Derek Bentley

See also: Bentley (homonymy)

Derek William Bentley (* June 30th 1933; † January 28th 1953) was a British young man , which was hung at the 19 years age for the murder of a police officer that its accomplice had made. The case worried British justice during more than 45 years and is, in addition to the execution of Timothy Evans, considered as largest Miscarriage of justice of the British police history. After the victory of the Ploughing Party of Tony Blair to the parliamentary elections, the government granted in 1998 a posthumous grace to Derek Bentley.

Biography

Youth

Bentley grows under deplorable conditions in the East of London. At the time of an attack of the Germans with a V1 during the Second world war, it is covered by the remains with a house which crumbled following the explosion. It becomes then epileptic and is very delayed in its personal development. Its mental capacities corresponded to those of a 11 year old child, it was illiterate and had a IQ of 66.

Burgling

The November 2nd 1952, Derek Bentley burglarizes with the young criminal Christopher Craig, 16 years old, the department store Barlow & Parker in the London district of Croydon. Whereas Bentley is only armed with a knife and an American blow-of-fist, its accomplice carries a Revolver on him. The burglars are taken in red-handed and the police force is alerted.

When the latter arrive, Bentley and Craig hide on the roof of the house. An officer named Frederick Fairfax goes up on the roof and seizes Derek Bentley. This last arrived nevertheless to release itself with the hands of the police officer and shouts, according to testimonys of several of his/her colleagues, with his accomplice: " Kill it, Chris! " (in English: " Let him cuts it, Chris! "). Craig opens fire and wounds Fairfax with the shoulder. The police officer manages all the same to recapture Bentley which informs it that Craig carries Colt.45 and an indefinite quantity of ammunition.

After a request for reinforcements, several police officers climb the house. The first of them is the constable (policeman) Sidney Miles. Craig draws a ball in the head to him when it tries to cross the roof. When it does not have any more a ammunition, it jumps of a ten meters height of the roof of the house and undergoes several fractures. It is then stopped.

The lawsuit

(still incomplete, will be soon on line)

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