How Strong Did Liz Stride's Killer Need To Be?

[Tom_Wescott]

Hi Curious,

In some manner Stride was rendered unconscious and laid to the ground, her head coming to rest over the makeshift gutter and her neck resting on a large stone that lined the gutter. This stone was probably an inconvenience to the killer. The cut followed the line of her scarf, even nicking it, which means the scarf must have been pulled tight at the moment her throat was cut. The stone I mentioned that was under her neck was pooled with blood which flowed from there into the gutter that still contained some rain water from earlier that evening. The blood mixed with the water making it appear that there was actually more blood than there was. This flowed along the gutter to the steps that led into the kitchen of the club.

What happened is that once Stride was on the ground, her killer used the scarf to lift her neck up from the rock in order to facilitate the blade of his knife. This would have held her steady but would not have provided a lot of stability and opposing force with which to cut deep. This is why her cut was not as deep as others, but clearly quite sufficient to kill her in one swipe. Although not reported at the inquest, there may have been a slight abrasion on the neck at the point where he withdrew the knife from her neck.

Whoever killed Stride must have possessed sufficient strength in both hands to manage this feat, but it needn't have been a great deal of strength. What's more impressive than his strength is his skill and confidence. Whether or not the Ripper killed Stride, it's highly unlikely this was his first murder.

As you observed, there are alternate scenarios available for what happened to Stride, but they are less likely than the above. In fact, the primary point where there should be any debate is how he rendered Stride to unconsciousness.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[curious]

First off, I wouldn't confuse size with strength, though I'm not suggesting you are; it's merely an observation.

Providing you're determined and crafty enough to catch someone off guard, then a 9 stone wet through spelk of a man could easily have done this.

Hi, Mac,
Thanks for your reply.

I mention size because of Stride's height.

So, you think that a 126 lb. or 9 stone man, if he catches a woman off guard, could control her, gently lower her to the ground, and with his other hand slit her throat, then push her head forward to control the blood spray -- even while bent nearly to the ground?

I don't see that. Of course, I am not particularly well educated about strength and want to learn.

I can understand a butcher, accustomed to pushing big animals around, possibly having that kind of strength. Other physical laborers. But would the ordinary man?

But with no sign of asphyxiation (was there with Stride?) there should have been some struggle (cachous, again, I know), some movement, right?

If she had been cooperating, a small man could have accomplished laying her down gently, but if she was struggling even a little . . . .

I don't know.

Doesn't her height influence this somewhat?

curious

[Fleetwood Mac]

There seems to be some thought that Liz Stride's throat was slit before she hit the ground -- some think near the ground.

The arterial spray apparently was controlled.

Would a person have to be particularly strong to be able to gently lower a body to the ground with one hand and arm in such a way as to control the blood spray while being able to slit a throat with the other hand?

Imagine the awkward position and strain especially with the body almost to the ground . . . Not so awkward if the throat was slit while both were upright, if she had just been grabbed from behind.

Stride was 5 feet 5 inches tall, according to information posted here on Casebook, and "fairly nourished," according to Dr. Phillips

What size and how strong would a killer have had to have been to be able to accomplish this?

Any one have any thoughts?

Thanks,
curious

First off, I wouldn't confuse size with strength, though I'm not suggesting you are; it's merely an observation.

Providing you're determined and crafty enough to catch someone off guard, then a 9 stone wet through spelk of a man could easily have done this.

[curious]

There seems to be some thought that Liz Stride's throat was slit before she hit the ground -- some think near the ground.

The arterial spray apparently was controlled.

Would a person have to be particularly strong to be able to gently lower a body to the ground with one hand and arm in such a way as to control the blood spray while being able to slit a throat with the other hand?

Imagine the awkward position and strain especially with the body almost to the ground . . . Not so awkward if the throat was slit while both were upright, if she had just been grabbed from behind.

Stride was 5 feet 5 inches tall, according to information posted here on Casebook, and "fairly nourished," according to Dr. Phillips

What size and how strong would a killer have had to have been to be able to accomplish this?

Any one have any thoughts?

Thanks,
curious