James Camb - "The Porthole Case"

[OneRound]

What do you think of the James Camb case? It's now the subject of my latest Cold Case Jury e-book, Death of an Actress, which has just been published.
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Hi ColdCase,

I think or, at least, suspect that by illegally disposing of Gay Gibson's body, James Camb for all practical purposes changed an integral part of the normal trial process for the jury and put the onus of proof on the defence. Unsurprisingly there was not then enough for them to find in his favour.

The finding of guilt was very probably the right verdict and certainly an understandable one.

Anyway, a fascinating case and good luck with the book.

Best regards,
OneRound

[ColdCaseJury]

I've always been intrigued by this quite unique murder!

Inspector Rosella, I think this is a unique case, too. Joshua Casswell, Camb's barrister, was involved in 45 British murder trials in the first half of the 20th Century and he said it was the most sensational he was involved in.

But was it murder? I hope you will deliver your verdict.

[Rosella]

I shall be interested to read it, Cold Case. I've always been intrigued by this quite unique murder!

[ColdCaseJury]

What do you think of the James Camb case? It's now the subject of my latest Cold Case Jury e-book, Death of an Actress, which has just been published.

As many of you will know, a 21-year-old actress called Gay Gibson disappeared from the Durban Castle one humid night in October 1947, shortly after the liner crossed the equator. James Camb, a deck steward, later admitted that he pushed her lifeless body through a cabin porthole after she died during love making. The police thought he strangled her and then pushed her body through the porthole to destroy "the deadliest evidence against him". A jury agreed, and Camb was sentence to death (although he did not hang).

Who was right? How were the emergency buttons pressed? What was the significance of Gay's missing black pyjamas? Was Gay Gibson a "nymphomaniac" who had an affair with Carry On actor Sid James (as alleged in one biography of the actor)? Was James Camb a sex pest who was preying on young women? In relation to the latter, I managed to track down the actual affidavits of three women who alleged they were attacked by Camb on previous voyages. For the first time ever, you can read what the women actually said.

It's a fascinating case. Indeed, one of the most sensational cases of the 20th century. And you can deliver your verdict at the Cold Case Jury website.

Antony Matthew Brown
Author of Death of an Actress

https://www.coldcasejury.com