RECIDIVISM IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

I quoted two paragraphs from Conservative British Journalist, John O’Sullivan in his article on Tuesday 27 March 2012, European Dignity, American Rights: Outlining a debate on capital punishment.

 

More recent figures from the British Home Office show that, between 1997 and 2007, no fewer than 30 murderers committed a second murder when they were either on parole or had served a custodial sentence and been released. That translates into about 150 innocent victims of second-time murderers in a population of U.S. size — and somewhat more in a population of the size of the entire EU.

These victims go unmourned by bien pensant opinion. In the British debate on capital punishment, we hear constantly — and rightly — about the two men executed in the 1950s for murders of which they are now considered wholly or partly innocent. But we do not even know the names of the 30 victims of our abolitionist penal policy over the last 15 years.

            Many British people who grew up in the United Kingdom from the 1940’s to early 1960’s, experienced a crime free society with low homicide rates. Those abolitionists in that era who claimed that because there were 4 innocent men who were wrongfully executed, they seized the opportunity to justify the abolition of the death penalty. As usual, they will quote Justice William Blackstone’s formulation: “It is better that ten guilty persons escape, than that one innocent suffer.”

            What those abolitionists do not want the public to know is that more innocent people had been murdered, especially by recidivist murderers. They claim that killers will never be released from prison, but it was always proven to be a lie. All thanks to that left wing politician, Roy Jenkins who made Britain a ‘civilized place’.

Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr, Sir James Fitzjames Stephen, and Chalerm Ubumrung and many others will criticize those abolitionists who want to protect the guilty and not the innocent. 

           Here are several cases in the United Kingdom where convicted killers had been released to kill again between 2006 to 2010.

1. The murder of Donna Wilson:

A woman had reported her apparent killer to police just one week before she was fatally stabbed by him.

 

Staffordshire Police said Donna Wilson, who was stabbed on Sunday 21 January 2007, had reported an assault and theft by Shaun Clarke, 45, the previous weekend. 

Ms Wilson, 30, of Burton, died on Monday - Clarke's body was later found in woodland. It is thought he killed Ms Wilson before taking his own life. 

It also emerged Clarke had served 16 years for an earlier murder. 

THE funeral of murdered care worker Donna Wilson will take place on Friday 2 February 2007, The Mail can reveal.

Miss Wilson, 30, of St Stephens Court, Horninglow, was repeatedly stabbed by crazed killer Shaun Clarke, following an argument at her home on the night of Sunday, January 21.

The funeral will take place at noon at St Mark’s Church, Winshill, followed by cremation at Bretby Crematorium.

A notice from the family, which appears in today’s edition of The Mail, describes Miss Wilson as a "dearly loved daughter of Joan and the late Gordon, treasured sister to Gordon and Sonia, Jason and Kym, dear aunt to Daniella and Michaella and lovingly remembered by Michael and her baby dog, Pepsi".

After suffering severe blood loss, Miss Wilson was taken to Queen’s Hospital, before being transferred to Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, which specialises in critical care. She died at 5am the following day.

Police launched a manhunt for Clarke, 45, of Shakespeare Road, Horninglow, shortly after the attack, but he was found hanged in woodland at Branston Water Park at 7am that day.

Last week, separate police and probation service investigations were launched after The Mail revealed that Miss Wilson had gone to Burton Police Station with her fiance, Michael Brealey, eight days before her death, and made a criminal complaint against Clarke over allegations of harassment, including incidents of theft and assault.

A Staffordshire Police spokesman confirmed that the case had been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission for investigation.

In a separate development, Staffordshire Probation Service also launched its own internal probe after it emerged that Clarke had been sentenced to life imprisonment at Leeds Crown Court on September 12, 1987, for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Patricia Sykes, whom he strangled and electrocuted at her home in Huddersfield.

He served his sentence at prisons in Wakefield, Nottingham and Rutland before being transferred to open conditions at HMP Sudbury in July, 2000.

He was freed from Sudbury on life licence in May, 2003, and settled in Burton, initially in Stonham Hostel in Rosliston Road, Stapenhill, and then in a Trent and Dove Housing flat in Shakespeare Road. He worked at Exel Logistics, in Derby Road, Stretton.

It had been claimed that Miss Wilson had also been in a relationship with Clarke, but relatives of Mr Brealey have refuted this, saying that Clarke had become obsessed with her after she befriended him in a pub "because she felt sorry for him".

Following her death, tributes were paid to Miss Wilson from the elderly residents at St Stephen's Court, where she had worked as a sheltered housing warden for the previous six months.

Gladys Hibbert, 75, said: "I was very fond of Donna, she was ever so friendly, we all got on really well with her."

An inquest into Miss Wilson’s death was opened and adjourned on Thursday by South Staffordshire Coroner Andrew Haigh.

Flowers or donations in Donna’s memory for Cancer Research UK can be sent to Murray’s Funeral Directors, in York Street, Burton.

http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/News/Friday-funeral-for-murder-victim-Donna.htm

2. Ernest Wright fired a final, fatal shot into his neck. … Wright, who had already served a life sentence for a murder he committed in 1971’: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/bradford/8586576.stm

Benefits row led to 'brutal' murder

11:58 GMT, Monday, 29 March 2010 12:58 UK

Wearing a balaclava and carrying a sawn-off shotgun, Ernest Wright was caught on CCTV as he walked up to a house in Bradford, intent on committing murder. 

Minutes later, a father-of-two was dead and his partner was critically injured after Wright burst into their home and fired the gun at them six times. 

Neville Corby, 42, was shot in the chest and shoulder and hit over the head with the gun and as he crouched in a bedroom, Wright fired a final, fatal shot into his neck. 

Craig Freear, 31, who was shot in the shoulder, managed to climb out of the bathroom window to safety and hid under a neighbour's car. 

Wright fled after the killing and was hunted by police for a month before being arrested at a friend's house, next door-but-one to his own home. 

“ That a senior citizen should be responsible for such a horrific and brutal murder is highly unusual, however, Ernest Wright is not a conventional 68-year-old ”
Det Supt Chris Thompson 

He claimed to be somewhere else at the time of the murder, but a jury heard evidence that proved otherwise and later convicted him of murder and attempted murder. 

Wright retained most of the spent shotgun cartridges, but he dropped one on the staircase and his DNA was extracted from it. 

The court heard Wright befriended Mr Freear's mother, who had mental health problems, and persuaded her to have her benefit payments paid into his bank account. 

He also moved her from Bradford into a property in Shipley without telling her son. 

When Mr Freear and Mr Corby found out they confronted Wright and over the next few days there was an escalating hostility between the three men. 

Det Supt Chris Thompson, who led the investigation, said Wright reacted with "extreme and totally disproportionate violence". 

"That a senior citizen should be responsible for such a horrific and brutal murder is highly unusual, however, Ernest Wright is not a conventional 68-year-old," he said. 

Mr Freear was confronted by Wright as he left for work on the morning of 30 March 2009.

Victim 'executed' 

In the ensuing attack, Wright had to break and re-load twice in order to fire the six shots from the double-barrelled gun. 

Wright shot at the men in the hallway before chasing them upstairs, where Mr Freear took refuge in the bathroom and Mr Corby hid in a bedroom. 

Craig Freear needed surgery after he escaped through this window.

As Mr Freear managed to climb on to the edge of the bath and jump out of the bathroom window, his partner was cornered by Wright. 

While Mr Corby was crouched down, Wright shot him in the neck at close range. 

The prosecution said the shot was "nothing short of an execution of a defenceless man". 

Mr Freear, who had life-saving surgery, later named Wright as his attacker, telling police that despite wearing a balaclava, he recognised Wright from his build, his gait and the wrinkles around his eyes. 

During his time in hiding Wright, who had already served a life sentence for a murder he committed in 1971, wrote to the investigating officers. 

Mr Thompson said Wright sent similar letters "of a self-pitying nature" to police after the 1971 murder and there were "clear parallels" in the cases. 

He said: "A controlling and manipulative individual, in both cases he was involved in dysfunctional relationships with vulnerable women. 

"It is at the point that his control of these relationships was challenged that he reacted with extreme and totally disproportionate violence, and in both cases was prepared to commit murder." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/bradford/8586576.stm

3. In 2010, Alexander Duffin was stabbed to death by Richard McMillan who in ‘1998 … celebrated his 16th birthday by kicking 53-year-old Thomas Stronge to death …  McMillan stamped on his victim with such force that he left the imprint of his trainers on the man’s face.’

21 December 2010 Last updated at 20:46 GMT

Killer jailed over stabbing death in Toryglen

Alexander Duffin died from stab wounds to the chest.

A convicted killer who stabbed a man to death while out of prison on licence has been jailed for at least 25 years.

Richard McMillan stabbed Alexander Duffin, 41, in the chest in the Toryglen area of Glasgow in May.

The 29-year-old attacked Mr Duffin because there was "bad feeling" between them, the court heard.

McMillan was first convicted of murder at the age of 16, after kicking a man to death in 1998. He was released on licence in July 2004.

Jurors at the High Court in Glasgow convicted McMillan of murdering Mr Duffin at a footpath near to Toryglen Road on 9 May.

Judge John Morris told him: "The jury have convicted you of murder and there's only one sentence appropriate, life.

"It remains for me to determine the punishment part of your sentence and standing your previous conviction that must be substantial."

McMillan was detained without limit of time in January 1998 after he celebrated his 16th birthday by kicking 53-year-old Thomas Stronge to death in Western Avenue, Rutherglen.

At that time, the High Court in Glasgow heard that McMillan stamped on his victim with such force that he left the imprint of his trainers on the man's face.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-12056078

4. ‘John David Matthews, 66, was found dead in his Derby flat on 25 July 2010. Five days later Paul Hancock, 58, was found dead in the same building. The pair had been repeatedly stabbed and both were found in their own baths. … Mr Matthews, known as Dave, had been stabbed 18 times. Mr Hancock received 22 stab wounds. … Dawson was given a life sentence in 1982 after admitting the murder of a 91-year-old man in his flat …’

18 July 2011 Last updated at 18:24 GMT

Neighbour killer Andrew Dawson given whole life term

Andrew Dawson is told he will spend the rest of his life in prison after being convicted of murdering two of his neighbours.

A convicted killer who murdered two of his neighbours while out on licence for an earlier crime has been told he will spend the rest of his life in prison.

John David Matthews, 66, was found dead in his Derby flat on 25 July 2010.

Five days later Paul Hancock, 58, was found dead in the same building. The pair had been repeatedly stabbed and both were found in their own baths. 

Andrew Dawson, 48, admitted murdering the two men, on the first day of his Nottingham Crown Court trial.

In sentencing Dawson to a whole life term, Mrs Justice Dobbs said "life will mean life".

'Angel of Mercy'

He had initially admitted killing both men at the flats in Waterford Drive, Chaddesden, but had denied their murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility. 

But he changed his plea to the murder charges at the court earlier on Monday.

The jury was told the bodies of Mr Matthews and Mr Hancock were found in the baths of their separate flats.

Mr Matthews, known as Dave, had been stabbed 18 times. Mr Hancock received 22 stab wounds.

These were cold, calculated and savage acts”

End Quote Det Insp Paul Callum Derbyshire Police

 

Dawson had moved into the same building just weeks beforehand.

He had gone to both victims' flats on the pretence of wanting to use their washing machines.

The court was told Dawson was given a life sentence in 1982 after admitting the murder of a 91-year-old man in his flat at Ormskirk, Lancashire - where Dawson was originally from.

He was out on licence from prison at the time of the killings in Derby. 

When Dawson was arrested at Whitehaven in Cumbria he was armed with seven kitchen knives. 

At his flat police discovered a notebook which bore the impression of a letter said to have been written by Dawson which confessed to one of the killings and was signed "Yours, the Angel of Mercy".

He told police he had an urge to kill, the court heard.

Det Insp Paul Callum said: "Dawson has shown no remorse for his actions and has simply sought to blame anyone he can for the direction his life has taken. 

'Brutal killings'

"These were cold, calculated and savage acts. He has shown a degree of thought and planning and sought to conceal and destroy evidence where he could.

"He has stretched out this process unnecessarily for the families of those men that died for no reason and I would like to express my sympathies for the loss of their loved ones."

Probation officials insisted Dawson was handled correctly and that there had been no signs he would commit further murders. 

Denise White, of Derbyshire Probation, said: "We always knew he was a difficult man but there was nothing in all the years to indicate the things that we heard in court today that in fact he was planning to kill again."

Mrs Justice Dobbs told Dawson: "These were pre-meditated and planned, brutal killings.

"Each had the misfortune of being your neighbour who had no chance."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-14189216

A man has today (Monday, July 18th) admitted to the murders of two men in their own flats in part of Derby and been jailed for life.

Andrew Dawson pleaded guilty to the murders at Nottingham Crown Court of John David Matthews and Paul Hancock in Waterford Drive, Chaddesden in July 2010.

Dawson (48) was a neighbour of the two men in the same flats complex. He visited the flat of Mr Matthews (66) on July 10th and attacked him on the doorstep, stabbing him 18 times.

Dawson then cleaned up and placed Mr Matthew's body in the bath and filled it with water and bleach.

Then on July 25th Dawson visited the flat of Mr Hancock (59) stabbed him to death. He started to clean up but was disturbed as he heard police officers attending Mr Matthew's flat downstairs after work colleagues reported they were concerned about him not turning up for his shifts.

So he placed Mr Hancock's body in the bath and filled it with water, returned to his own flat and left to get a train to Ormskirk.

Officers found Mr Matthews's body that night and discovered Mr Hancock after neighbours contacted police on July 30th after being concerned at not seeing him.

Dawson was identified as a suspect and traced to Whitehaven in Cumbria in the early hours of July 30th by local police.

The court heard that Dawson had previously been convicted of a murder in 1981 when he stabbed a 91-year-old shopkeeper to death in his home town of Ormskirk. He was jailed but released on a life-licence.

Detective Inspector Paul Callum was the Senior Investigating Officer in the case. He said: "Dawson has shown no remorse for his actions and has simply sought to blame anyone he can for the direction his life has taken.

"He has stretched out this process unnecessarily for the families of those men that died for no reason and I would like to express my sympathies for the loss of their loved ones.

"Far from having diminished responsibility in this case, as Andrew Dawson was trying to initially claim, he has total and sole responsibility for the deaths of Dave Matthews and Paul Hancock.

"These were cold, calculated and savage acts. He has shown a degree of thought and planning and sought to conceal and destroy evidence where he could.

"Conversely there was no pre-cursor to this or sign that Dawson was about to carry out the most serious of offences.

"From what I can ascertain there was no motive or reason why these two men were killed.

"I'd like to thank all the officers and staff who worked hard on this case to bring it to a successful conclusion."

            The only way to ever prevent them from killing again is to put them to their deserved deaths. The next time if an abolitionist tells a retentionist (I was a former abolitionist myself) that an innocent might be wrongfully executed, the retentionist should quote from American Conservative journalist, Dennis Prager in his article, Opponents in capital punishment have blood on their hands, Tuesday 29 November 2005: Whereas the shedding of innocent blood that proponents of capital punishment are responsible for is thus far, thankfully, only theoretical, the shedding of innocent blood for which opponents of capital punishment are responsible is not theoretical at all. Thanks to their opposition to the death penalty, innocent men and women have been murdered by killers who would otherwise have been put to death.