John Reginald Haliday Christie, an ex-special constable, was a sex killer and psychopath. He gained his sexual gratification through rape, murder, and necrophilia. He would make his victims unconscious, and then strangle them while performing necrophilia. He actually admitted strangling one of his victims during intercourse. Although, baby Geraldine Evans was clearly disposed of as a screaming baby, who, without a mother would arouse suspicion. In the 1940s and 1950s this man killed at least five prostitutes, his wife, a female lodger and her baby daughter. He also kept a collection of clipped pubic hairs, some of which did not match any of his known victims. Christie was not a popular man, seemingly respectable but not liked. As a teenager he had been nicknamed "Reggie No Dick" because of his sexual inadequacy.

In 1949 the top floor flat at 10, Rillington Place was empty, the new lodgers were Timothy John Evans, a 24 year old van driver, and his wife Beryl (20), and their baby daughter Geraldine. On 30th November 1949 Timothy Evans was in Wales, he walked into a police station and confessed to putting his wife's dead body down a drain. After a search at Rillington place police found not only Beryl, but, also baby Geraldine, Evans was arrested, then changing his story and accusing Christie of the gruesome murders. Christie was the chief prosecution witness at the murder trial of Evans, he denied any knowledge of the deaths of Beryl and the baby. Evans was found guilty, and hanged on 9th March 1950.

Two years after the Evans' events Christie killed his wife in December 1952, and buried her under the floorboards of his ground floor flat. In January 1953 he killed two prostitutes, and in April another. Christie left 10, Rillington place leaving the new occupier to trace the origins of the awful smell in the flat. After investigations by Mr. Brown (the new tenant) police, and a pathologist, the kitchen cupboard was found to contain the human remain of three women. Under the floor was Mrs. Christie, and in the garden two further bodies.

John Reginald Haliday Christie was arrested on 31st March 1953. While in custody Christie made detailed confessions to six of the killings. Confessing to the murder of Beryl Evans at his trial, he continued to deny the murder of baby Geraldine Evans. His plea of not guilty on the grounds of insanity was rejected. He was hanged in Pentonville prison on the 15th July 1953..

18th October 1966 justice was finally done when Timothy Evans was granted a posthumous pardon !......

An excellent film adaptation of this horrific crime is  "10, Rillington Place, Available here....

10 Rillington Place (Special Edition) [1970]

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