|
Kill Total: |
2 |
Kill place: |
Narborough, Leicestershire |
|
Kill date: |
21/11/83 & 31/07/86 |
Victim(s): |
Lynda Mann (15) Dawn Ashworth (15) |
|
Date of Birth: |
1961 |
Marital Status: |
Married |
|
AKA: |
Black Pad Killer |
Occupation: |
Baker |
This case was an
important one in the history of forensic science, as it
was the first case that used DNA profiling to find a man
innocent and then catch the killer.
Lynda Mann's body
was found in the grounds of Carlton Hayes psychiatric
hospital, having been killed on a secluded path running
alongside it. Despite extensive police investigations,
which included interviewing all the residents and
out-patients of the hospital, the police were still unable
to catch the murderer.
Two and a half year
later, Dawn Ashworth's murder took place on a path
alongside the M1, within sight of the last scene, it was
assumed that it was committed by the same person.
Following appeals, it was established that a man on a
motorbike had been seen hanging around the area at the
time. This man was soon proved to be Richard Buckland,
when he told a colleague details of the murder which were
not public knowledge. Buckland confessed to Dawn's murder
and was sent for trial. Before the trial took place
however, the new DNA profiling tests were done on his
blood and it was proved that he wasn't the man who raped
Dawn and therefore probably not the one who killed her. It
is believed in fact that he witnessed her murder from a
distance.
With no suspect again,
the police decided to use DNA testing to their advantage.
They set up a voluntary testing for every male living or
working in the area. In 9 months over 4,000 men had their
blood and saliva tested. In September 1987, it was
discovered that Ian Kelly, a local, had been asked by
Pitchfork to have his blood tested, pretending to be
Pitchfork, and that several other people had been offered
money to do this. Pitchfork was immediately sought out,
and confessed to the crimes very swiftly, knowing that any
blood test would prove he was the killer.
Pitchfork was known to
the police already, as he had a criminal record for
flashing. According to him, both these attacks had started
off as flashings, and that he only killed them because of
the way they reacted - they ran away, which excited him.
Apart from his history of indecent exposure, Pitchfork led
a seemingly innocuous life, with a good job, a wife and a
child.
Pitchfork was sentenced
to life imprisonment in 1988.No minimum sentence was
recommended.
