The sudden intrusion did not seem real. 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. The initial prime suspects were Hanratty, a petty criminal, and Peter Louis Alphon, an eccentric drifter. Keep an eye on the newspapers, this in years to come will come out.". The gunman replied that Gregsten had frightened him by turning too quickly. Valentine's Day collision leaves moped rider with 'life-changing' injuries. Collect, curate and comment on your files. He was then buried in the grounds of Bedford Gaol. For pouch chewers, reach down in the bottom of the pouch, where the tobacco is moist, and grab a small handful. a6 murder - Casebook: Jack the Ripper Forums At the trial Nudds also stated that the man, upon leaving, had asked the way to a bus stop for a 36A bus, though his statement to police had merely mentioned the 36 bus. Im a desperate man. The hotel manager, William Nudds, made a statement to police naming the last occupant of the room as 'James Ryan'. Among the prosecution team at the trial was Geoffrey Lane, who was subsequently appointed Lord Chief Justice. The car had been jointly owned by Gregsten's mother and aunt, and lent to the couple who, according to Storie, were planning to attend a car rally. The James Hanratty case is perhaps Bedfordshire's most notorious murder. After ignoring her pleas to shoot her as well, or let her get help for Gregsten, the gunman told her to kiss him. He also claimed the gun went off by accident. The man was immaculately dressed. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images 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. Despite being the victim of an unspeakable crime, Valerie found herself at the centre of a witch hunt committed to proving the innocence of the man she knew to be her attacker. Michael Gregsten's widow later went on to have an affair with her brother in law William Ewer, who left his wife. Valerie Storie - obituary - The Telegraph On 3 July 1957, aged 20, five months after his release from Wormwood Scrubs, Hanratty was sentenced at Brighton Magistrates' Court to six months' imprisonment (he served four) for a variety of motoring offences, including theft of a motor vehicle and driving without a licence. Alphon resembled the Identikit pictures more than Hanratty did; Alphon never produced a convincing alibi; He provided a more credible motive than Hanratty could; He was a poor driver, as witnesses had seen the Morris Minor being driven erratically towards Redbridge Station; On 22 March 1967, Detective Superintendent Douglas Nimmo reported to, On 29 May 1996, Detective Chief Superintendent Roger Matthews reported to Home Secretary. 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. Pre-pay for multiple images and download on demand. Despatched to the youth wing of Wormwood Scrubs, he slashed his wrists; placed in the prison hospital, he was declared a 'potential psychopath'. [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. Circa 1962. The full text of the Court of Appeals Decision: This page was last edited on 26 January 2023, at 14:31. First sergeant epr bullets june 30, 2022 | | 0 comment | 2:40 pm. A group known as the A6 Committee was set up, with newspaper articles following and demands for an independent review in the House of Lords. This image could have imperfections as its either historical or reportage. Crime Files Reopened: Was James Hanratty in Rhyl the night a scientist He started to bombard his own solicitor with threatening phone calls and letters. "[42], Following the DNA evidence in 2002, Storie earned over 40,000 for her participation in various TV and newspaper documentaries. Michael was 14 years older than her and married with two children, though he was in the process of separating from his wife. The other piece of evidence tested, a sample from Valerie Storie's underwear, provided two different sets of male DNA - one that corresponded to Hanratty; and one which the Court of Appeal interpreted as coming from Gregsten.[34]. The campaign got even more attention when Beatle John Lennon, and his partner, Yoko Ono, joined the campaign. Alphon subsequently surrendered himself, and was subjected to an intense interrogation. On 11 September, two cartridge cases were found in the guest basement bedroom of the Vienna Hotel, which were matched with the bullets that killed Gregsten and to the ones in the gun found on the bus. When Paul was handed what he calls the 'Storie papers', made up of her own notes on that fateful night as well as police tapes, he decided her story needed to be told. At the time of France's second suicide attempt in January, one of the letters he left was addressed to the coroner, in which he wrote 'I am of sound mind and body. Hanratty claimed that his suitcase had been handed in to Lime Street Station to a 'man with a withered or turned hand'. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. James Hanratty (4 October 1936 4 April 1962), also known as the A6 Murderer, was a British criminal who was one of the final eight people in the UK to be executed before capital punishment was effectively abolished. Michael wound down his window, only halfway, when a gun was thrust through the gap, its muzzle pointing directly at them. They drove via London Heathrow Airport, up through the Middlesex suburbs, on to the A5 and then on to the A6 to Clophill, Bedfordshire. Gregsten was found shot dead in a car on the A6 in Deadman's Hill, Bedfordshire, and his girlfriend Valerie Storie was raped . Was James Hanratty Guilty or - The short story writer | Facebook We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. I repeat that James Hanratty was guilty of the crime for which he was hanged. 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). Mr Stickler remains interested in pursuing the story further and is looking into another case which he believes might have inspired Hanratty. the A6 Murder | blackpoolcrime 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. Gregsten was ordered to stop at a milk vending machine and sent into a shop to buy cigarettes, and then to stop at a petrol station for more fuel. Woman left with serious injuries after dog attack on residential road in Luton. [12] Gregsten had been shot twice in the head with a .38 revolver at point blank range; Storie had been raped, and then shot with the same weapon, four times in the left shoulder and once in the neck, leaving her paralysed below the shoulders. ;Picture taken at home of Mrs. Janet Gregston with her two sons Anthony 3 and Simon (9) 1961. 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 Long Silenceis, in essence, Valeries posthumous autobiography, explaining for the first time every explicit detail of the cat and mouse drive, as Michael and Valerie tried on over twenty occasions to deter and thwart the apparently indecisive Hanratty. Michael Gregsten, was shot dead in a car on the A6 in Bedfordshire in August 1961, but Hanratty claimed to be in North Wales resort . [28] However, Bob Woffinden wrote that there was only one occasion when Justice and Jeremy Fox supported Alphon financially, when Fox paid a hotel bill for him. What Valerie then saw surprised her. During 1962, the case caught the interest of London businessman Jean Justice, the son of a Belgian diplomat and partner of barrister Jeremy Fox. 2022 Casefile True Crime Podcast. 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. His DNA was found on a piece of material from Valerie Stories knickers where it would be expected to be if he was guilty; it was also found on the handkerchief found with the gun. RM ID: B5E30P Preview Image details Contributor: Trinity Mirror / Mirrorpix / Alamy Stock Photo File size: 30 MB (1.3 MB Compressed download) Releases: According to Alphon, a man had paid him a sum of 5,000 to end the affair between Gregsten and Storie. [citation needed]. Find Janet Gregsten stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. During the 60 mile journey, Michael and Valerie made 22 separate attempts to escape or frustrate the driver. See the latest news in your area enter your postcode below or visit InYourArea: This story is well known and Hanratty, often referred to as the A6 Murderer, has become Bedfordshire's most notorious killer. In 2002 Valerie was finally vindicated when DNA evidence proved beyond reasonable doubt that Hanratty was guilty. 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Use in a presentation/talk (eg,Powerpoint and Keynote) or in an editorial newsletter. mobile homes for rent in hammond, la / bourbon red turkey egg production / bourbon red turkey egg production Michael is married and he and his wife Janet have two boys, Simon, eight, and Anthony, nearly two.But Michael is having an affair with his 22-year-old lab assistant, Valerie Storie. Look after mum and dad. After his release, his father resigned his job as dustman with Wembley council to start a window cleaning business with his son in a futile attempt to keep him away from crime. On 19 March 1997, the Home Office referred the case to the new Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) where Baden Skitt chaired the investigation. She was always absolutely certain that she was right, there was no question about that.'. She identified James Hanratty as her attacker during an identity parade. This would be of no interest except for possibly the oddest coincidence in the case. Gregsten's girlfriend, Valerie Storie, was raped, shot five times, and left paralysed. In essence its her posthumous autobiography.". [12] Kerr alerted Sydney Burton, a farm labourer, who flagged down two cars and asked the drivers to call an ambulance. Alphon stuck to his confession and continued to repeat it until about 1971, when he withdrew his claims. Case 172: Michael Gregsten & Valerie Storie : r/Casefile - Reddit She then began to draft a book telling her story of what happened that night on the A6, and of the suspicions she endured for years after, but tragically she died in 2016 before she wrote it. This is a hold-up, a mans voice said. The two were facing each other, their arms resting on the backs of the seats as they spoke quietly when there was a tap on the drivers window. Surely we could do much better?, Man in his 70s attacked in his home by burglars in Luton. Something went wrong, please try again later. What Is The Case Of Michael Gregsten's Suicide. She told them: "I have never had a problem with the truth. Michael Gregsten with his wife Janet before he was murdered in his car on the A6 by James Hanratty. . Hanratty's uneducated London accent and his 'very large icy-blue eyes' enabled Valerie to identify him from a line-up and she later testified at his trial. [34] Modern testing of DNA from Hanratty's exhumed corpse and members of his family convinced Court of Appeal judges in 2002 that Hanratty's guilt was proved "beyond doubt". She didn't change her story one iota.'. The manager of the Alexandra Court Hotel reported a man who had locked himself in his room for five days after the murder, and the police picked him up. When Alphon found out, he flew into a rage. Signing up to the newsletter is simple. BBC ON THIS DAY | 23 | 1961: Couple found shot in A6 lay-by Neutral Citation Number: [2002] Crim 1141", "James Hanratty: Close to a final verdict? 79 Michael Gregsten Premium High Res Photos - Getty Images 1985: West German spy chief defects to East, Man finds A6 murder weapon - broadcast 25 August 1961. Case 172: Michael Gregsten & Valerie Storie - Casefile True Crime Justice took the precaution of making thorough notes, and recording all telephone conversations with Alphon. Get in touch for any commercial. If you do as I tell you, you will be all right.'. In the evening of Thursday 24 August, the murder weapon, a .38 revolver, was discovered under the back seat of a 36A London bus, fully loaded and wiped clean of fingerprints. After her retirement she remained an active member of her community, giving presentations on family history and helping to establish a minibus service in her hometown of Slough. During one of the phone calls, he pronounced "think" as "fink".[20]. Journalists such as Paul Foot and Bob Woffinden campaigned for years to prove Hanratty's innocence, casting doubt on Valerie's evidence. However, only two days later, Storie gave a different description of her assailant to the police. Enter your email address below to get the latest news and exclusive content from The History Press delivered straight to your inbox. James Hanratty - Watford Observer 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. The murder weapon was recovered from a place on a bus which he regarded as a hiding place and the bus followed a route he could well have used. As executor of Valerie's will, Professor Hobbs was the first to come across the documents and notes she left behind and he worked with Mr Stickler to ensure that the 'posthumous autobiography' was an honest and truthful account. 2023 Getty Images. Hanratty - did he rape and murder? | Watford Observer Why did you shoot him?" Mobile Homes For Rent Corsicana Tx - House for Rent Alphon was the son of a senior figure at Scotland Yard. Yet in spite of this, Valerie kept her silence, Paul explained. Want the latest Bedfordshire news direct to your inbox? 60 years since the A6 murder in Bedfordshire - Home | Bedford Today Twice he told Gregsten to turn off the road and then changed his mind, and the car returned to the A6. The trial lasted 21 days, the longest in English legal history up to that time.[21]. 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. Michael J. Gregston [, GRO Register of Marriages: SEP 1951 5f 1655 WOOD GREEN - Michael J. Gregsten = Janet Phillips or Kinnock, GRO Register of Deaths: JAN 1995 38C 7831 24 HORSHAM - Janet Gregsten, DoB = 9 Jan 1930, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Wrongly hanged: Hanratty is found innocent", "40 years after his execution, appeal judges say DNA is certain proof of Hanratty's guilt", "Hansard (for the 2 August 1963 sitting)", "We will never know the truth about the A6 killer", "After 36 years, Hanratty is set to be cleared", "Appeal Court to review Hanratty murder case", "England and Wales Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) Decisions. He then retrieved a cloth from the duffle bag, covered Gregsten's bloodied head with it, and ordered Storie to clamber into the back of the car, over Gregsten's body. Search for stock images, vectors and videos, Available for editorial use only. After Hanratty received a unanimous verdict of guilty in court, a petition arguing his innocence was signed by 90,000 people, but an appeal was dismissed. But then the other suspect, Peter Alphon, publicly confesses to the crime. Case 172: Michael Gregsten & Valerie Storie - YouTube Hanratty confessed to his defence barrister that he had invented part of the Liverpool story as he was unsure he could prove where he was. James Hanratty - A6 Murder The prosecution produced witnesses attesting that all the rooms were already occupied at the time and accused Mrs Jones of being an unreliable witness. Crime A6 Murder of Michael Gregsten. On 7 September 1954, aged 17, Hanratty appeared before Harrow Magistrates' where he was placed on probation for taking a motor vehicle without consent, and for driving without a licence or insurance. 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. A brutal crime at Deadman's Hill On August 22, 1961, lovers Gregsten and Storie were parked next to a cornfield in a Morris Minor when a revolver was thrust into the car and a cockney voice let them know they were being held up. At about 6:45am on 23 August 1961, the body of Michael John Gregsten (28 December 1924 - 23 August 1961)[10][11] was discovered in a lay-by on the A6 road at Deadman's Hill, near the Bedfordshire village of Clophill, by John Kerr, an Oxford undergraduate conducting a traffic census. He was hanged at Bedford Jail on 4 April 1962, after being convicted of the murder of scientist Michael Gregsten, aged 36, who was shot dead in a car on the A6 at Deadman's Hill, near Clophill, Bedfordshire in August 1961. He said: "Whenever journalists came to her asking to tell her story she said no, as they'd misrepresent her. The unit should also be connected correctly to the power source. michael gregsten wife - Synergyarabia.ae michael gregsten wife. Valerie hid pound notes in her bra to stop Hanratty from taking them. As she told food network, "i learned more about myself with every battle and i learned more how deeply talented the other warriors in this tournament are. He leaves two sons, aged seven and two. Michael gregsten wife / june 11, 2022 june 11, 2022 / were achilles and patroclus cousins. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Show all articles. They were confronted by a man with a gun. michael gregsten wife. When this evidence went to court in 2002, proving Hanratty's guilt beyond any doubt, reporters once again hounded Valerie to speak. Bedfordshire Police is appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage. [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. 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. The decision by the Court of Appeal included a discussion of the handling of the various items of evidence involved. Hanratty was sent to recuperate at an aunt's home in Bedford, a place he and his brother Michael had visited as children on holiday. [citation needed] Storie gave another statement to the police later that morning, just before she underwent surgery in Bedford Hospital. [35] The Court of Appeal did not have the power to order an exhumation of Hanratty's body, but Lord Chief Justice Harry Woolf decided that this was desirable "in the interests of justice". Miss Storie's mother, Mrs John Storie, said: "Michael came here last night and had tea with Valerie. After climbing into the car's back seat, he ordered Gregsten to drive. Initially admitted to the Royal Sussex Hospital, Brighton, he was transferred to St Francis Hospital, Haywards Heath, where he underwent a craniotomy following the erroneous diagnosis of a brain haemorrhage. Sign up here. [41], Valerie Storie was quoted as saying "I identified the guilty man. "The book tells the story of what happened that night and how she dealt with it in the years that followed. He then ordered Storie to drag Gregsten's body out of the car to the edge of the lay-by 2 or 3 metres away, before ordering her back into the car to start it for him and demonstrate the operation of the gears and switches. The case for Hanratty's innocence was pursued by his family as well as by some of the opponents of capital punishment in the United Kingdom, who maintained that Hanratty was innocent and sought to draw attention to evidence that would cast doubt on the validity of his conviction.