scientist at the laboratory and being a talented mathematician occasionally taught evening classes at St Albans Technical College, so extra money was coming in, but it nevertheless worried him. Select from premium Janet Gregsten of the highest quality. Michael Gregston was murdered by James Hanratty 1962. Just before the defence opened its case, Hanratty changed part of his alibi. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Believing that he had killed her, Hanratty drove south in the direction of Luton. ease arkansas phone number Well push your creativity and go beyond your brief. Jamal Edwards, a music producer and entrepreneur, died suddenly in February 2022. Mr Stickler, a former Hampshire Constabulary police officer who specialised in murder investigations, compiled the book during lockdown using thousands of records and annotated documents left behind by Valerie. Hanratty became one of the final eight people in the UK to be executed before capital punishment was abolished, but the others that came after him were seen as 'more clear cut' cases, so the idea of Hanratty's innocence became a beacon for those opposing capital punished. Results from testing in June 1999 were said to be strong evidence of a familial match - the evidential DNA was "two and a half million times more likely" to belong to James Hanratty than to anyone else. However, only two days later, Storie gave a different description of her assailant to the police. They drove via London Heathrow Airport, up through the Middlesex suburbs, on to the A5 and then on to the A6 to Clophill, Bedfordshire. Forensic science and the case of James Hanratty, England and Wales Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) Decisions. The comments below have not been moderated, By Valerie Storie did not recognise Alphon in an identity parade, and he was released four days later after being detained on a charge of assaulting Meike Dalal. [19] Alphon claimed he had spent the evening of 22 August with his mother, and the following night at the Vienna Hotel, Maida Vale; the police quickly confirmed this and Alphon was released. When this evidence went to court in 2002, proving Hanratty's guilt beyond any doubt, reporters once again hounded Valerie to speak. Peter Alphon died in January 2009 after a fall at his home. Find Janet Gregsten stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. After forcing them to drive 60 miles, gunman James Hanratty murdered Michael before raping Valerie and emptying a number of rounds into her body. Make an enquiry and our team will be get in touch with you ASAP. The pair had been intimate for two years after meeting through work, and seemingly had spoken about marriage. Awesome. This is a hold-up," a mans voice said. Paul Stickler's book is available on Amazon here. Mr Stickler remains interested in pursuing the story further and is looking into another case which he believes might have inspired Hanratty. He also claimed the gun went off by accident. Bedfordshire Police is appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage. Author Paul Stickler said: 'This is a story that really does need to be told and it's not been told in the way that it should be before now. Valerie wrote: "Hanratty committed a crime and was found guilty and was hanged. Hi, It's truly a crying shame that all the postings on this fascinating forum have been lost, seemingly for ever. They are by no means risk free but if smoking a pack of cigs is like downing a bottle of wodka on one night, a nicotine pouch is like drinking a half pint in comparison in terms of health risk. Hanratty's family and their supporters have continued to contest this conclusion and to press for a further review of his conviction. [27] Justice encouraged the initially reluctant Fox to help him expose what he believed to be the fabrication of the case against Hanratty. In October 2000, the Court of Appeal ordered the exhumation of Hanratty's body. Even Valerie's own Member of Parliament, Joan Lestor, insisted Hanratty was innocent. Bedfordshire Live spoke to Paul about the newly-released book, which is titled The Long Silence - just as Valerie had intended. He said: "Whenever journalists came to her asking to tell her story she said no, as they'd misrepresent her. Valentine's Day collision leaves moped rider with 'life-changing' injuries.

Metroplex Challenge 2022, Savlon For Chilblains, Romanian Cat Names, Bloody Mary Fremont Street, Alden Rowing Shell Parts, Articles M