People need to know what this poor woman went through.'. Use in a presentation/talk (eg,Powerpoint and Keynote) or in an editorial newsletter. On 3 July 1957, aged 20, five months after his release from Wormwood Scrubs, Hanratty was sentenced at Brighton Magistrates' Court to six months' imprisonment (he served four) for a variety of motoring offences, including theft of a motor vehicle and driving without a licence. Hanratty's family and their supporters have continued to contest this conclusion and to press for a further review of his conviction. He told Gregsten to pass the bag but, as Gregsten moved, there were two shots. On April 4, 1962, Hanratty was hanged by executioner Harry Allen at Bedford Prison. They were, though, generally relaxed talking in their cornfield. After driving them around the English countryside for hours, the intruder shot both Michael and Valerie, leaving them on the side of the road at a location known as Deadman's Hill. At the time of France's second suicide attempt in January, one of the letters he left was addressed to the coroner, in which he wrote 'I am of sound mind and body. E-mail this story to a friend Watch/Listen Detectives search the murder scene Man finds A6. Michael Streeter on the latest twist in a celebrated murder mystery. Against the wishes of his parents, Hanratty's body had been exhumed and his DNA was compared to that found on Valerie's underwear and the handkerchief in which the murder weapon had been hidden. Private detectives tracked down a Mrs Grace Jones, a landlady with a guest house which had a green bath in the attic as described by Hanratty. Was a married man, he and his wife Janet had two boys, Simon, eight, and Anthony, nearly two. All of this money was anonymously donated to Slough Mobility Transport for the purchase of two new vehicles, one of which was named 'Valerie'. The Criminal Cases Review Commission announced yesterday that the case of. On Tuesday, 22nd August, 1961, Michael Gregsten, 36, a research physicist, called at the address of his estranged wife at Sabine House, Abbots Langley, and after taking his 9-year old son, Simon, to play in Cassiobury Park, Watford, he collected his girlfriend, Valerie Storie, 22, from work, and he and Storie went in Gregsten's Morris Minor to the Old Station Inn, Taplow, near Slough. The full text of the Court of Appeals Decision: This page was last edited on 26 January 2023, at 14:31. Peter Alphon died in January 2009 after a fall at his home. "[25], The journalist and campaigner Ludovic Kennedy wrote many articles asserting Hanratty's innocence. Woman left with serious injuries after dog attack on residential road in Luton. Sign up here. At the trial Nudds also stated that the man, upon leaving, had asked the way to a bus stop for a 36A bus, though his statement to police had merely mentioned the 36 bus. Miraculously, Valerie survived, but was left paralysed from the chest down for the rest of her life. He wrote a suicide letter to Hanratty; it was full of spite and venom, but at no point actually accused him of committing the murder. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. A woman who was raped and shot in a car with her lover - and was then hounded by people who were convinced her attacker was innocent, has told her story in a new book from beyond the grave. Paul Foot and some other campaigners argued elsewhere that the DNA evidence could have been contaminated, in view of the fact that the small DNA samples from items of clothing, kept in a police laboratory for over 40 years in conditions that, as they argue, "do not satisfy modern evidential standards", had to be subjected to amplification techniques to yield any genetic profile. The gunman replied that Gregsten had frightened him by turning too quickly. Valerie Storie after receiving treatment for stab wounds on the A6 where Michael Gregsten was murdered is taken to court during trial against James. But then the other suspect, Peter Alphon, publicly confesses to the crime. On 29 August, Valerie Storie and another witness, Edward Blackhall, who had seen the driver of the Morris Minor, compiled an Identikit picture which was then released. Nudds' statement also said that Alphon had stayed in the hotel as he claimed, and had remained in his room, Room 6, all night. Paul Stickler's book is available on Amazon here. But tonight, they were talking. Get in touch for any commercial. *Thermistor location (two chamber models)* Once you locate the thermistor, detach the thermistor wires from the control board. He was sent to the gallows at Bedford Prison on 4 April 1962, becoming one of the last people to be hanged in Britain before capital punishment was abolished. Well push your creativity and go beyond your brief. See the latest news in your area enter your postcode below or visit InYourArea: This story is well known and Hanratty, often referred to as the A6 Murderer, has become Bedfordshire's most notorious killer. [8] Gregsten had separated from his wife Janet (d. 1995[13][14]) who lived with their two children at Abbots Langley. [citation needed] Storie gave another statement to the police later that morning, just before she underwent surgery in Bedford Hospital. Source: www.apartments.com. 2023 Getty Images. The story of the A6 Murderer in Bedfordshire is infamous, but the story of one of his victim's has remained untold, To stay up to date with all the latest news from across Bedfordshire sign up to our free newsletter for daily updates and all the latest breaking news. In the evening of Thursday 24 August, the murder weapon, a .38 revolver, was discovered under the back seat of a 36A London bus, fully loaded and wiped clean of fingerprints. This would be of no interest except for possibly the oddest coincidence in the case. For pouch chewers, reach down in the bottom of the pouch, where the tobacco is moist, and grab a small handful. He was struck by how calm and measured she was throughout the whole ordeal. At 11.30pm, the man said he wanted food, and told Gregsten to start driving. Copyright 04/03/2023 Alamy Ltd. All rights reserved. However, she was certain that this occurred on Monday 21 August. For disappearances in France on the A6 between Paris and Lyon, see, GRO Register of Deaths SEP 1978 11 0739 BRENT - James Francis Hanratty, DoB = 3 October 1907, GRO Register of Marriages DEC 1936 2a 1724 BROMLEY - James Hanratty = Mary A. Wilson, GRO Register of Deaths JUL 1999 C81A 2421C 97 LEWISHAM - Mary Ann Hanratty, DoB = 6 April 1917, GRO Register of Births DEC 1936 2a 1038 BROMLEY - James Hanratty, mmn = Wilson, GRO Register of Births: MAR 1925 3a 660 BARNET. Michael Gregston was murdered by James Hanratty 1962. Or did Scotland Yard have the right man all along? Bedfordshire Police is appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage. Enter your email address below to get the latest news and exclusive content from The History Press delivered straight to your inbox. [34] DNA was donated by Hanratty's mother and brother,[22] which they expected to exonerate him when compared with DNA extracted from surviving evidence. In August 1961, Michael Gregsten and Valerie Storie were sitting in their car in Dorney Reach, UK when an intruder forced his way into the backseat brandishing a gun. Having recently re-read the late Paul Foot's excellent book "Who killed Hanratty", which he painstakingly researched for over 5 years I remain convinced (rightly or wrongly) that the original suspect, Peter Louis Alphon, is the real murderer of Michael Gregsten. With the gun still pointing at them, the man said, I have been on the run for four months. Want the latest Bedfordshire news direct to your inbox? But for the next 40 years Valerie was slammed by campaign groups and celebrities who were convinced Hanratty was innocent, making her reluctant to speak to the media during her lifetime. 341,587,075 stock photos, 360 panoramic images, vectors and videos, Share Alamy images with your team and customers. AboutPressCopyrightContact. [34] Modern testing of DNA from Hanratty's exhumed corpse and members of his family convinced Court of Appeal judges in 2002 that Hanratty's guilt was proved "beyond doubt". [35] The Court of Appeal did not have the power to order an exhumation of Hanratty's body, but Lord Chief Justice Harry Woolf decided that this was desirable "in the interests of justice". My wife and i were driving a neigborhood looking for houses, and came accross a for sale sign with a phone number. The unit should also be connected correctly to the power source. He believes that one of the other people was the murdered man's spurned wife, Janet Gregsten, who died recently, and at . This image could have imperfections as its either historical or reportage. All rights reserved. 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[8], Hanratty's capital murder trial started at Bedfordshire Assizes on 22 January 1962 before Mr Justice Gorman and a jury; it was originally to have been heard at the Old Bailey, as requested by Hanratty's defence counsel, Michael Sherrard QC, later CBE. [4][5][6][7] By 1937, the family had moved to Wembley in northwest London. Valerie Storie was left paralysed after James Hanratty attacked her and killed her boyfriend in August 1961. Was this a miscarriage of justice? Jet tila michael voltaggio and defending champion and last seasons winner brooke williamson. [citation needed], On 7 September, Meike Dalal was attacked in her home in Richmond, Surrey, by a man claiming to be the A6 murderer, whom she later identified as Alphon in an identity parade on 23 September. Mr Gregsten's companion, Valerie Storie, was raped, shot and left for dead. "I would be terrified of every unusual sound or knock at the door. Hanratty would be convicted after a trial lasting almost four weeks but his execution marked the beginning of a forty-year journey of cries of a miscarriage of justice, media frenzies, legal arguments, criticism of the police, a referral to the Criminal Cases Review Commission and finally a Court of Appeal ruling in 2002 when DNA evidence would finally put an end to the furore; he was indeed guilty. The Long Silenceis, in essence, Valeries posthumous autobiography, explaining for the first time every explicit detail of the cat and mouse drive, as Michael and Valerie tried on over twenty occasions to deter and thwart the apparently indecisive Hanratty. DESCRIPTIONIn August 1961, a couple by the name of Michael Gregsten and Valerie Storie were sitting in their Morris Minor car in Dorney Reach, UK, when an in. Michael J. Gregston [, GRO Register of Marriages: SEP 1951 5f 1655 WOOD GREEN - Michael J. Gregsten = Janet Phillips or Kinnock, GRO Register of Deaths: JAN 1995 38C 7831 24 HORSHAM - Janet Gregsten, DoB = 9 Jan 1930, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Wrongly hanged: Hanratty is found innocent", "40 years after his execution, appeal judges say DNA is certain proof of Hanratty's guilt", "Hansard (for the 2 August 1963 sitting)", "We will never know the truth about the A6 killer", "After 36 years, Hanratty is set to be cleared", "Appeal Court to review Hanratty murder case", "England and Wales Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) Decisions. During 1962, the case caught the interest of London businessman Jean Justice, the son of a Belgian diplomat and partner of barrister Jeremy Fox. Surely we could do much better?, Man in his 70s attacked in his home by burglars in Luton. Keep an eye on the newspapers, this in years to come will come out.". He took several steps back to the car before turning and firing four bullets at her, then reloaded and fired again. The two were facing each other, their arms resting on the backs of the seats as they spoke quietly when there was a tap on the drivers window. "Im a desperate man. ON Tuesday, August 22, 1961, Michael Gregsten, 36, called at the home of his estranged wife at Sabine House, Abbots Langley, and, after taking his nine-year-old son, Simon, to play in Cassiobury Park, Watford, he collected his girlfriend, Valerie Storie, 22, from work. By the age of 11 he had been declared ineducable at St James Catholic High School, Burnt Oak, Barnet, although his parents steadfastly refused to accept he was in any way mentally deficient and successfully resisted attempts to have him placed in a special school. Alamy and its logo are trademarks of Alamy Ltd. and are registered in certain countries. The campaign got even more attention when Beatle John Lennon, and his partner, Yoko Ono, joined the campaign. Hanratty was then charged with the capital murder of Michael Gregsten. He leaves two sons, aged seven and two. The manager of the Alexandra Court Hotel reported a man who had locked himself in his room for five days after the murder, and the police picked him up. cid exam previous question papers. The murder weapon was recovered from a place on a bus which he regarded as a hiding place and the bus followed a route he could well have used. [45][46], This article is about the 1961 murder on the A6 road in England. His DNA was found on a piece of material from Valerie Stories knickers where it would be expected to be if he was guilty; it was also found on the handkerchief found with the gun. The Hanrattys were warm, gentle, determined people, unlikely parents of a man who had been convicted of shooting Michael Gregsten dead in a lay-by off the A6, raping his girlfriend Valerie Storie and then shooting her, leaving her for dead before driving off in the couple's car. When Paul was handed what he calls the 'Storie papers', made up of her own notes on that fateful night as well as police tapes, he decided her story needed to be told. michael gregsten wife. Look after mum and dad. [36] His DNA was compared with other DNA extracted from, firstly, mucus preserved in the handkerchief within which the murder weapon had been found wrapped and, secondly, semen preserved in the underwear worn by Storie when she was raped. The circumstances of Hanratty's introduction to France's family, and the reasons for the crippling sense of guilt harboured by France for the harm he felt Hanratty had inflicted on them, so great that it could only be expiated by suicide, remain a mystery.[8]. Michael gregsten wife / june 11, 2022 june 11, 2022 / were achilles and patroclus cousins. Collaborate with our global Enterprise Sales team. She was of the opinion that it is for all of us to make the most of what we have been dealt.'. Two civil servants employed at the Road Research Laboratory at Langley, near Slough, Michael Gregsten and Valerie Storie, drew up in a Morris Minor car outside the Old Station Inn, a public house just outside the village of Taplow. Eight weeks later he was found semi-conscious in the street, having apparently collapsed from either hunger or exposure. He explained: "I felt the story had been misrepresented and needed a retelling from a fresh perspective. Two suspects were spotlighted for the attack, which was dubbed The A6 Murder. James Hanratty was eventually charged and executed, despite claiming his innocence. Valerie wrote: "Hanratty committed a crime and was found guilty and was hanged. But if it happens, use the ignition to turn the pilot on again. Why did you shoot him?" [24] The Committee attempted to assist Hanratty in his defence, and later tried to disprove his conviction. A strong, disabled woman's story. [citation needed]. Show all articles. Valerie Storie did not recognise Alphon in an identity parade, and he was released four days later after being detained on a charge of assaulting Meike Dalal. 10:56, 04 Apr 2022 michael gregsten wife / June 11, 2022 June 11, 2022 / were achilles and patroclus cousins /. The argument for contamination was dismissed as "fanciful" by the judges, who concluded that the "DNA evidence, standing alone, is certain proof of guilt". He said: "Whenever journalists came to her asking to tell her story she said no, as they'd misrepresent her. [citation needed]. Hanratty was sent to recuperate at an aunt's home in Bedford, a place he and his brother Michael had visited as children on holiday. What Is The Case Of Michael Gregsten's Suicide. Even Valerie's own Member of Parliament, Joan Lestor, insisted Hanratty was innocent, and once sent a letter to Valerie inviting her to join the campaign for the A6 Committee. The police issued an appeal to boarding-house keepers to report any unusual or suspicious guests. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Search for stock images, vectors and videos, Available for editorial use only. Alphon subsequently surrendered himself, and was subjected to an intense interrogation. He was then buried in the grounds of Bedford Gaol. According to Alphon, a man had paid him a sum of 5,000 to end the affair between Gregsten and Storie. Jamal Edwards, a music producer and entrepreneur, died suddenly in February 2022. The Long Silence: The Story of James Hanratty and the A6 Murder by Valerie Storie, the Woman Who Lived to Tell the Tale eBook : Stickler, Paul: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store. Professor Hobbs said: 'It is important that people understand that it is very easy to jump on a bandwagon and come up with a conclusion that is wrong.'. The gunman knew the Bear Hotel, Maidenhead. October 11th, 1961, James Hanratty was arrested for murder and rape. She identified Hanratty from a lineup and testified at his trial. Long before his trial for the A6 murder, he had already been described as a retard, a psychopath, and a pathological liar. As executor of Valerie's will, Professor Hobbs was the first to come across the documents and notes she left behind and he worked with Mr Stickler to ensure that the 'posthumous autobiography' was an honest and truthful account. The initial prime suspects were Hanratty, a petty criminal, and Peter Louis Alphon, an eccentric drifter. Police handout, showing James Hanratty in police custody, Lennon and Ono protest Hanratty's execution. With the gun was a handkerchief which provided DNA evidence many years later. Believing that he had killed her, Hanratty drove south in the direction of Luton. Ask the author: Jeremy Craddock on The Jigsaw Murders, Ask the author: Monica Weller on investigating a 50-year-old cold case. He then stated that he had in fact been in the Welsh coastal town of Rhyl. On 11 October, Hanratty was arrested by police in Blackpool, at the Stevonia cafe. 1945: Ex-soldier buried his wife on Anglesey beach after . Hanratty confessed to his defence barrister that he had invented part of the Liverpool story as he was unsure he could prove where he was. At that time there was no conclusive forensic evidence to connect Hanratty with the car or the murder scene. Despatched to the youth wing of Wormwood Scrubs, he slashed his wrists; placed in the prison hospital, he was declared a 'potential psychopath'. The gunman ordered Gregsten to drive in several directions, before stopping beside the A6 at Deadman's Hill, where the offences took place. Valerie and Lennon never met, but in 2001 she said: "I felt it was very ironic that he himself died by the bullet and it flashed through my mind that when the news came through that John Lennon had been shot and killed, I felt, well now John Lennon, you know what it feels like to be shot.". Charles France was also the recipient of highly unpleasant anonymous phone calls. Initially admitted to the Royal Sussex Hospital, Brighton, he was transferred to St Francis Hospital, Haywards Heath, where he underwent a craniotomy following the erroneous diagnosis of a brain haemorrhage. [8], Gregsten was a scientist at the Road Research Laboratory in Slough. [27] Justice encouraged the initially reluctant Fox to help him expose what he believed to be the fabrication of the case against Hanratty. James Hanratty was later tried, convicted and executed for the murder of Michael John Gregsten on the A6 road. His companion, 22-year-old laboratory assistant, Valerie Storie, from Cippenham, near Slough, had been raped and shot five times in the chest. Valerie hid pound notes in her bra to stop Hanratty from taking them. The couple were found by a police patrol in the lay-by on the A6 at Deadman's Hill, near Luton, at 0645 BST today. ', Professor Adrian Hobbs, a close friend of Valerie who worked with her at the Road Research Laboratory in Bracknell, Berkshire, said: 'I think she was just waiting to be vindicated. She then began to draft a book telling her story of what happened that night on the A6, and of the suspicions she endured for years after, but tragically she died in 2016 before she wrote it. They had been here on a few occasions before, to make love or simply to spend time alone together. Drain the heater and clean it. When Michael rolled down the window, Hanratty thrust a large black revolver into his face and said: 'This is a hold-up, I am a desperate man, I have been on the run for four months. His wife, Maureen Hanratty, said the family had been 'put through hell' because of the behaviour of the authorities. Lying next to Gregsten, semi-conscious, was Gregsten's mistress, Valerie Jean Storie (24 November 1938 26 March 2016). His last words to his family were "Mick, I am completely innocent. They had never been disturbed before and it was easier to talk here rather than anywhere else. Storie screamed, "You bastard! Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. Her testimony was critical in securing a guilty verdict, but this was questioned by many who felt the supporting evidence too weak to justify conviction, and Hanratty's brother fought for decades to have the verdict overturned. As she told food network, "i learned more about myself with every battle and i learned more how deeply talented the other warriors in this tournament are. Michael Gregston was murdered by James Hanratty 1962. Author Paul Stickler said: 'This is a story that really does need to be told and it's not been told in the way that it should be before now. ", Planned school expansion will cause 'traffic chaos', councillor claims, Councillor Victoria Harvey warned: This council is failing on travel plans. France also left behind several letters for his family, the contents of which have never been made public. The 'A6 Defence Committee' was a self-appointed group of campaigners and activists, who included the journalist Paul Foot and the Labour politicians Fenner Brockway and Joan Lestor, the former and current MPs for the Eton & Slough constituency where Valerie Storie lived. With some justification it seemed, since Michael had a tendency to spend willingly rather than save. The pair had been intimate for two years after meeting through work, and seemingly had spoken about marriage. They were ordered to drive to Deadman's Hill, where the attack took place.