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Birth:Jun. 30, 1933Death:Jan. 28, 1953

Execution Victim. Considered the victim of one of the greatest miscarriages of British justice. He suffered from epilepsy, had been injured during the War when a bomb fell on his house, was unable to read or write, had an IQ. of 66 and the mental age of a four year old. He had never been in any trouble with the law, except for two minor offences of petty theft for which he was bound over to keep the peace, until the November 2, 1952, when he and a boy of sixteen, Christopher Craig, broke into the premises of Barlow and Parker's wholesale confectionery warehouse in Tamworth Road, Croydon (demolished in 1977 and replaced by houses) and climbed onto the roof in order to gain entrance through the skylight. Before they could do so, the police arrived. Bentley surrendered at once, but Craig produced a .455 Eley ; not, as is often claimed, a Colt .45. Bentley shouted "Let him have it, Chris" (although this is under dispute) and Craig shot Police Constable Fairfax in the shoulder. Armed reinforcements were called and the first to arrive, Police Constable Sidney Miles was shot dead. At the trial, both Craig and Bentley were found guilty of murder although, in Bentley's case, the jury added a recommendation of mercy. Craig was too young to be hanged and served ten years. It was expected that Bentley would be granted a reprieve, but none was forthcoming. Bentley was buried in Wandsworth Prison until 1966, when his remains were re-interred in Croydon Cemetery. Ironically, that was where P.C. Miles's ashes had been scattered. However, his parents and his sister Iris were not allowed to have the words "A Victim of English Justice" inscribed on his tombstone. Consequently, there was no marker until a few years ago. In 1992, the Conservative Government refused to re-open the case, but one of the first acts of Tony Blair's Labour Government was to grant Derek Bentley a posthumous pardon. At the time of the execution, Reginald Paget, the Labour M.P. for Northampton, had summed up the case as follows : "The great condemnation of the German people was that they stood aside and did nothing when dreadful things happened. Now, a three-quarter witted boy of nineteen is to be hanged for a murder he did not commit and which was committed fifteen minutes after he was arrested. Can we be made to keep silent when a thing as horrible and as shocking as this is to happen?

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Related Questions

Where did Derek Bentley live?

Derek Bentley the last man to be hung in Britain lived in Croydon


When did Derek Bentley case die?

Derek Bentley case died on 1953-01-28.


When was Derek Bentley case born?

Derek Bentley case was born on 1933-06-30.


What year was Derek bentley hung?

On 28 January 1953, Derek Bentley was hung at London's Wandsworth Prison


What is the birth name of Fonzworth Bentley?

Fonzworth Bentley's birth name is Derek Watkins.


What did christopher Craig ask Derek bentley to do?

be friends


What where the names of derek bentleys family?

Mum = Doris Dad = Wilberforce sister = Judith brother 1 = Moris brother 2 = Horis brother 3 = Boris


Where did derek bently live?

Derek Bentley lived in Croydon, a town in South London, England. His life was marked by his involvement in a controversial criminal case in 1952, which ultimately led to his execution. Bentley's case garnered significant attention and debate regarding the use of the death penalty in the UK.


How long was Derek Bentley in prison before being killed?

Bentley and Craig were charged with murder. They were tried by jury before the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, Lord Goddard, at the Old Bailey in London between 9 December and 11 December 1952. Bentley was originally scheduled to be hanged on 30 December 1952 but this was postponed to allow for an appeal. Bentley's lawyers filed appeals highlighting the ambiguities of the ballistic evidence, Bentley's mental age and the fact that he did not fire the fatal shot. Bentley's appeal was unsuccessful on 13 January 1953. The Bentley case created a cause célèbre and led to a 45-year-long campaign to win Derek Bentley a posthumous pardon, which was granted partially in 1993, then completely in 1998.


How long was Derek Bentley in prison for before being killed?

Bentley and Craig were charged with murder. They were tried by jury before the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, Lord Goddard, at the Old Bailey in London between 9 December and 11 December 1952. Bentley was originally scheduled to be hanged on 30 December 1952 but this was postponed to allow for an appeal. Bentley's lawyers filed appeals highlighting the ambiguities of the ballistic evidence, Bentley's mental age and the fact that he did not fire the fatal shot. Bentley's appeal was unsuccessful on 13 January 1953. The Bentley case created a cause célèbre and led to a 45-year-long campaign to win Derek Bentley a posthumous pardon, which was granted partially in 1993, then completely in 1998.


What was Derek bently famous for?

Derek Bentley was famously known for his controversial execution in 1953 for his role in a robbery that led to the death of a police officer. Despite being present during the crime, Bentley did not fire the fatal shot; instead, he reportedly shouted "Let him have it, Derek," which was interpreted as encouragement for his accomplice to shoot. His case became a significant point of debate regarding the death penalty and issues of mental health, as Bentley had learning difficulties. In 1998, he was posthumously pardoned, and his conviction was quashed, highlighting the miscarriage of justice in his case.


How does Peter Medak create sympathy for Derek Bentley in the film let him have it?

he creates sympathy by using camera focuses, lighting and the way that he prsents derek. This makes you feel sorry for him because you get to know his background.