Regional Murder Mysteries

[sdreid]

Sorry to hear that Jordan. It wasn't a robbery?

[ChainzCooper]

One of my friends Mohammed Sundal, owner of a Curry Restaurant in my town was murdered on the night of December 6th. I don't think the police know much at this point a friend of mine from high school is a Sheriff's deputy and is going to keep me posted on what he knows. Its really crazy I feel awful this holiday season knowing Mohammed had a wife and four kids some a hole just shot him to death for no reason outside his restaurant. Hopefully they will find who did it and give them the death penalty its lethal injection in Raleigh for this p o s. I sure do miss Mohammed, one great guy
Jordan

[Limehouse]

"He is now 60 years old, and will therefore be at least 78 before he is released."

I wouldn't bank on it. There's the "compassion" card, for a start. Let's hope he stays healthy in prison - only way of keeping him in!

I don't know if that will apply here Robert, as he got a minimum of 18 years. I think he has to serve that before any consideration is made toward parole.

[Robert]

"He is now 60 years old, and will therefore be at least 78 before he is released."

I wouldn't bank on it. There's the "compassion" card, for a start. Let's hope he stays healthy in prison - only way of keeping him in!

[Limehouse]

Eighteen years sounds like an extremely light sentence for murder.

Yes, it is a light sentence, and it also includes sentencing for the rapes and sexual attacks. However, it is a minimum sentence, so he could serve more. He is now 60 years old, and will therefore be at least 78 before he is released.

What a long time Sally's family had to wait for justice.

[sdreid]

Eighteen years sounds like an extremely light sentence for murder.

[Limehouse]

Sally McGrath disappeared after being seen with a man in a pub in Peterborough on July 11, 1979. Eight months later her body was found in a shallow grave in woodlands at the edge of the city. Several local men were questioned by her murder remained unsolved for over 30 years.

Last year, as a result of a 'cold case' review, police arrested Paul Taylor. he had been questioned at the time of the murder but relased due to a lack of evidence. Previous to Sally's murder, Taylor had been accused of several rapes, but had not been charged.

On December 4th (this week), after an eight week trial, during which Taylor also stood accused of at least two rapes and several attempted rapes dating from around the time of Sally's murder, Taylor was convicted of Sally's murder and the sexual offences. He was senteced to a minimum of 18 years in prison.

Taylor was a prolific sexual offender, but due to the way sexual offences against women were viewed at the time, he had evaded punishment. The cold case review allowed police to apply a fresh approach and re-interview women who had been attacked by Taylor all those years ago.

Sally is buried in a cemetery opposite my home. She is remembered locally as a bright and friendly girl. Her family, who still live locally, are relieved to see someone finally brought to justice for her murder.

[Graham]

Ya could be right, Stan. The first I ever heard of the Black Dahlia was in a 'murder compendium' book by our own dear Colin Wilson. Yet I'd read loads about Zodiac and Lizzie Borden. Strange, or what? And Ted Bundy, of course. And not forgetting (ever) the Lindbergh Kidnap Case, which after Maybrick and Hanratty is my own personal favourite.

G

[sdreid]

Yes, it works both ways. Probably 99% of Americans have never heard of the Julia Wallace Case even though it's one of the top cases anywhere ever. I'd not heard of it until the early 1980s.

[Graham]

Dave,

I had a customer just round the corner from Cromwell Street, and I can tell you that most of the outside-broadcast vans that swarmed to the area were either Japanese or American. There must have been something in what Fred and Rose got up to that appeals to the Nipponese and Yank appetites....

G

[Cogidubnus]

sic transit gloria mundi

You could be right Stan...some of the big US cases you've mentioned in the past have been fresh to me as a Brit...and I bet some of our domestic cases have slipped beneath the average US citizen's radar for the same reason...I'll bet for example there are a lot of folk left pond who never heard of Harold Shipman or Fred & Rose West...and ditto right pond for, say, the Black Dahlia...

Interestingly the latter came up in a pub quiz a year or so back, and only the wife and I had ever heard of the case by that name, never mind the name Elizabeth Short...

Perhaps we're all wierdos on Casebook!

All the best

Dave

[sdreid]

Even cases that are huge locally sometime go unmentioned beyond that.

[sdreid]

Odd how some cases gain national attention while others don't even though they seem at least as interesting.

[Beowulf]

Thanks Matt and Magpie. You get me reading up on these cases I either don't remember or haven't heard of.

Yes, and some are quite disturbing. Sheesh.

[sdreid]

Yes, that's a big one in a pretty big region.