|
Name: |
Michael Copeland |
|
AKA: |
bubble car murders |
|
D.O.B. |
|
|
Kill
Total: |
3+ |
|
Kill
date: |
June 1960
Nov 1961
1963 |
|
Kill
Place: |
Germany & Derbyshire |
|
Status: |
Single |
|
Occupation: |
Soldier |
|
Victim: |
William
Elliot, 60
Gunther
Helmbrecht, 16
Unknown |
|
Court: |
|
|
Judge: |
|
|
Prosecution: |
|
|
Defence: |
|
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FACTFILE
12th June
1960, A crashed car was found in Baslow, near Bakewell
in the Peak District of Derbyshire, The car contained a lot
of blood, but no driver, the only clue, a pair of shoes.
Later that same
day the body of 60 year old William Elliot was found, on a
deserted moor, and with no shoes. Originally the police
believed he had an accident and wandered off. But
post-mortem and other tests showed he died from a severe
beating to the head, not consistent with a car crash.
Police
interviewed several people, including Copeland, but there
was littler evidence, Copeland was released, and no charges
were bought.
November 1960,
Copeland was back on active duty in Germany, he came into
the barracks one evening suffering knife wounds, claiming he
had been attacked by two local men.
That same day 16
year old Gunther Helmbrecht was murdered in Verden, near to
the British Army Barracks.
Copeland was
questioned. but as in the Derbyshire case, there was no
evidence.
April 1961,
Copeland was back in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, another body
turned up, that had head wounds similar to Elliot, the crime
were linked by police and Copeland was questioned, but
again, lack of evidence meant it was taken no further.
1963, Copeland
called police to confess to his crimes, the motive for
confessing seemed non-existent.
One of the
police officers had developed an association with Copeland,
keeping him under surveillance, and this is the man he told
about his part in the murders. They had been hate crimes,
Copeland admitted, because he'd believed the men to be
homosexuals, but he did have some regret over the fatal
incident in Germany.However, Copeland refused to make a
formal statement and then he withdrew his confession.
March 1965,
The case went to trial.
Copeland was convicted
and sentenced to be executed. His sentence was later
commuted to life.
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