James Francis Hurley

Case record: James Francis Hurley

Background

James Francis Hurley (born circa 1966) was an English convicted murderer and long-term fugitive from justice.

The offence

Hurley was involved in an armed robbery in Hemel Hempstead on 14 April 1988. During the robbery, he shot and killed off-duty Hertfordshire Police constable Frank Mason.

Off-duty PC Frank Mason attempted to intervene in the robbery and was shot in the back as he attempted to arrest one of the suspects. PC Mason died of his injuries.

Hurley acted as the getaway driver. The robbery involved a security van outside Barclays Bank, Bank Court, Hemel Hempstead, and was carried out with two other men.

PC Frank Mason was posthumously awarded the Queens Gallantry Medal for his bravery.

Investigation

Det Chief Insp Paul Maghie from Hertfordshire police’s Crime Management Department took over the hunt for Hurley on the 10th anniversary of Hurley’s escape in 2004. The case was featured on BBC Crimewatch, and Hurley’s picture was posted on Scotland Yard’s Wanted web page. Computer technology was used to digitally “age” photos of the wanted man. The Metropolitan Police and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) teamed up with Hertfordshire police colleagues to follow up leads produced by the publicity.

Det Chief Insp Paul Maghie stated:

"Frank's murder had a great impact, and not just on the force. Everyone remembers it. There's a memorial garden dedicated to him that I walk past every day. If you go to Hemel Hempstead, you'll see Frank's name on a memorial stone. The police will never give up efforts to find anybody on the run, but this case was particularly important because it was one of our own officers and we felt justice had not been done."

Hurley’s picture was posted as part of the renewed efforts, and the investigation involved following up intelligence leads.

"Behind the scenes, there was a lot of intelligence-gathering going on. We has to follow up intelligence leads from members of the public who had been around the world and thought they knew where Hurley was - places like Spain and Ireland. We deployed officers and followed up every lead."

Det Chief Insp Paul Maghie also described efforts to ensure that fingerprints, DNA, and European arrest warrants were lodged in all relevant countries:

"We had to bottom out every piece of intelligence to make sure his fingerprints, DNA, and European arrest warrants were lodged in all the countries he could be in, so if he got caught, the connection would be made."

Arrest

On 9 November 2007, Hurley was apprehended by police during a raid on a suspected drug dealer address in The Hague, Netherlands. Dutch police were investigating what they thought might be a cannabis factory. Instead, they discovered a quantity of Class A drugs and arrested two British men. The detainees refused to give their names. Hurley’s true identity emerged after coordination with investigators who had ensured European counterparts were informed about Hurley and his criminal record.

"It has been a very joined-up operation with us, the Met and SOCA but we have also had co-operation with countries across Europe and Ireland and everybody has done what they can to achieve this. It's been a long journey. We always knew we could get him: it was a question of when."

Trial

Hurley was convicted of murder in 1989 and was sentenced to life imprisonment.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1989 having been convicted of murder, armed robbery and firearm offences.

Sentencing

Hurley was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1989.

Escape

On February 16, 1994, Hurley escaped while being transferred to HMP Wandsworth by bus. While the bus was travelling along Swandon Way, SW18, Hurley and another prisoner threatened a prison officer with a knife, and Hurley managed to escape.

Appeals

No appeals were stated.

Outcome

Hurley remained at liberty for 13 years after his escape.

After his apprehension, it was stated that Hurley could face possible prosecution in the Netherlands for drugs offences. If he was found guilty, he may have to serve a jail term in a Dutch prison before being sent back to a UK prison. Alternatively, he could be sent back home and have any sentence a Dutch court hands down added to the remainder of his previous prison sentence for murder.

"His record says it all