My book : THE A6 MURDER: Was Hanratty Innocent?

[Natalie Severn]

please see previous pages re photos of lighting up time and visibility levels in South Kinmel Street on 22/8/12

The Windsor Hotel at 20.43 pm on 22/08/12 just before lighting up time-it is opposite Ingledene in Kinmel Street [-Mrs Jones's B&B] where Mr Henry Parry gave a description of Hanratty which, according to several sources, was one of the best descriptions of him of all but which has never been disclosed as Mr Parry did not want to get involved either at the time or afterwards.According to sources Mr Parry may have been standing outside the Windsor just before Hanratty called at Mrs Jones's and asked Mr Parry if he knew where he could get B&B.Another source says he went inside to ask.What is known for certain is that Mr Henry Parry made a statement to the police about the incident that has never been disclosed.

[Natalie Severn]

21 Kinmel Street at 20.42 just before lighting up time [as it was numbered in 1961]This house is next door to Mrs Jones's at Ingledene[ then number 19 on left]and it was where Mrs Betty Davies lived who was a very important [but too late witness].She was on her own and 'it was getting dark when he knocked'

[Natalie Severn]

Ingledene, former B&B of Mrs Grace Jones .This photo was taken at 20.56 just after 'lighting up time' on August 22nd --[image blurred but levels of visibility quite clear]


It may be worth noting that the visibility levels on 22/08/2012 may have been hampered a little by heavy cloud over setting sun whereas on 22/08/1961 it was reported that there was a good sunset at 20.31

[Natalie Severn]

This photo of the beach at Rhyl,not far from the famous Rhyl fairground Hanratty said he headed for on 22nd August 1961 when he got off the bus and next to the then Crosville terminus .The fairground stood until recently .The sky loaded with cloud should give viewers a good idea of cloud levels throughout the hour from 20.05 to 20.56 of our photo shoot on 22nd August 2012.

[Natalie Severn]

Please begin looking at pics on previous page to follow sequence,
Best
Norma

[Archaic]

Hi Norma, how are you?

I've only just seen this thread, and want to congratulate you on your book and wish you great success with it!

Best regards,
Archaic

[Natalie Severn]

Thankyou Archaic! How nice of you.I am fine----and yourself? Norma xx

[Limehouse]

Well done Norma and James. These photographs illustrate the point so well.

[Natalie Severn]

22nd August -more photos of Rhyl between 20.05 and 20.57

This is the spot where Mr Fish gave a statement to police that he had been asked by a young man for directions at the corner of Aquarium Street and River Street on 22nd August 1961.......
also an elderly woman remembered a young man who strongly resembled Hanratty knocking on her door asking about B&B and her son refused to allow her to get involved in going to court to make statements about it.

1]Windsor Hotel at 20.57 after lighting up time at 20.47 .It stands almost directly opposite Ingledene in Kinmel Street where Mr Henry Parry is believed to have given ' a very detailed description' of having seen Hanratty when he came asking about B&B's.to police on the evening of 22/08/1961

2 & 3 ]Corner of Aquarium Street and River Street at 20.05 22nd August

[Natalie Severn]

21 Kinmel Street in 1961 home of Mrs Betty Davies-at approx 20.50 hours

When a young man knocked on the door of this house on 22nd August 1961 ,when it was then a Boarding house, asking if there were any vacancies,the young woman who answered the door happened to be alone in the house and it was ,she said , already getting dark.The house was next door to Ingledene in Kinmel Street where Mrs Jones the landlady said Hanratty had stayed that August.
On 22nd August 2012 James Moore and myself went to investigate the visibility levels and the photographs which we took can be seen here and on the previous pages of this thread.
Of all the Rhyl witnesses Mrs Betty Davies was one of the most important to come forward although her statement to Paul Foot was not made until 26th May 1968.Mrs Davies's statement makes clear she was visited by the same young man who visited Mrs Walker and Mrs Vincent.At the trial it was accepted that James Hanratty may well have been the young man who had knocked on the doors of Mrs Walker's and Mrs Vincent's houses in South Kinmel Street -a tiny street that lies parallel to Kinmel Street and is just behind both Ingledene and number 21 Kinmel Street .However what was not accepted by the prosecution was that this happened on 22nd August 1961 instead it was suggested it had happened on an earlier visit by James Hanratty in July [25th].
After advising the young man to try further down the street , Betty Davies had run into her mother-in -law's house,Mrs Margaret Davies's at 27 South Kinmel Street which backed onto hers and told her that a young man had come knocking and that she didn't take him in. Margaret Davies corroborated the date of this as did Noel Davies Betty's husband who had been told of the visit when he got home at 9.30 that evening.Each of these people were therefore able to corroborate each other's statements .
These meetings could not have taken place on July 25th because Mrs Davies was in Chatsworth House Nursing Home ,Prestatyn,from July 20th until July 28th.[Paul Foot-"Who Killed Hanratty?"]-photos taken of house where Betty Davies was living in 1961 at 20-43 [below] ie before lighting up time and 20.47 after lighting up time-see following page

[Natalie Severn]

20.57 -22 August 2012 21 Kinmel Street-

Please see previous pages regarding the visibility levels in Kinmel Street and South Kinmel Street between 20.30 and 21.00 hours on 22 August 2012

This is the level of 'darkness' after 'lighting up time ' which happens at 20.47 approx. in Rhyl on 22 August each year .

[louisa]

Norma - you've done a great job. The evidence that points to Hanratty not being responsible for this murder is overwhelming isn't it? Paul Foot and Bob Woffindon also put forward good cases for Hanratty's innocence.

You have been challenged but you have countered and answered all points carefully and fully. As you have said, the debate now seems to be going around in circles.

I honestly believe that anyone who has read your books, plus the ones by Foot and Woffindon can surely be in no doubt now about Hanratty's innocence? Some still adhere to the dodgy and changeable eye witness accounts, none of which should have been relied upon.

I also believe that no court in the land could or would convict Hanratty on such flimsy evidence. Unfortunately the jury were not privy to most of the important facts which emerged much later.

Norma - I've enjoyed looking at the photos. Well done!

[Natalie Severn]

Thanks Louisa.You are right.When Supt Matthews had finished the report commissioned by Scotland Yard in 1998 he said exactly that:"Hanratty' he said," should never even have been charged"

Which is why its so curious the LCN DNA-----

[caz]

Any luck with getting the case looked at again by the powers that be, Nats?

Love,

Caz
X

[Natalie Severn]

Hi Caz-only just seen this post-the answer is I really dont know as I am not privy to that sort of information but I think it continues yes.