John Christie

A new inquiry led by Mr Justice Brabin concluded that it was more likely than not that Evans had not killed his daughter Geraldine, the offence for which he had been convicted and executed. The government recommended a posthumous pardon, granted in October 1966.

Beryl Evans was found strangled at 10 Rillington Place. Timothy Evans initially accused Christie before giving contradictory statements. Following his arrest in 1953, Christie admitted killing Beryl, giving an account involving gas, an attempted sexual assault and strangulation.

State of the evidence

Admitted by the person

Attribution

Directly implicated

During his final months at Rillington Place, Christie killed three women — Rita Nelson, Kathleen Maloney and Hectorina MacLennan — after luring them to his home, then concealed their bodies in a kitchen alcove.

Attribution

Personally implicated

After Christie moved out, a new occupant discovered a body behind a kitchen partition. Searches of the building revealed further bodies in the alcove, Ethel's body beneath the floor and the remains of Fuerst and Eady in the garden.

Following the revelations concerning Christie, an inquiry led by John Scott Henderson examined the safety of Timothy Evans's conviction and concluded at the time that there were insufficient grounds to question his guilt.

State of the evidence

Documented

Christie was an important prosecution witness at Timothy Evans's trial. Evans was found guilty of murdering Geraldine and hanged, while Christie remained free for another three years.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Protagonist is a witness

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist is a witness

Christie lured his colleague Muriel Eady to his home under the pretext of treating a respiratory condition, exposed her to domestic gas before strangling her and concealed her body in the garden.

State of the evidence

Admitted by the person

Attribution

Personally implicated

Christie admitted strangling Ruth Fuerst at Rillington Place in 1943 and then concealing her body in the garden, where her remains were found following the discovery of the crimes in 1953.

State of the evidence

Admitted by the person

Attribution

Personally implicated

Before the Rillington Place crimes, Christie accumulated several convictions for offences including stealing postal orders, obtaining money by false pretences, petty theft, a violent assault on Maud Cole and car theft, resulting in several prison sentences.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Personally implicated