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Hanratty found a job there driving a mechanical shovel for the company of Green Brothers, which made breeze blocks, and remained with the firm for three years. 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. 22nd August 1961, Michael Gregsten a 36-year-old research scientist at the Road Research Laboratory at Langley, near Slough. 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]. Usher admitted remembering Hanratty and the suitcase, and partly remembered the name of the man as 'Ratty'; he was located by private detectives working for the defence, but was never called as a witness. Michael Gregsten's widow later went on to have an affair with her brother in law William Ewer, who left his wife. A BBC Panorama episode in 1966 included extracts from the Jean Justice tapes. Their relationship started over a mutual love of car . Enter your email address below to get the latest news and exclusive content from The History Press delivered straight to your inbox. 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. This was the beginning of the crime which would see Michael murdered and Valerie raped and shot before being left at Deadman's Hill on the A6. 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 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. 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). Valerie criticised the journalists who campaigned to prove Hanratty's innocence in an interview with the Mail on Sunday in 2002. But when Michael reached for the bag Hanratty shot him twice in the head, killing him instantly. He was struck by how calm and measured she was throughout the whole ordeal. It is not known why the trial was moved to Bedford, just nine miles from the murder scene, although this afforded easier access for the now-paraplegic Valerie Storie, who had received treatment at nearby Stoke Mandeville Hospital. Despite this, she was hounded by the media and celebrities, including John Lennon and Yoko Ono, who criticised her for allegedly sending an innocent man to his grave. At Deadman's Hill the man ordered Gregsten to pull into a lay-by. I would ask you now to respect my wish to be left in piece.". I had found the guilty person. Michael Gregsten is a 36-year-old research scientist at the Road Research Laboratory at Langley, near Slough. Find Janet Gregsten stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. He wrote a suicide letter to Hanratty; it was full of spite and venom, but at no point actually accused him of committing the murder. After some investigation, 'Ryan' turned out to be James Hanratty, a 25-year-old petty criminal with four convictions for car theft, larceny and burglary. They had been here on a few occasions before, to make love or simply to spend time alone together. Shortly after his discharge, Hanratty left home for Brighton, where he obtained casual work with a road haulier. During one of the phone calls, he pronounced "think" as "fink".[20]. [34] However, he admitted that, if contamination could be excluded, the DNA evidence demonstrated that James Hanratty had committed the murder and rape. On April 4, 1962, Hanratty was hanged by executioner Harry Allen at Bedford Prison. According to Storie, the couple were abducted at gunpoint in their car at Dorney Reach, Buckinghamshire, by a man with a Cockney accent and mannerisms matching Hanratty's. How much time had passed since they had pulled into the field is not absolutely clear since neither was paying particular attention but, Valerie would later estimate, after about thirty minutes their private conversation was disturbed. In the 'Storie papers' is a script containing her stronger feelings on the matter. 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. 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. He then stated that he had in fact been in the Welsh coastal town of Rhyl. After a failed escape attempt, Hanratty was transferred to Camp Hill Prison, Isle of Wight. ;Picture taken at home of Mrs. Janet Gregston with her two sons Anthony 3 and Simon (9) 1961. The Long Silence, published in August 2021, is the first book to explain in detail the 'cat and mouse' drive and it has been heralded by many as a much overdue account. 10:56, 04 Apr 2022 libra ascendant jupiter in 7th house; kelly holt barn sanctuary married; in your presence, in your presence there is peace lyrics; how to watch deleted youtube videos reddit The 'A6 Defence Committee' was a self-appointed group of campaigners and activists, who included the journalist Paul Foot and the Labour politicians Fenner Brockway and Joan Lestor, the former and current MPs for the Eton & Slough constituency where Valerie Storie lived. On Tuesday, 22nd August, 1961, Michael Gregsten, 36, a research physicist, called at the address of his estranged wife at Sabine House, Abbots Langley, and. DNA samples from both sources exactly matched James Hanratty's DNA. Gregsten at first refused, but the man became aggressive and threatened them with the gun. House-to-house inquiries have also been carried out. [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. Despite being left paralysed and having to spend several months undergoing therapy at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, she returned to her job as a member of the on-the-spot accident team at the Road Research Laboratory just ten months after the ordeal. ;Picture taken at home of Mrs. Janet Gregston with her two sons Anthony 3 and Simon (9) 1961. The man then kept them there for two hours, chattering to them incessantly. [citation needed] Police went back to Nudds, the hotel manager (who himself had a lengthy criminal record for fraud and other offences), who now said that his second statement was a lie, and his first statement, implicating 'Ryan', was in fact true. Police believe the couple, both employees of the Road Research Laboratory near Slough, were confronted by a man with a gun as they were parked on Dorney Common in Berkshire yesterday evening. The report made there acknowledged his unhappy home background (he claimed he was frightened of his mother and had no filial feelings towards his father) and his mental handicaps. Jamal Edwards, a music producer and entrepreneur, died suddenly in February 2022. Transferred briefly to Durham Prison, he was returned to Strangeways where, having served his full term, he was released in March 1961, aged 24. Valentine's Day collision leaves moped rider with 'life-changing' injuries. Even Valerie's own Member of Parliament, Joan Lestor, insisted Hanratty was innocent. However, what isn't well known is Valerie's side of the story. 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. Free shipping for many products! Ask the author: Jeremy Craddock on The Jigsaw Murders, Ask the author: Monica Weller on investigating a 50-year-old cold case. [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. While she died in 2016 before she wrote her book and told her story in her words, The Long Silence is a compelling read with never before heard details of what happened on that fateful night and the impact it had on Valerie's life. Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. After a five-hour ordeal, ending in a layby on the A6 in Bedfordshire, Michael was shot dead and Valerie was raped, shot and left for dead. After holding them at gunpoint for two hours, Hanratty told Michael to start driving because he wanted food. Professor Hobbs said: 'It is important that people understand that it is very easy to jump on a bandwagon and come up with a conclusion that is wrong.'. "Valerie has worked at the laboratory since she left school five years ago and she has known Michael for a long time.". [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. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. In 1962, at Bedford Jail, 25-year-old Hanratty became one of the final eight people in the UK to be executed before capital punishment was abolished. [37][38] However, they further went on to note, in the summary of their judgement: The DNA evidence does not stand alone and the Court refers to some of the more striking coincidences in the light of the DNA evidence if James Hanratty was not guilty. Collaborate with our global Enterprise Sales team. We choose the most important stories of the day to include in the email, including crime, court news, long reads, traffic and travel, food and drink articles and more. circa 1962. Hanratty claimed that his suitcase had been handed in to Lime Street Station to a 'man with a withered or turned hand'. [citation needed]. [8], Gregsten was a scientist at the Road Research Laboratory in Slough. 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 . ", Planned school expansion will cause 'traffic chaos', councillor claims, Councillor Victoria Harvey warned: This council is failing on travel plans. Search for stock images, vectors and videos, Available for editorial use only. The argument for contamination was dismissed as "fanciful" by the judges, who concluded that the "DNA evidence, standing alone, is certain proof of guilt". A man threatened the couple with a gun. 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. 1945: Ex-soldier buried his wife on Anglesey beach after . Detectives and tracker dogs have spent the day searching the surrounding area and so far two cartridges have been found. He leaves two sons, aged seven and two. Hanratty's early years were troubled. Paul's book describes the events in great detail of the night in illuminating detail, based on Valerie's accounts. The campaign got even more attention when Beatle John Lennon, and his partner, Yoko Ono, joined the campaign. However, only two days later, Storie gave a different description of her assailant to the police. [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. 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. The gunman knew the Bear Hotel, Maidenhead. 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. Professor Hobbs described Valerie as a 'bloody minded and determined' woman with a charming character. When Valerie died and her papers were given to me I became determined to retell the story with her perspective at its heart. As a result of these facts, after the A6 murder, Valerie was often unfairly characterised as a "loose woman". Although Hanratty's blood group (O) was the same as the murderer's, it was a fairly common blood type shared by 36% of the British population, including Peter Alphon and, apart from Storie's identification, there was no other evidence that Hanratty had ever been in the Maidenhead area. The journey continued along the A5 through St Albans, which the gunman mistakenly insisted was Watford, before joining the A6. Forensic science and the case of James Hanratty, England and Wales Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) Decisions. The pair had been intimate for two years after meeting through work, and seemingly had spoken about marriage. They took with them maps and other things to organise a car rally being held at their office this weekend. Michael Gregsten with his wife Janet before he was murdered in his car on the A6 by James Hanratty. What Valerie then saw surprised her. She retreated into her own world, while at the same time listening, watching and making notes of what was being said.". In 2002 Valerie was finally vindicated when DNA evidence proved beyond reasonable doubt that Hanratty was guilty. map Storie drank gin and Pepsi, Gregsten had Double Diamond. 'What I do find distasteful is that the family's belief in their son's innocence has been boosted by campaigners who have given them false hope. [15][16] Storie, an only child, lived with her parents in Cippenham, a suburb of Slough. 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.