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- Gender
- male
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Location
- London, England, United Kingdom
- Date of birth
- 1933
- Age at first offence
- 20
- Characteristics
- gang
- Victim profile
- John Beckley, 17
- Method of murder
- Stabbing with knife
- Date(s) of murder
- July 2, 1953
- Years active
- 1953
- Date of arrest
- —
- Status
-
Sentenced to death
Sentenced to death in 1953; sentence commuted to life imprisonment; released after serving seven years; free pardon; convicted of stabbing in a gang-fight; condemned to death
Case record: Michael John Davies
Background
Michael John Davies was a twenty-year-old labourer from Turret Grove, Clapham. He was a member of a gang known as 'The Plough Boys'.
The offence
On the evening of 2nd July 1953, eight to ten members of 'The Plough Boys' were out looking for trouble. They saw and attacked four youths on Clapham Common.
The fight took place not far from the road and was witnessed by a member of the public who was passing on the bus at the time.
When the fight ended, 17-year-old John Beckley was found lying on the ground dying of stab wounds. John Beckley was later identified as John Ernest Beckley, of Amelia Street, Walworth, and just sixteen years old. He had received six stab wounds and lay dying.
Six members of the gang were charged with Beckley's murder.
Coleman, a sixteen-year-old shop assistant of Union Street, Clapham, was also charged but was found not guilty.
Within the fight:
- One of the offending youths stabbed in the shoulder.
- One youth managed to escape, but not before he had been stabbed in the stomach.
Investigation
Although none of the youths identified Davies, a passenger on a bus that was passing at the time picked him out. Davies was subsequently found guilty and was condemned to death. His conviction was based entirely on the witness statement from the person on the bus who had identified him.
Trial
Davies was tried in October 1953.
At his trial:
- Four were acquitted.
- A fifth was found not guilty of murder.
- Davies was found guilty (on the bus passenger identification).
- All five (including the fifth found not guilty of murder) received prison sentences of between six and nine months for common assault.
The prosecution did not offer evidence for four of the accused.
Coleman was sentenced for common assault along with the other five charged in the outcome described.
Sentencing
Davies was condemned to death.
For three months, Davies sat in the condemned cell waiting for the sentence to be carried out before being reprieved. His sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.
Appeals
Davies never admitted his guilt and always protested his innocence.
Outcome
Davies was released after serving seven years. He received a free pardon.
Other details
Davies was found guilty of stabbing a youth in a gang-fight in 1953. He was associated with 'The Plough Boys' throughout the case.
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