a6 murder

[Victor]

Hanratty did not want to say he had been to the fairground or the house, as he would then be asked why he didn't see Evans there. He thought it would be easier to explain why he did not look thoroughly enough for Evans.

You know this because you asked him?

Hi BR,

Well he wasn't in Rhyl, so had to make something up to go along with all the vague generalities about a grey-haired middle-aged lady, and a guest house with a green plant and hat stand... Therefore as he wasn't there Nick's explanation is reasonable.

KR,
Vic.

[Black Rabbit]

Hanratty did not want to say he had been to the fairground or the house, as he would then be asked why he didn't see Evans there. He thought it would be easier to explain why he did not look thoroughly enough for Evans.

You know this because you asked him????

[NickB]

Hanratty did not want to say he had been to the fairground or the house, as he would then be asked why he didn't see Evans there. He thought it would be easier to explain why he did not look thoroughly enough for Evans.

[Victor]

There is no evidence of Hanratty knowing Evan's address or how he would have found the house again. Evans most likely drove Hanratty to the fair and back to his house afterwards when it was probably dark. Funfairs stayed open way past dark in those days.

Hi Derrick,

There is evidence Hanratty knew Evan's address - he spent a night there, however, this evidence does not prove that he remembered it exactly.

Which is just the same as there being evidence that Hanratty knew how to operate the gears on a Moggie, but that doesn't mean he could have always done so without difficulty when under great stress.

KR,
Vic.

[NickB]

According to Magee, Hanratty said he did not go to the fairground where Evans worked because during his July visit he did a bunk with Evans’ shoes and so felt unable to return there.

[Derrick]

In any case Hanratty would have gone to the house where he had previously stayed the night - if he was really there and looking for him.

Yes, I'd forgotten about the taxi, but as you say Hanratty knew where Evans lived and worked.

Hanratty knew Evans only as John.

There is no evidence of Hanratty knowing Evan's address or how he would have found the house again. Evans most likely drove Hanratty to the fair and back to his house afterwards when it was probably dark. Funfairs stayed open way past dark in those days.

[Graham]

Hi Graham,

Was he Septic Blue who did all the geographic profiling?


I think Woffinden says he parked in a different place to normal, not "was away". In any case Hanratty would have gone to the house where he had previously stayed the night - if he was really there and looking for him.

KR,
Vic.

Hi Vic,

I wouldn't know if he was Septic Blue, but I guess he could have been. However, not sure if Colin Wilson would go in for anything like that, but you never know. I think it was Wilson who interviewed Dr Dutton about the Royal Conspiracy.

Yes, I'd forgotten about the taxi, but as you say Hanratty knew where Evans lived and worked.

Graham

[Victor]

Colin Wilson is a philosopher/novelist/criminologist who first came to fame with his social novel "The Outsider" in 1956. He takes an interest in true crime, and has written widely on Jack The Ripper, Rasputin, Aleister Crowley and others. He was associated with the "Angry Young Men" movement of the 1950's.

Hi Graham,

Was he Septic Blue who did all the geographic profiling?

However, Norma asserts that in this documentary Colin Wilson states that Terry Evans was away from Rhyl the week of 21st August 1961, which is why Hanratty couldn't find him. If this is true, then Colin Wilson is the only person I'm aware of to make this statement, and if anyone knows different then please let me know!

I think Woffinden says he parked in a different place to normal, not "was away". In any case Hanratty would have gone to the house where he had previously stayed the night - if he was really there and looking for him.

KR,
Vic.

[NickB]

I am sure many other barristers would have counselled Hanratty to stick with his Liverpool story and challenge the jury to disprove it.

Rumpole would have stopped Hanratty as soon as he started to tell him the Liverpool story was a lie.

Once it was out of the bag, any barrister would be in difficulty.

[Graham]

Colin Wilson

For Derrick's benefit, Colin Wilson is a philosopher/novelist/criminologist who first came to fame with his social novel "The Outsider" in 1956. He takes an interest in true crime, and has written widely on Jack The Ripper, Rasputin, Aleister Crowley and others. He was associated with the "Angry Young Men" movement of the 1950's.

According to Norma, he contributed to The Mystery Of Deadmans Hill, by which I assume she means the TV documentary by Bob Woffinden. It's a long time since I saw it, I don't have a copy, and frankly can't remember Colin Wilson being on it, which is not to say that he wasn't. However, Norma asserts that in this documentary Colin Wilson states that Terry Evans was away from Rhyl the week of 21st August 1961, which is why Hanratty couldn't find him. If this is true, then Colin Wilson is the only person I'm aware of to make this statement, and if anyone knows different then please let me know!

Graham

[Graham]

Mrs Dinwoodie was shown just one photo by the policeman sent to interview her - that of Hanratty. Then she was asked if the man in the dock was the man she remembered? Why wasn't an ID parade arranged for Mrs D if the defence were confident in her abilities to recognise him? The answer is simple: the defence had very little confidence in her - they were clutching at straws. As they were with Mrs Jones.

The Liverpool Alibi might just have scored some points for Hanratty had he stuck to it, but the Rhyl 'Alibi' is utterly mythical.

Sherrard must have known that his client was dooming himself when he swapped to a totally transparent ambush-alibi. Absolutely no criticism of Michael Sherrard implied whatsoever, but I am sure many other barristers would have counselled Hanratty to stick with his Liverpool story and challenge the jury to disprove it.

Graham

[babybird67]

presumably..

one would also have to question the reliability of a witness who could not distinguish either Scots from Welsh, or either of those from a broad London accent.

Doesn't really inspire the greatest of confidences in the accuracy of the identification does it. Good point, also, Victor, about Mrs Dinwoodie being asked if the defendant was the same man. Not exactly being picked out of a line up was he.

[NickB]

Presumably Gillbanks could find no evidence that Dinwoodie was even in the shop on Tuesday, to counter the doubt thrown on this by Harding.

[Graham]

Mrs Dinwoody's testimony was never strong anyway, but it was undermined by poor handling by both the police and the defence.

Joe Gillbanks agreed that he had conducted extensive inquiries in both Liverpool and Rhyl, adding, quote, "I have no hesitation in saying that I found no reliable person in either place which would convince me as an ex-police office that Hanratty had been in either place on 22 and 23 August 1961", unquote. This statement was made to Nimmo during the latter's inquiry.

Gillbanks was the experienced investigator who was actually doing the leg-work on behalf of the defence, and I think the above statement should be taken seriously.

Graham

[NickB]

Olive Dinwoodie's statement on 17th October:
“It was definitely the Monday because I was alone on the Tuesday. My grand-daughter was only with me on the Monday. The photograph you have shown me is one of the man who came in on Monday, 21 August asking for Tarleton Road.”

Clearly if it was the Monday she was wrongly identifying Hanratty. She later said that it might also have been the Tuesday when her grand-daughter had passed through. But this did not make it as likely as the Monday, because he would have had to visit just at that time.

In any case there was doubt about whether Mrs Dinwoodie herself was in the shop on the Tuesday. Albert Harding, a long-distance lorry driver who had visited the shop on both days, gave evidence that he only saw her there on the Monday.