michael gregsten wife
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. Valerie Storie after receiving treatment for stab wounds on the A6 where Michael Gregsten was murdered is taken to court during trial against James. Valerie Storie was left paralysed after James Hanratty attacked her and killed her boyfriend in August 1961. [8], The first policeman on the scene was handed a census form on which Kerr had written down Storie's account of what she recalled at that moment; the document was never seen again. In some accounts of the case Janet Gregsten instigated the investigation into James Hanratty by a psychic experience. They had finished the planning for the weekends rally, Valeries maps folded away in her shopping basket. 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. Enter your email address below to get the latest news and exclusive content from The History Press delivered straight to your inbox. Their relationship started over a mutual love of car . Despite being depicted in the media for decades as a woman who sent an innocent man to his death, Valerie kept quiet. But tonight, they were talking. 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. [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". Captions are provided by our contributors. [citation needed]. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. 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. Mr Gregsten's body was tonight identified by his wife, Janet. 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. 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. However, there was another person called William Usher, who did have two fingers missing from one hand, which looked withered. Try to reignite the pilot light. The suspect falsely identified himself as 'Frederick Durrant'; he was actually Peter Louis Alphon, a drifter surviving on an inheritance and the proceeds of gambling. People need to know what this poor woman went through.'. Bedfordshire Live spoke to Paul about the newly-released book, which is titled The Long Silence - just as Valerie had intended. When she refused, the man got out and forced her out of the car at gunpoint, pushing her on to the back seat, where he ordered her to undo her brassiere and remove her underwear before raping her. He ordered them to drive to . Gregsten's girlfriend, Valerie Storie, was raped, shot five times, and left paralysed. Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. 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.'. Her wish was honoured when The Long Silence was released with the title that Valerie had planned to give to her book. Hanratty was then charged with the capital murder of Michael Gregsten. 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]. 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. Storie recalled that he pronounced "things" as "fings" and "think" as "fink".[18]. Was Michael actually going to leave his wife and two boys? At Deadman's Hill the man ordered Gregsten to pull into a lay-by. 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. "They then left at about 7.30pm in a grey Morris car which I understood belonged to Michael's mother. On 7 September 1954, aged 17, Hanratty appeared before Harrow Magistrates' where he was placed on probation for taking a motor vehicle without consent, and for driving without a licence or insurance. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. My wife and i were driving a neigborhood looking for houses, and came accross a for sale sign with a phone number. . Inside a parked Morris Minor was a 36-year-old scientist, Michael Gregsten, and his 22-year-old girlfriend, Valerie Storie. Alamy and its logo are trademarks of Alamy Ltd. and are registered in certain countries. July 3, 2022 July 3, 2022. In the 'Storie papers' is a script containing her stronger feelings on the matter. [37][38] However, they further went on to note, in the summary of their judgement: The DNA evidence does not stand alone and the Court refers to some of the more striking coincidences in the light of the DNA evidence if James Hanratty was not guilty. The author now hopes that the posthumous autobiography will be turned into a film so that more people can learn about what she endured. This was the beginning of the crime which would see Michael murdered and Valerie raped and shot before being left at Deadman's Hill on the A6. It was not yet dark, but twilight had set in and visibility was not perfect. This is a hold-up, a mans voice said. 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. James Hanratty was born on 4 October 1936 in Farnborough, Kent,[3] the eldest of four sons of James Francis Hanratty (19071978) and his wife Mary Ann Hanratty (19171999). The man was immaculately dressed. He had the same identifying manner of speech as the killer. The A6 Committee made a list of claims which, they contended, indicated that Alphon was the murderer: Paul Foot warned "against jumping to hasty conclusions, in particular about Peter Alphon he really didn't know as much as he pretended. Professor Hobbs said: 'She never felt sorry for herself. Results from testing in June 1999 were said to be strong evidence of a familial match - the evidential DNA was "two and a half million times more likely" to belong to James Hanratty than to anyone else. As a result of these facts, after the A6 murder, Valerie was often unfairly characterised as a "loose woman". The case involved the death of a man who lived not far from Hanratty and Mr Stickler thinks he could have heard about it while he was in prison for house breaking. Why did you shoot him?" [41], Valerie Storie was quoted as saying "I identified the guilty man. Neutral Citation Number (2002) Crim 1141, 'Musing about The A6 Bedfordshire murder', https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_Hanratty&oldid=1135732016. The Police tracked down a Mrs Dinwoodie, who served in a sweetshop in Scotland Road, and who recalled a man like Hanratty asking for directions. *Thermistor location (two chamber models)* Once you locate the thermistor, detach the thermistor wires from the control board. He then retrieved a cloth from the duffle bag, covered Gregsten's bloodied head with it, and ordered Storie to clamber into the back of the car, over Gregsten's body. James Hanratty was later tried, convicted and executed for the murder of Michael John Gregsten on the A6 road. Miraculously, Valerie survived, but was left paralysed from the chest down for the rest of her life. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. It also tells the true story of Valerie's complicated relationship with 36-year-old Michael. It was now approximately 3am, six hours after the ordeal had started at Dorney Reach. [45][46], This article is about the 1961 murder on the A6 road in England. He then stated that he had in fact been in the Welsh coastal town of Rhyl. It was full of her personal effects including her handbag, a wallet and a purse, a few pound notes and coins pushed inside them. michael gregsten wife. 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. 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. Search above 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. 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. He stayed in a room the night before the crime from which bullets that had been fired from the murder weapon were recovered. She was of the opinion that it is for all of us to make the most of what we have been dealt.'. Was a married man, he and his wife Janet had two boys, Simon, eight, and Anthony, nearly two. Home richfield school district michael gregsten wife. By the time of his arrest for the murder of Michael Gregsten, Hanratty had already accumulated four convictions for motoring offences and housebreaking. During 1962, the case caught the interest of London businessman Jean Justice, the son of a Belgian diplomat and partner of barrister Jeremy Fox. Of approximately seven bullets fired, five hit Storie; she fell to the ground next to Gregsten and played dead. 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 Valerie wrote: "Hanratty committed a crime and was found guilty and was hanged. Source: www.apartments.com. [28] However, Bob Woffinden wrote that there was only one occasion when Justice and Jeremy Fox supported Alphon financially, when Fox paid a hotel bill for him. Miss Storie's mother, Mrs John Storie, said: "Michael came here last night and had tea with Valerie. 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. I knew who he was and he knew that I recognised him. They drove around the suburbs of North London, apparently aimlessly. Not so much lying to avoid the death sentence, but putting the burden of clearing his name on his brother, even AFTER his death, makes him the worst type of criminal. Was James Hanratty Guilty or Innocent? Bedfordshire Police is appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage. Bitterness continued in 1970 when the A6 Committee held a public meeting in Bedford to raise awareness of their concerns. 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. The trial lasted 21 days, the longest in English legal history up to that time.[21]. I had found the guilty person. "However, my MP joined the rebel cause, became embroiled in a committee set up to prove a miscarriage of justice, and had the temerity to write to me asking me to join it.". 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. In 1962, at Bedford Jail, 25-year-old Hanratty became one of the final eight people in the UK to be executed before capital punishment was abolished. I would ask you now to respect my wish to be left in piece.". [31] Woffinden wrote that there is no evidence that the witnesses even saw the same Morris Minor. They had never been disturbed before and it was easier to talk here rather than anywhere else. 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. ;Picture taken at home of Mrs. Janet Gregston with her two sons Anthony 3 and Simon (9) 1961. 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]. Michaels duffel bag containing freshly laundered clothing rested next to it. Shortly after his discharge, Hanratty left home for Brighton, where he obtained casual work with a road haulier. He also claimed the gun went off by accident. "Valerie has worked at the laboratory since she left school five years ago and she has known Michael for a long time.". This would be of no interest except for possibly the oddest coincidence in the case. 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 nine hours, they returned to the court and entered a unanimous verdict of guilty. The report made there acknowledged his unhappy home background (he claimed he was frightened of his mother and had no filial feelings towards his father) and his mental handicaps. 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. As a result of these facts, after the A6 murder, Valerie was often unfairly characterised as a "loose woman". Surely we could do much better?, Man in his 70s attacked in his home by burglars in Luton. Hanratty was initially buried in the grounds of Bedford Gaol, but, on 22 February 1966, his remains were exhumed and re-interred in a grave at Watford, later shared with his aunt.[22][23]. The prosecution was led by Graham Swanwick QC, later a High Court judge. He said: "Whenever journalists came to her asking to tell her story she said no, as they'd misrepresent her. [30], The Hanratty family acting through their solicitor, Sir Geoffrey Bindman, repeatedly called for further inquiries into the case. Valeries immediate instinct was that it was the farmer coming to find out what they were doing and to tell them to get off his land. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. And when she was found the following morning she was able to give a hugely detailed description of what happened. Gregsten was forced to drive down the A6 until he reached Deadman's Hill near Clophill, Bedfordshire. The dead man, who has been identified as physicist Michael John Gregsten, 34, from Abbots Langley in Hertfordshire, had been shot twice in the head with a 38-calibre revolver. Despite being left paralysed and having to spend several months undergoing therapy at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, she returned to her job as a member of the on-the-spot accident team at the Road Research Laboratory just ten months after the ordeal. He was sent to Walton Prison, Liverpool, where he was again identified as a psychopath.[9]. This is a hold-up," a mans voice said. 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. What Valerie then saw surprised her. The gunman ordered Gregsten to drive in several directions, before stopping beside the A6 at Deadman's Hill, where the offences took place. While at Maidstone, Hanratty came to the attention of a researcher who lived and worked alongside the inmates; he was later to remark upon Hanrattys "gross social and emotional immaturity". 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. Storie screamed, "You bastard! Michael was 14 years older than her and married with two children, though he was in the process of separating from his wife. [8] Gregsten had separated from his wife Janet (d. 1995[13][14]) who lived with their two children at Abbots Langley. 1945: Ex-soldier buried his wife on Anglesey beach after . Collect, curate and comment on your files. 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. 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. The full text of the Court of Appeals Decision: This page was last edited on 26 January 2023, at 14:31. Gregsten had been hit twice in the head and died instantly. Valentine's Day collision leaves moped rider with 'life-changing' injuries. After her retirement she remained an active member of her community, giving presentations on family history and helping to establish a minibus service in her hometown of Slough. For pouch chewers, reach down in the bottom of the pouch, where the tobacco is moist, and grab a small handful. 2023 Getty Images. 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. It was a conclusive match. Flatline intro and Come play with me intro and outro www.dl-sounds.com, Logo and website design Paulina Szymanska, James Hanratty: The A6 Murder Crime Files, Tributes pour in for Sloughs brave Valerie Storie Slough & South Bucks Observer, Man is charged with A6 murder The Guardian, Court told of A6 car chase The Guardian, Calls to Yard in A6 case The Guardian, Hanratty family in new appeal against murder conviction BBC News, Police denial of concealing evidence The Guardian, Lay by murder gun identified The Guardian, New search in lay by murder The Guardian, Lennon film on the A6 murder found The Observer, Fresh confession revives Hanratty doubts The Guardian, Appeal court to reveal Hanratty murder case The Guardian, DNA hampers effort to clear Hanratty The Guardian, Murder casebook: James Hanratty Crime and Investigation Network, A miscarriage of justice? Sign up here. 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. Nudds also now added that Alphon had left the hotel 'calm and composed'. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Woman left with serious injuries after dog attack on residential road in Luton. Michael Gregsten is a 36-year-old research scientist at the Road Research Laboratory at Langley, near Slough. [34][37][39], At the appeal hearing in 2002, Michael Mansfield QC, the barrister acting for the Hanratty family, said that a vial, among surviving evidential items, had been broken which could account for contamination. The pair had been intimate for two years after meeting through work, and seemingly had spoken about marriage. He argued that the evidence may have been contaminated because of lax handling procedures.[34][40]. 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. That's basically taking the rest of his brothers life with him, since he knew he wouldn't be cleared. Circa 1962. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. She didn't change her story one iota.'. 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. Police handout, showing James Hanratty in police custody, Lennon and Ono protest Hanratty's execution. Collaborate with our global Enterprise Sales team. When Alphon found out, he flew into a rage. "If anyone doesn't want to be punished then they, surely, don't commit the crime. michael gregsten wife / June 11, 2022 June 11, 2022 / were achilles and patroclus cousins /. James Hanratty (4 October 1936 4 April 1962), also known as the A6 Murderer, was a British criminal who was one of the final eight people in the UK to be executed before capital punishment was effectively abolished. Hanratty also raped Gregsten's fiance, Valerie Storie, shot her five times and left her for dead. 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. A group known as the A6 Committee was set up, with newspaper articles following and demands for an independent review in the House of Lords. He told Gregsten to pass the bag but, as Gregsten moved, there were two shots. In 1999 the case was referred to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). 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. 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. Paul Stickler's book is available on Amazon here. "The book tells the story of what happened that night and how she dealt with it in the years that followed. A man tapped on the driver's door window; when Gregsten wound it down, a large black revolver was thrust into his face, and a cockney voice said, "This is a hold-up, I am a desperate man, I have been on the run for four months. After forcing them to drive 60 miles, gunman James Hanratty murdered Michael before raping Valerie and emptying a number of rounds into her body. Alphon was the son of a senior figure at Scotland Yard. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Michael Gregsten with his wife Janet 1962 OLD PHOTO at the best online prices at eBay! 'What I do find distasteful is that the family's belief in their son's innocence has been boosted by campaigners who have given them false hope. What Is The Case Of Michael Gregsten's Suicide. Michael Streeter on the latest twist in a celebrated murder mystery. The gunman got out of the car and approached her; pleading for her life, she took a pound note from her pocket, screaming, "Here, take this, take the car and go." No DNA other than Hanratty's was found on the handkerchief in which the murder weapon had been found wrapped. Hi, It's truly a crying shame that all the postings on this fascinating forum have been lost, seemingly for ever. [34] However, he admitted that, if contamination could be excluded, the DNA evidence demonstrated that James Hanratty had committed the murder and rape. France also left behind several letters for his family, the contents of which have never been made public. 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. The decision by the Court of Appeal included a discussion of the handling of the various items of evidence involved. Still can't find what you're looking for? All you have to do is to click here and type in your email address. However, what isn't well known is Valerie's side of the story. Make an enquiry and our team will be get in touch with you ASAP. Pre-pay for multiple images and download on demand. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. [27] Justice encouraged the initially reluctant Fox to help him expose what he believed to be the fabrication of the case against Hanratty. You shot him. [citation needed]. They had been here on a few occasions before, to make love or simply to spend time alone together. The police issued an appeal to boarding-house keepers to report any unusual or suspicious guests. If you do as I tell you, you will be all right.'. He started to bombard his own solicitor with threatening phone calls and letters. Paul's book describes the events in great detail of the night in illuminating detail, based on Valerie's accounts. 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. map Storie drank gin and Pepsi, Gregsten had Double Diamond. What was going to happen to them? Even when she was vindicated at a trial in 2002, she said little more than a few words publicly. Find Janet Gregsten stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. 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. [8], Gregsten was a scientist at the Road Research Laboratory in Slough. 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? Secretly, however, she was drafting the contents of a book and writing hundreds of notes. Storie and Gregsten pleaded with him not to shoot them. Find the right content for your market. If you're looking for a way to stay up to date with the latest breaking news from around Bedfordshire, the BedfordshireLive newsletter is a good place to start. During the 60 mile journey, Michael and Valerie made 22 separate attempts to escape or frustrate the driver. Awesome. With some justification it seemed, since Michael had a tendency to spend willingly rather than save. Snus is a pasteurized, air-cured, smokeless and spitless tobacco, usually found in pouches. At about 6:45am on 23 August 1961, the body of Michael John Gregsten (28 December 1924 - 23 August 1961)[10][11] was discovered in a lay-by on the A6 road at Deadman's Hill, near the Bedfordshire village of Clophill, by John Kerr, an Oxford undergraduate conducting a traffic census. A brown, check car rug was spread out; another small, personalised feature of the rallying Morris. Moreover, the murderer drove badly, whereas Hanratty was an experienced car thief. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. At that time there was no conclusive forensic evidence to connect Hanratty with the car or the murder scene. [citation needed] Police went back to Nudds, the hotel manager (who himself had a lengthy criminal record for fraud and other offences), who now said that his second statement was a lie, and his first statement, implicating 'Ryan', was in fact true. 1985: West German spy chief defects to East, Man finds A6 murder weapon - broadcast 25 August 1961. After six hours they returned to ask the judge for the definition of 'reasonable doubt'. The gunman replied that Gregsten had frightened him by turning too quickly. Satisfied he had killed her, the gunman drove off southward with much crashing of gears, in the direction of Luton. It's best to encompass . Where was the money going to come from? Case 173: Rocio Wanninkhof & Sonia Carabantes, Tributes pour in for Sloughs brave Valerie Storie. Were going to have traffic chaos. 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.