Category: Capital Punishment

69 – The Emergency: The IRA, spies & the murder of Micheal Devereux

On By mensreapod@gmail.comIn Capital Punishment, Controversial Case, Human Rights, IRA/Paramilitary links, Irish Crime, Kidnapping, Landmark Case, Life Sentence, murder, Organised Crime, terrorism, Vintage murder

In 1940, 24 year old Michael Devereux disappeared from his home in Co Wexford. A year later, his body would be discovered buried in an isolated part of Co Tipperary. A number of men who were known members of the IRA found themselves accused of the murder – allegedly motivated by the belief that Devereux had been a spy among their ranks.

A four month legal battle ensued, which saw the use of the Emergency Powers Act passed to deal with “The Emergency” of the ongoing war in Europe used to circumvent due process and normal court procedures in order to hold the men accountable.

Pages: 1 2

67 – Honor Bright: Murder in the Free State

On By mensreapod@gmail.comIn affair, Capital Punishment, Controversial Case, Domestic Violence, Human Rights, Intimate Partner Violence, Irish Crime, Life Sentence, love triangle, murder, sex crimes, unsolved, Vintage murder, Wrongly Accused

In 1925, while the Irish Free State was still in its infancy after the close of the civil war, the body of a young woman was found dead lying at a lonely cross roads in South County Dublin. Her name was Honor Bright, a woman who made her living as a sex worker in town.

Two men were tried for her shooting death, but was her killing a the result of her “unfortunate” status, or part of an attempt to keep scandal away from the halls of power in a newly-independent Ireland?

Continue reading “67 – Honor Bright: Murder in the Free State” →

49 – Wrongful Conviction: Tim Evans & the serial murders of 10 Rillington Place

On By mensreapod@gmail.comIn Capital Punishment, Child Victim, Controversial Case, Domestic Violence, Human Rights, Insanity Defence, Intimate Partner Violence, Landmark Case, Serial Killer, sex crimes, UK Crime, Vintage murder, Wrongly Accused

A man is hanged for the murder of his child, and presumed to be the his wife’s murderer, too. But three years later, in the same house that the couple had lived, more bodies were found.

Six More. 

Including the wife of the man who had been the Crown’s star witness against Tim Evans in his murder trial.

This is the story of the serial murders of John Reginald Christie at Ten Rillington Place. 

Continue reading “49 – Wrongful Conviction: Tim Evans & the serial murders of 10 Rillington Place” →

45 – The Fall: Death on Fremont Canyon Bridge

On By mensreapod@gmail.comIn Capital Punishment, Child Victim, Controversial Case, Domestic Violence, Drug-related, Human Rights, Insanity Defence, Kidnapping, Mental Health, murder, sex crimes, US Crime

Casper Wyoming is a quiet town. But in 1973, it was marred by an horrific crime. Two girls, sisters – Becky Thompson and Amy Burridge – were snatched off the street, attacked and driven 35 miles to an iron bridge over Fremont Canyon. Then the two men that took them threw them over.

But one of the girls survived the 112 foot fall and identified Ronald Kennedy and Jerry Jenkins as the men who attacked them. Still, tragedy would follow her.

Continue reading “45 – The Fall: Death on Fremont Canyon Bridge” →

37 – St Patrick’s Day: Crimes & Mayhem

On By mensreapod@gmail.comIn Capital Punishment, Collabouration, Discrimination, Drug-related, IRA/Paramilitary links, Irish Crime, Mental Health, murder, Serial Killer, unsolved, Vintage murder, Wrongly Accused

It’s St Patrick’s day. Worldwide, buildings are being “greened”. Shamrock shakes are being consumed. Guinness is being poured, and we’re drowning the shamrock.

But, this time of year sees a lot of bad behaviour. Some directly as a result of our celebration of all things Irish and some… a little more premeditated.
This week, I’m joined by 4 other fabulous podcasts to tell the story of some St Patrick’s day crimes for you.

Special thanks this week to:
All Crime No Cattle ;
Southern Fried True Crime;
Gone Cold – Texas True Crime; and
Unresolved
for your kind contributions!

Continue reading “37 – St Patrick’s Day: Crimes & Mayhem” →

32 – Ron Williamson, Wrongful Convictions & Murders in Ada (Part 2)

On By mensreapod@gmail.comIn Capital Punishment, Controversial Case, Domestic Violence, Drug-related, Human Rights, Insanity Defence, Mental Health, murder, US Crime, Wrongly Accused

The small town of Ada Oklahoma was rocked in the early 80s by two unrelated murders of young women in the town. But by the mid 90s, that would change. The town would come under scrutiny for miscarriages of justice, where two and possibly more men were convicted of crimes they did not commit.

Last month, Netflix released The Innocent Man, a 6 part series looking at these crimes and their aftermaths. This week on the podcast, we take an in-depth look into just one of those cases, that of the murder of Debbie Sue Carter and the wrongful convictions of Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz.

Ron and Dennis had very different journeys through their appeals processes, but both of their fates lay in the testing of DNA evidence. Would new science finally exonerate them?

Continue reading “32 – Ron Williamson, Wrongful Convictions & Murders in Ada (Part 2)” →

32 – Ron Williamson, Wrongful Convictions & Murders in Ada (Part 1)

On By mensreapod@gmail.comIn Capital Punishment, Controversial Case, Discrimination, Drug-related, Human Rights, Insanity Defence, Landmark Case, Mental Health, murder, US Crime, Wrongly Accused

The small town of Ada Oklahoma was rocked in the early 80s by two unrelated murders of young women in the town. But by the mid 90s, that would change. The town would come under scrutiny for miscarriages of justice, where two and possibly more men were convicted of crimes they did not commit.

Last month, Netflix released The Innocent Man, a 6 part series looking at these crimes and their aftermaths. This week on the podcast, we take an in-depth look into just one of those cases, that of the murder of Debbie Sue Carter and the wrongful convictions of Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz.

Ron Williamson was an eccentric and unstable character. Was it this nature of his that made him a target for the Ada Police Department? 

Continue reading “32 – Ron Williamson, Wrongful Convictions & Murders in Ada (Part 1)” →

28 – Murder on Ireland’s Eye

On By mensreapod@gmail.comIn Capital Punishment, Controversial Case, Domestic Violence, Intimate Partner Violence, Irish Crime, murder, Vintage murder, Wrongly Accused

In 1852, Sarah Maria Louisa Kirwan was found dead at the Long Hole on Ireland’s Eye as the tide receded. Her husband, William, had been painting a sunset scene of the Dublin Mountains and told the boatmen who returned to get them from the craggy island in Dublin Bay that he had no idea what had happened to her. An inquest found that the poor woman had drowned.

But in Victorian Dublin, rumours spread quickly, and it was discovered William Burke Kirwan was living a double life – one that provided a motive for murder.

Continue reading “28 – Murder on Ireland’s Eye” →

27 – Archibald Hall: Thief & Serial Killer (Part 1)

On By mensreapod@gmail.comIn Capital Punishment, murder, Scottish Crimes, Serial Killer, UK Crime, Vintage murder

In the first of a two part series, we take a look back on the life and crimes of Archibald Thompson Hall, aka Roy Hall, aka Roy Fontaine, the monster butler. Roy was born to a working class family in Glasgow, and from an early age wanted to live an extravagant lifestyle. One that he could not (or would not) achieve through hard work and graft. Roy preferred to take what he could. He became a thief and spent many years in and out of prison. In between these stints, he worked as a butler, to be close to the status he desired, and the belongs that went this, that he could steal.

How did this supposed high flying and often hapless thief turn murderer?

Continue reading “27 – Archibald Hall: Thief & Serial Killer (Part 1)” →

25 – The tragic murder of Catherine Cooper

On By mensreapod@gmail.comIn Capital Punishment, Controversial Case, Insanity Defence, Irish Crime, Landmark Case, Mental Health, murder, Vintage murder

In 1954, Nurse Catherine Cooper (64) lived and worked in Limerick city as a home sister, visiting the ill and infirm at their bedsides. She was originally from County Clare, but had spent much of her working life in London, until the outbreak of World War Two.

On the night of November 19th, 1954, she decided to walk back to her hospital from her last home visit. On the Dublin Road, she was spotted by a 24 year old carman, Michael Manning, who had been drinking all day. He attacked her, and she was killed on the roadside.

But was Manning legally responsible for her death?
 

Continue reading “25 – The tragic murder of Catherine Cooper” →