lucan

[Ally]

This is an interesting case, I had never heard of it before. What I don't get is, if he hated his wife and the aim was to kill her, why'd he stop after killing the nanny? I mean, I know he hit the wife, but it makes no sense that after killing the nanny, he just..what? gives up on killing the wife? I mean what was the business with even getting the towel? Why didn't he just kill her?

[miss marple]

Now Lucan's brother has popped up to to say he was whisked to Africa by Aspinall and Co. The pieces are coming together, the police were convinced he was there but were told to' ease off'
The establishment protecting itself.I had thought he killed himself, but there is too much evidence from different people that seems to prove otherwise.

His engraved watch[ from pre dissappearence] has recently surfaced in Africa.

Miss Marple

[louisa]

John Aspinall was a bit of a hero of mine - mainly because of his love of animals and his conservation work. I saw him once at Howletts Zoo. My friend and I were walking along a deserted path near the tennis courts, long after most other visitors had gone. Aspinall was coming down towards us, wearing his tennis gear and carrying a racket. He smiled and said 'good evening' to us.

The keepers that died knew the risks of going into the cages with the big cats. When it became law (after Aspinall Snr died) that keepers could not longer take this risk, the head keeper (Mark or Marcus somebody or other) resigned because he knew he wouldn't be able to just look at his beloved big cats from outside of the enclosure - he needed to be in there with them.

Back to Lucan - I'd say that without doubt he was guilty of murdering Sandra Rivett. Everything points to it. As to what happened to him afterwards is anyone's guess but I suspect he didn't live long.

One of the questions put to his upper crust gaming partners (by detectives) was 'Could Lord Lucan have been having an affair with Sandra Rivett?' They were horrified! Of course he wasn't having an affair with her. She was a nanny!

[Magpie]

Hi MM,

The 'Pie is probably having supper now, so I'll add this:

Hinky: Adjective:
(of a person) Dishonest or suspect: "he knew the guy was hinky".
(of an object) Unreliable: "my brakes are a little hinky".

Thanks

Pretty much it--the sense if it not sounding quite right but without anything specific that you can point to and say "this is b.s.".

[The Grave Maurice]

Hi MM,

The 'Pie is probably having supper now, so I'll add this:

Hinky: Adjective:
(of a person) Dishonest or suspect: "he knew the guy was hinky".
(of an object) Unreliable: "my brakes are a little hinky".

[miss marple]

Magpie, so Lady Lucan was attacked by her husband , she recognised him, he calmed down and when he went to get a towel, she ran into the Plumbers Arms to escape him screaming that he had murdered the nanny and attacked her. Meanwhile Lucan escaped.
Are you suggesting that an unknown assailant attacked Sandra Rivett, then by coincidence Lucan turned up at that moment and started attacking his wife,,
The Lucan 's had had a bitter divorce. Lucan hated his wife and was worried about debts and hated the fact his wife had custody of the children.He had the key to the house,Sandra Rivett usually had the day off that day, but she had changed it so was working that night, the light bulb had been removed from the hall.Sandra Rivett and lady Lucan were small,of a similar size, if he had planned to attack her, he would have thought it was Sandra's day off. Hides in the basement and removing lightbulb,when Sandra comes down,he batters her, with a fabric covered bit of pipe ,[ another piece was found in his car] realises his mistake, places body in sack.
When Lady Lucan comes looking for Sandra, at the top of the basement stairs,[ at no time did she enter the basement [forensics confirms this] Lucan starts to batter her with the same bit of pipe, not succeeding in killing her, she squeezes his balls and because She realises its him he changes tack, calms down and pretends that he was saving her, and according to her, admits the murder of Sandra.He apologises and go's to get a towel to mop her up, she escapes to Plummers Arms screaming blue murder.

Lucan had motive, opportunity, and method.Also in his youth had been given to rages. As a gambler he probably took a risk,which if he had succeeded, in killing his wife instead of Sandra, might have worked. Lady Lucan battered to death by unknown assailant in course of attempted robbery.

Magpie what's hinky mean?

Miss Marple

[Magpie]

And your reasons, Magpie?
Incidently the murder weapon, a piece of pipe was found in the boot of Lucan's abandoned car.

There's just something vaguely hinky about the accepted description of events.
Maybe he did it--probably he did--but I think that the cops just took the path of least resistance and overlooked some of the piscine odor so they could close the books in the case.

[miss marple]

And your reasons, Magpie?
Incidently the murder weapon, a piece of pipe was found in the boot of Lucan's abandoned car.

Aspinall may have loved animals,but had no regard for humans, several of his keepers were killed due to close proximity to wild beasts.

The casual attitude towards death and indifference to the death of the 'lower orders' certainly shows in the set's arrogance and indifference to the death of Sandra Rivett, everyone was more interested in covering their backs and protecting their own.

Miss Marple

[Magpie]

I'm probably alone on this, but I'm not convinced Lucan killed anyone.

[DrummondStreet]

Carol: I think Apinall's love of animals was one of his only redeeming qualities. People are very very complex and full of contradictions. However, the more that I learn of the Nazi-leaning politics (Lucan in particular) of that group the more disgusted with them I become. I always assumed that Goldsmith was Jewish so it really surprises me. Perhaps Lucan was the only member of that crowd who truly embraced Hitler.

[Carol]

It's strange, isn't it, that John Aspinall founded both the Howlett's and the Port Lympne Zoos in Kent and funded them originally with his gambling winnings. Both zoos do excellent work with regard to saving species close to extinction and 'returning' them to their natural environments where possible. Port Lympne, especially, is a very beautiful place to visit.
Carol

[DrummondStreet]

Here is the article in which I read that Scotland Yard became suspicious that Lucan was living in South Africa.

http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/n...d_lucan/7.html

It references a September 1995 article from the Observer as its source.

[DrummondStreet]

OK Jason, but what about the resemblance to Hemingway? Just kidding .

Apparently the Lucan children are now estranged from their mother and when they were teenagers requested to be removed from her custody to live with family friends. I was sad to read this and also disappointed to learn that they might have been willfully visiting their murderous father in S. Africa. The secretary's account makes much more sense --Lucan wanted to observe his children from a distance.

I'll try to find the article about the police sending investigators to S. Africa in search of Lucan.

[jason_c]

Didn't the police suspect for a long time that Lucan was living in South Africa? Apparently his children made many, many trips to S. Africa arousing police suspicion. They even sent people there to investigate but came up empty handed.

Off-topic but has anyone else noticed the strong physical resemblance between Lord Lucan and Hemingway?

This is likely a myth. If the police had serious suspicions his children were visiting Lucan then he probably would have been captured. And I cant see the kids visiting someone who had attempted to murder their mother.

[miss marple]

I don't think he chucked himself into a propeller,somebody would have noticed, the propeller might have been damaged. If he didnt throw himself into the sea,he may have shot himself. His friends could easily have disposed of the body.

Miss Marple