Still can't find what you're looking for? . They were confronted by a man with a gun. If he hand't been hanged, with life sentences meted out today, then he would be long out of prison. 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. During the incident, the victim was kicked in the back and suffered minor injuries. Within a few days, the defence had checked and assembled a new alibi for Hanratty. In 2002 Valerie was finally vindicated when DNA evidence proved beyond reasonable doubt that Hanratty was guilty. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Crime A6 Murder of Michael Gregsten. Through the window of the car and despite the fading light, she could clearly see that he was wearing a suit and tie with a white shirt. ease arkansas phone number how to save a picture on laptop without mouse. Drain the heater and clean it. "The book tells the story of what happened that night and how she dealt with it in the years that followed. His wife, Maureen Hanratty, said the family had been 'put through hell' because of the behaviour of the authorities. Another man obtained a gun for Alphon, whereupon he set off and hijacked the pair. Alphon subsequently surrendered himself, and was subjected to an intense interrogation. The Crimes | Crime + Investigation UK 22nd August 1961, Michael Gregsten a 36-year-old research scientist at the Road Research Laboratory at Langley, near Slough. Valerie hid pound notes in her bra to stop Hanratty from taking them. Police believe the couple, both employees of the Road Research Laboratory near Slough, were confronted by a man with a gun as they were parked on Dorney Common in Berkshire yesterday evening. A brown, check car rug was spread out; another small, personalised feature of the rallying Morris. Case 173: Rocio Wanninkhof & Sonia Carabantes, Tributes pour in for Sloughs brave Valerie Storie. A brutal crime at Deadman's Hill On August 22, 1961, lovers Gregsten and Storie were parked next to a cornfield in a Morris Minor when a revolver was thrust into the car and a cockney voice let them know they were being held up. With the gun was a handkerchief which provided DNA evidence many years later. Hanratty found a job there driving a mechanical shovel for the company of Green Brothers, which made breeze blocks, and remained with the firm for three years. Alphon claimed he gave Gregsten two chances to get away but "each time the bloody man kept coming back". On 11 September, two cartridge cases were found in the guest basement bedroom of the Vienna Hotel, which were matched with the bullets that killed Gregsten and to the ones in the gun found on the bus. Case 172: Michael Gregsten & Valerie Storie - YouTube Try to reignite the pilot light. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. While she died in 2016 before she wrote her book and told her story in her words, The Long Silence is a compelling read with never before heard details of what happened on that fateful night and the impact it had on Valerie's life. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. "James Hanratty killed Michael Gregsten. 341,587,075 stock photos, 360 panoramic images, vectors and videos, Share Alamy images with your team and customers. Hanratty claimed that his suitcase had been handed in to Lime Street Station to a 'man with a withered or turned hand'. Crime Files Reopened: Was James Hanratty in Rhyl the night a scientist House-to-house inquiries have also been carried out. For over thirty five years one person remained silent. [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. List Of Most Dreaded Murderers In British History Michael was 14 years older than her and married with two children, though he was in the process of separating from his wife. He certainly didn't know what he alleged that Mrs Gregsten was the prime mover in commissioning the murder. Get in touch for any commercial. James Hanratty - Micheal Gregston - Murder UK - The - Murder in the Uk Valerie later wrote of it: "In times of trouble one could always go to one's MP and ask for, and possibly receive help and understanding. "[25], The journalist and campaigner Ludovic Kennedy wrote many articles asserting Hanratty's innocence. James Hanratty denied shooting Michael Gregsten, a physicist, twice in the head last August. michael gregsten wife - Agenciap10.com As they sat there was a tap on the driver's window. It also tells the true story of Valerie's complicated relationship with 36-year-old Michael. Even Valerie's own Member of Parliament, Joan Lestor, insisted Hanratty was innocent. He also wrote a letter to the coroner, in which he referred to the great harm done to the family by Hanratty. By August 22nd 1961 the marriage of Michael and Janet Gregsten had been in difficulties for some time.The 3 year love affair between Valerie Storie and Gregsten had intensified and on 1st August 1961 Gregsten had taken what seemed like an irrevocable step to end his marriage.He took a flat in Maidenhead and told his wife he would be moving in on Hanratty was then charged with the capital murder of Michael Gregsten. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. 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. October 11th, 1961, James Hanratty was arrested for murder and rape. What was going to happen to them? Alphon stuck to his confession and continued to repeat it until about 1971, when he withdrew his claims. The car had been jointly owned by Gregsten's mother and aunt, and lent to the couple who, according to Storie, were planning to attend a car rally. The police raided the hotel, and questioned Nudds again, who then changed his story, claiming that Alphon had in fact been in the basement and 'Ryan' in Room 6 but, for reasons unknown, had swapped rooms during the night. Valentine's Day collision leaves moped rider with 'life-changing' injuries. As 22-year-old Valerie Storie stepped out of her home on August 22, 1961, she shouted to her parents "Goodbye, I shan't be late". 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. The man then said he wanted to sleep, and that he would have to tie them up. Michael Gregsten with his wife Janet before he was murdered in his car on the A6 by James Hanratty. In 1997, a police inquiry concluded he was wrongfully convicted and the case was sent to the Court of Appeal,[1] which ruled in 2002 that a DNA test conclusively proved Hanratty's guilt beyond any doubt.[2]. Michael Gregston was murdered by James Hanratty 1962. 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. However, in a new edition of his book, 36 Murders and Two Immoral Earnings, printed immediately after the publication of the Hanratty DNA evidence, he retracted his assertions of Hanratty's innocence.[26]. 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. This turned out to be untrue, as her and her boyfriend, Michael Gregsten, were held up by a gunman and held captive in Gregsten's car for five hours. 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. No precise diagnoses were offered, and it has since been suggested that he suffered from either epilepsy or post-concussional syndrome, which would have had a marked effect on his personality.[8]. Valerie Storie was left paralysed after James Hanratty attacked her and killed her boyfriend in August 1961. Shortly afterwards, he began psychiatric treatment as an outpatient at the Portman Clinic. He ordered them to drive to . He always protested his innocence claiming he was 250-miles from the scene in a bed-and-breakfast in North Wales at the time of the attack. [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. Mr Stickler, a former Hampshire Constabulary police officer who specialised in murder investigations, compiled the book during lockdown using thousands of records and annotated documents left behind by Valerie. Valerie Storie - obituary - The Telegraph Gregsten's girlfriend, Valerie Storie, was raped, shot five times, and left paralysed. The journey continued along the A5 through St Albans, which the gunman mistakenly insisted was Watford, before joining the A6. The initial prime suspects were Hanratty, a petty criminal, and Peter Louis Alphon, an eccentric drifter. In March 1958, aged 21, at the County of London Sessions, Hanratty was again convicted of car theft, and of driving while disqualified, and sentenced to three years' corrective training at Wandsworth Prison, and then to Maidstone Prison. [29] Fox split from Jean Justice in the 1970s, but continued the fight to clear Hanratty until his death in 1999, three years before the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction on the basis of the DNA evidence retrieved from Hanratty's corpse. Crime A6 Murder of Michael Gregsten. ;Picture taken at home of Mrs A BBC Panorama episode in 1966 included extracts from the Jean Justice tapes. DNA samples from both sources exactly matched James Hanratty's DNA. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. 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. The following extract describes the moments leading up to the events on that fateful nightin August 1961 that turned her life upside down Valeries shopping basket rested on the back seat. This is a hold-up," a mans voice said. Inside a parked Morris Minor was a 36-year-old scientist, Michael Gregsten, and his 22-year-old girlfriend, Valerie Storie. After some investigation, 'Ryan' turned out to be James Hanratty, a 25-year-old petty criminal with four convictions for car theft, larceny and burglary. He attempted to escape that facility as well, and was sent to Strangeways Prison, Manchester. They drove via London Heathrow Airport, up through the Middlesex suburbs, on to the A5 and then on to the A6 to Clophill, Bedfordshire. Want the latest Bedfordshire news direct to your inbox? The following month Richard Ingrams, a close friend and colleague of Paul Foot, wrote a brief article about Alphon's part in the case in The Independent. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. After a failed escape attempt, Hanratty was transferred to Camp Hill Prison, Isle of Wight. 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 map Storie drank gin and Pepsi, Gregsten had Double Diamond. The trial lasted 21 days, the longest in English legal history up to that time.[21]. I would ask you now to respect my wish to be left in piece.". 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. Secretly, however, she was drafting the contents of a book and writing hundreds of notes. "They then left at about 7.30pm in a grey Morris car which I understood belonged to Michael's mother. Keep an eye on the newspapers, this in years to come will come out.". As a result of these facts, after the A6 murder, Valerie was often unfairly characterised as a "loose woman". With the gun still pointing at them, the man said, I have been on the run for four months. Gregsten was found shot dead in a car on the A6 in Deadman's Hill, Bedfordshire, and his girlfriend Valerie Storie was raped . Alphon resembled the Identikit pictures more than Hanratty did; Alphon never produced a convincing alibi; He provided a more credible motive than Hanratty could; He was a poor driver, as witnesses had seen the Morris Minor being driven erratically towards Redbridge Station; On 22 March 1967, Detective Superintendent Douglas Nimmo reported to, On 29 May 1996, Detective Chief Superintendent Roger Matthews reported to Home Secretary. Where was the money going to come from? 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 Deadmans Hill. He explained: "I felt the story had been misrepresented and needed a retelling from a fresh perspective. That night, after stopping for a drink at The Station Inn at Taplow, they stopped on a countryside road to discuss their future. Accidentally swallowed a nicotine pouch Mr Gregsten's body was tonight identified by his wife, Janet. James Hanratty - Watford Observer Michael is married and he and his wife Janet have two boys, Simon, eight, and Anthony, nearly two.But Michael is having an affair with his 22-year-old lab assistant, Valerie Storie. Yet in spite of this, Valerie kept her silence, Paul explained. "[42], Following the DNA evidence in 2002, Storie earned over 40,000 for her participation in various TV and newspaper documentaries. The case became a cause celebre, with politicians and pop stars, legal experts and writers joining the campaign to prove he was the victim of a miscarriage of justice. We choose the most important stories of the day to include in the email, including crime, court news, long reads, traffic and travel, food and drink articles and more. Case 172: Michael Gregsten & Valerie Storie - Casefile True Crime Gregsten was forced to drive down the A6 until he reached Deadman's Hill near Clophill, Bedfordshire. At that time there was no conclusive forensic evidence to connect Hanratty with the car or the murder scene. Was Michael actually going to leave his wife and two boys? Crime A6 Murder of Michael Gregsten. On 14 October, Valerie Storie identified Hanratty in an identity parade, after each of the men in the parade had repeated the phrase used by the murderer: "Be quiet, will you? Hanratty said he had called into a sweetshop in Scotland Road and asked directions to 'Carleton' or 'Tarleton' Road. Snus is a pasteurized, air-cured, smokeless and spitless tobacco, usually found in pouches. Victim's silence finally broken 60 years after A6 Murderer attack Although Hanratty's blood group (O) was the same as the murderer's, it was a fairly common blood type shared by 36% of the British population, including Peter Alphon and, apart from Storie's identification, there was no other evidence that Hanratty had ever been in the Maidenhead area. 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. Mr Stickler said: 'She was absolutely measured and calm and wholly consistent from minute one to the very end. The Criminal Cases Review Commission announced yesterday that the case of. You don't want it to be blown out. 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. 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. Professor Hobbs described Valerie as a 'bloody minded and determined' woman with a charming character. His reason for lying was that he had seen that Alphon was the police's prime suspect, and had wanted to assist their case. [15][16] Storie, an only child, lived with her parents in Cippenham, a suburb of Slough. 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. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Satisfied he had killed her, the gunman drove off southward with much crashing of gears, in the direction of Luton. Storie recalled that he pronounced "things" as "fings" and "think" as "fink".[18]. Hanratty: the truth at last? | The Independent | The Independent No defence on the basis of mental history was raised at Hanrattys trial. [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. The full text of the Court of Appeals Decision: This page was last edited on 26 January 2023, at 14:31. The gunman knew the Bear Hotel, Maidenhead. 'There's a very powerful human story in this. In the 'Storie papers' is a script containing her stronger feelings on the matter. I could not ever relax.". Copyright 04/03/2023 Alamy Ltd. All rights reserved. Even once she had been shot and was passing in and out of consciousness, she still managed to wave her petticoat to try to attract attention. Miss Storie's mother, Mrs John Storie, said: "Michael came here last night and had tea with Valerie. Charles France was also the recipient of highly unpleasant anonymous phone calls. Whilst he was a professional thief, he had no convictions for violence, and apparently had never possessed a gun, although he later admitted to the police that he had attempted to obtain one after his last release from prison in March 1961. Despite being depicted in the media for decades as a woman who sent an innocent man to his death, Valerie kept quiet. He stayed in a room the night before the crime from which bullets that had been fired from the murder weapon were recovered. Tournament Of Champions Food Network Winner Pre-pay for multiple images and download on demand. It was clear he either had not driven before, or was unfamiliar with a Morris Minor. Michael Gregsten with his wife Janet 1962 OLD PHOTO | eBay The pair had been intimate for two years after meeting through work, and seemingly had spoken about marriage. James Hanratty news from the St Albans & Harpenden Review Storie was an assistant at the same laboratory and had been having an affair with Gregsten, although this did not become public knowledge until Storie wrote a series of articles for the popular Today magazine in June 1962, five months after the trial. Awesome. France, who had suffered from bouts of severe depression for many years, committed suicide by gassing himself (his third attempt) about two weeks before the execution. The A6 murder - Part 1 of 4 [Unresolved Murder] - reddit One of the final eight people in the UK to be executed before capital punishment was abolished, the petty criminal was hanged at Bedford Jail in 1962 for the murder of Michael Gregsten at Deadman's Hill, near Clophill, on the A6. 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. [citation needed]. She didn't change her story one iota.'. Hanratty became one of the final eight people in the UK to be executed before capital punishment was abolished, but the others that came after him were seen as 'more clear cut' cases, so the idea of Hanratty's innocence became a beacon for those opposing capital punished.