During an attempted robbery at a Croyden warehouse in 1952, 19 year old Derek Bentley and his friend, Chris Craig, were challenged by police.

Bentley was quickly apprehended, at which time he was alleged to have said “Let him have it Chris” to Craig.

This immediately preceded Craig shooting and killing another officer.

Trial

When the case came to trial there was doubt even then as to whether “Let him have it Chris” meant killing the policeman or surrendering the gun.

Bentley claimed that he didn’t even know that Craig had a firearm.

Also, Bentley was widely known to have referred to his friend as “kid” or “kiddo” rather than by his given name anyway.

Ultimately, Bentley was convicted primarily based upon his own statement to police -

statement of: DEREK WILLIAM BENTLEY, aged 19

1 Fairview Road, London Road

Norbury

Electrician

who saith:

I have been cautioned that I need not say anything unless I wish to do so, but whatever I do say will be taken down in writing and may be given in evidence.

I have known Craig since I went to school. We were stopped by our parents going out together, but we still continued going out with each other - I mean we have not gone out together until tonight.

I was watching television tonight (2nd November 1952) and between 8pm and 9pm Craig called for me.

My Mother answered the door and I heard her say I was out.

I had been out earlier to the pictures and got home just after 7pm.

A little later Norman Parsley and Frank Fazey called. I did not answer the door or speak to them.

My Mother told me that they had called and I then ran out after them.

I walked up the road with them to the paper shop where I saw Craig standing.

We all talked together and then Norman Parsley and Frank Fazey left.

Chris Craig and I then caught a bus to Croydon. We got off at West Croydon and then walked down the road where the toilets are - I think it is Tamworth Road.

When we came to the place where you found me, Chris looked in the window. There was a little iron gate at the side. Chris then jumped over and I followed.

Up to then Chris had not said anything. We both got out on to the flat roof at the top. Then someone in a garden on the opposite side shone a torch up towards us.

Chris said: “It’s a copper, hide behind here.” We hid behind a shelter arrangement on the roof.

We were there waiting for about ten minutes. I did not know he was going to use the gun. A plain clothes man climbed up the drainpipe and on to the roof. The man said: “I am a police officer - the place is surrounded.”

He caught hold of me as as we walked away Chris fired. There was nobody else there at the time. The policeman and I went round a corner by a door. A little later the door opened and a policeman in uniform came out. Chris fired again then and this policeman fell down. I could see he was hurt as a lot of blood came from his forehead just above his nose.

The policeman dragged him round the corner behind the brickwork entrance to the door.

I remember I shouted something but I forget what it was. I could not see Chris when I shouted to him - he was behind a wall. I heard some more policemen behind the door and the policeman with me said, “I don’t think he has many more bullets left.” Chris shouted “Oh yes I have” and he fired again.

I think I heard him fire three times altogether. The Policeman then pushed me down the stairs and I did not see any more. I knew we were going to break into the place, I did not know what we were going to get - just anything that was going. I did not have a gun and I did not know Chris had one until he shot.

I now know that the policeman in uniform is dead. I should have mentioned that after the plain clothes policeman got up the drainpipe and arrested me, another policeman in uniform followed and I heard someone call him ‘Mac’. He was with us when the other policeman was killed.

The jury opted to believe that Bentley’s call was an incitement to Craig to murder the policeman. With Craig only being 16, it was Bentley who was later sentenced to death. On the 28th January 1953 Bentley was hanged for the murder of PC Sidney Miles.

Death Sentence

Bentley was executed even though -

He was in police custody 20 minutes before the murder
Had the mental age of an 11 year old
Didn’t commit the murder himself

For many years Bentley’s parents and sister, Iris, fought to have his name cleared. However, it would be his niece who would be present when that finally happened on July 30th, 1998.

Forensic Exoneration

Professor Malcolm Coulthard was able to prove that the statement from Bentley contained certain unusual linguistic features. The wording was compared with other statements from suspects along with records written purely by police officers. This showed that each had a certain type of writing style.

Analysis of Bentley’s statement showed that the usage of the word “then” was in a way synonymous with police reporting. The statement also read as if Bentley was answering questions. His conviction had rested largely upon the fact that he was meant to have penned the statement himself and that it was a free-flowing account of events.

One can only assume now that the police felt rightly wronged at the death of one of their own. With Craig too young for capital punishment, did they perjure themselves in court to secure the conviction of Bentley?

Forensic linguistics research of the trial judge’s closing comments also show that he was applying impartial pressure to the jury to convict Bentley. Despite them finding Bentley guilty they took the unprecedented step of announcing their verdict whilst also requesting the judge to show mercy.