This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/cumbria/8478717.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
'Lady in Lake' man dies in prison | 'Lady in Lake' man dies in prison |
(about 8 hours later) | |
"Lady in the Lake" killer Gordon Park has died after being found unconscious in his prison cell on his 66th birthday. | "Lady in the Lake" killer Gordon Park has died after being found unconscious in his prison cell on his 66th birthday. |
Park was convicted of the murder of his wife Carol in 2005, nearly 30 years after he killed her and dumped her body in Coniston Water in the Lake District. | Park was convicted of the murder of his wife Carol in 2005, nearly 30 years after he killed her and dumped her body in Coniston Water in the Lake District. |
He was found in his cell at HMP Garth, Leyland, Lancashire, on Monday. | He was found in his cell at HMP Garth, Leyland, Lancashire, on Monday. |
BBC Home Affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said it was thought a ligature was involved, and it was self inflicted. | BBC Home Affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said it was thought a ligature was involved, and it was self inflicted. |
He said it appeared he could have taken his own life. | He said it appeared he could have taken his own life. |
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will be conducting an investigation into the death. | The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will be conducting an investigation into the death. |
Park's son, Jeremy, who campaigned to prove his father's innocence, said he was "devastated" by his father's death. | Park's son, Jeremy, who campaigned to prove his father's innocence, said he was "devastated" by his father's death. |
He said: "We are all completely devastated and still believe his innocence 100%." | He said: "We are all completely devastated and still believe his innocence 100%." |
A Prison Service spokesman said Park was found unconscious in his cell at 0800 GMT on Monday. | |
He said: "Staff and paramedics attended but Mr Park was pronounced dead at 9.40am." | He said: "Staff and paramedics attended but Mr Park was pronounced dead at 9.40am." |
Ice axe | Ice axe |
Sources indicated that Park had not been assessed as at risk of committing suicide. | Sources indicated that Park had not been assessed as at risk of committing suicide. |
Gordon Park, from Leece in Barrow, Cumbria, was jailed for life and told he must serve at least 15 years. | Gordon Park, from Leece in Barrow, Cumbria, was jailed for life and told he must serve at least 15 years. |
During a 10-week trial at Manchester Crown Court, a jury heard that Park bludgeoned his wife to death with an ice axe and dumped her weighted body in Coniston Water in July 1976. | During a 10-week trial at Manchester Crown Court, a jury heard that Park bludgeoned his wife to death with an ice axe and dumped her weighted body in Coniston Water in July 1976. |
He claimed she had vanished from their home to live with another man, before her body was found 21 years later by an amateur diver. | He claimed she had vanished from their home to live with another man, before her body was found 21 years later by an amateur diver. |
Park always maintained his innocence and in 2008 lost a bid to challenge his conviction. Park had wanted to call fresh expert testimony relating to the geological evidence given at his trial. | Park always maintained his innocence and in 2008 lost a bid to challenge his conviction. Park had wanted to call fresh expert testimony relating to the geological evidence given at his trial. |
Mrs Park was dubbed the Lady in the Lake by detectives, after the Raymond Chandler crime novel of the same name. | Mrs Park was dubbed the Lady in the Lake by detectives, after the Raymond Chandler crime novel of the same name. |