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DNA found in Northamptonshire 'blazing car' murder case | DNA found in Northamptonshire 'blazing car' murder case |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Scientists investigating a murder mystery dating back more than 80 years have made a breakthrough that could finally identify the victim. | Scientists investigating a murder mystery dating back more than 80 years have made a breakthrough that could finally identify the victim. |
A man was hit over the head with a mallet and burned to death in a Morris Minor car near Northampton in 1930. | A man was hit over the head with a mallet and burned to death in a Morris Minor car near Northampton in 1930. |
Alfred Rouse was later hanged for the crime and took the name of his victim to the gallows. | |
Now, a team led by the University of Leicester has uncovered DNA which they hope will reveal his identity. | |
In 1930, the man's badly burned body was examined and samples taken during a post-mortem examination at a pub near the crime scene in the village of Hardingstone. | In 1930, the man's badly burned body was examined and samples taken during a post-mortem examination at a pub near the crime scene in the village of Hardingstone. |
Decades later, a woman was investigating her family ancestry when her grandmother revealed her long-held belief that her uncle was the man burned to death in a car. | Decades later, a woman was investigating her family ancestry when her grandmother revealed her long-held belief that her uncle was the man burned to death in a car. |
The uncle, William Thomas Briggs, left his home in London for a doctor's appointment in November 1930, but disappeared and was never seen again. | The uncle, William Thomas Briggs, left his home in London for a doctor's appointment in November 1930, but disappeared and was never seen again. |
In the 1950s, almost 30 years after Rouse was hanged at Bedford Jail, the family asked Northamptonshire Police to reopen the case. | In the 1950s, almost 30 years after Rouse was hanged at Bedford Jail, the family asked Northamptonshire Police to reopen the case. |
"My family were convinced that William was Rouse's victim," said Samantha Hall, whose grandmother had confided in her. | "My family were convinced that William was Rouse's victim," said Samantha Hall, whose grandmother had confided in her. |
Mr Briggs might have crossed paths with the 36-year-old commercial traveller Rouse who it is said wanted to fake his own death. | Mr Briggs might have crossed paths with the 36-year-old commercial traveller Rouse who it is said wanted to fake his own death. |
Illegitimate children | Illegitimate children |
Rouse had suffered a head wound in World War One, which left him with a personality disorder to the point that he was described as "a promiscuous rake with an enormous sexual appetite". | Rouse had suffered a head wound in World War One, which left him with a personality disorder to the point that he was described as "a promiscuous rake with an enormous sexual appetite". |
It is understood he fathered at least two illegitimate children and had child support orders imposed on him, leaving him with severe financial problems. | It is understood he fathered at least two illegitimate children and had child support orders imposed on him, leaving him with severe financial problems. |
At the time, police believed he had probably picked up a homeless tramp, who would not be missed if he disappeared, and wanted the car fire on 6 November 1930 to look as if he had died in a crash. | At the time, police believed he had probably picked up a homeless tramp, who would not be missed if he disappeared, and wanted the car fire on 6 November 1930 to look as if he had died in a crash. |
He rendered his victim unconscious, placed the body in the driver's seat and left some of his own possessions inside before setting it on fire. | He rendered his victim unconscious, placed the body in the driver's seat and left some of his own possessions inside before setting it on fire. |
Rouse hoped the fire would go unnoticed in the early hours of the morning after Bonfire Night but two young men saw the flames and went to investigate. | Rouse hoped the fire would go unnoticed in the early hours of the morning after Bonfire Night but two young men saw the flames and went to investigate. |
The car's registration plate was still intact, identifying its owner Rouse, who had fled to Cardiff but was arrested and eventually tried for murder. | The car's registration plate was still intact, identifying its owner Rouse, who had fled to Cardiff but was arrested and eventually tried for murder. |
Tissue samples | Tissue samples |
Intrigued and determined to find answers for her family, Ms Hall contacted Northamptonshire Police in 2012 - hopeful that DNA profiling could result in a positive identification. | Intrigued and determined to find answers for her family, Ms Hall contacted Northamptonshire Police in 2012 - hopeful that DNA profiling could result in a positive identification. |
But the blazing car murder, although a mystery, was not classed as a "cold case" because it had ended with a criminal conviction. | But the blazing car murder, although a mystery, was not classed as a "cold case" because it had ended with a criminal conviction. |
The family were put in touch with the University of Leicester, which successfully identified King Richard III when bones were found under a Leicester car park in 2012. | The family were put in touch with the University of Leicester, which successfully identified King Richard III when bones were found under a Leicester car park in 2012. |
A different team of forensic scientists took on the blazing car murder case and obtained a tissue sample taken from the victim during his post-mortem examination. | A different team of forensic scientists took on the blazing car murder case and obtained a tissue sample taken from the victim during his post-mortem examination. |
Along with his jawbone, the sample had been archived in the 1930s at the department of forensic medicine at the London Medical College, now Queen Mary College. | Along with his jawbone, the sample had been archived in the 1930s at the department of forensic medicine at the London Medical College, now Queen Mary College. |
The key to solving the riddle would be finding enough mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in the sample to get a profile to compare with the family's mtDNA. | The key to solving the riddle would be finding enough mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in the sample to get a profile to compare with the family's mtDNA. |
For months, the forensic team, along with the university's departments of chemistry and criminology, worked with Northumbria University, Northamptonshire Police and The Royal London Hospital Museum. | For months, the forensic team, along with the university's departments of chemistry and criminology, worked with Northumbria University, Northamptonshire Police and The Royal London Hospital Museum. |
"Fortunately, the scientists obtained a full single male mtDNA profile from the slide to compare to the family," a spokeswoman for the team said. | "Fortunately, the scientists obtained a full single male mtDNA profile from the slide to compare to the family," a spokeswoman for the team said. |
"It's been very interesting and rewarding working on such a famous local murder case. | "It's been very interesting and rewarding working on such a famous local murder case. |
"It was a unique investigation to be involved in, as the perpetrator had been identified long ago and brought to justice while the victim's identity remained unknown. | "It was a unique investigation to be involved in, as the perpetrator had been identified long ago and brought to justice while the victim's identity remained unknown. |
"The scientific and criminological expertise at the University of Leicester and Northumbria University, working together with the police, could provide answers to this family after 83 years." | "The scientific and criminological expertise at the University of Leicester and Northumbria University, working together with the police, could provide answers to this family after 83 years." |
The result is due to be revealed to Ms Hall and the family on the BBC's The One Show on a date to be fixed. | The result is due to be revealed to Ms Hall and the family on the BBC's The One Show on a date to be fixed. |