Robert France
Murderer
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- Gender
- male
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Location
- Market Deeping, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom
- Date of birth
- ???
- Characteristics
- rape
- Victim profile
- Gillian Atkins (female, 14)
- Method of murder
- Bashing over the head with a brick
- Date(s) of murder
- April 14, 1983
- Years active
- 1983
- Date of arrest
- —
- Status
-
Life imprisonment
Sentenced to life in prison
Background
Robert France was sentenced to life in prison.
Other details
France confessed to killing Gillian accidentally by hitting her over the head with a piece of wood.
While France was in prison awaiting trial, his solicitor received an anonymous letter claiming that France had not killed Gillian, but that the author had. The letter also provided a sketch and a description of where he had left the brick with which he had killed her.
The handwriting on the letter was compared with that of France, but experts were unable to say that they matched.
A fingerprint was found on the letter. Using a newly developed laser technique for enhancing fingerprint detail, 16 identifying characteristics were found, proving that France had written the letter.
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