David Lashley

Case record

David Lashley was the prime suspect in the murder of Janie Shepherd.

The offence

In April 1977, about 10 weeks after Janie Shepherd disappeared from West London, the body of Janie Shepherd, a young Australian woman, was found on a common near St Albans. She had been savagely raped and murdered.

The police information issued at the time was that there seemed to be no motive for the killing.

Investigation

Police investigations revealed no clues or answers.

Police became convinced that Janie Shepherd’s killer was a known criminal. Despite this, it took 13 years to bring the killer to justice.

The body was found in the back of Janie Shepherd’s red Mini in a desolate area of Hertfordshire.

Some time after the murder, a journalist was interviewing Cracknell on another matter. During the course of that interview, the journalist asked Cracknell if he had any views on the Janie Shepherd case.

Cracknell replied: "he was puzzled by the fact that she was considered to be apparently innocent and not promiscuous. He had a definite impression of an I.U.D. coil (birth control device worn internally) lying on the back seat of the red Mini. He felt she must have gone into the back seat of the car quite willingly, for sexual purposes."

The reporter left, but later telephoned Cracknell, stating that he had approached Scotland Yard’s Press Office. They had categorically denied that any such device had been found. Cracknell insisted this was not true.

A few hours later, Cracknell received a telegram, urgently requesting him to contact the journalist. After contacting the journalist, Cracknell was told that he had been visited by officers from the Murder Squad, who stated that the coil was in fact found on the back seat and that, in their opinion, only the murderer would know this.

Despite attempts to protect his source of information and to prevent his own arrest, Cracknell finally gave Cracknell’s name as his informant.

Arrest

A few hours later, two officers from the Murder Squad visited Cracknell’s home to interview him.

It was a comparatively simple matter to convince them of Cracknell’s true identity and profession. The officers then asked if, subject to official sanction, he would assist them in their enquiries.

In a flash of psychic intuition, Cracknell told the police officers that there was nothing further he could do as the murderer was already in prison.

Cracknell described the murderer as being black, with a scar on his cheek. He said the murderer was currently serving a prison sentence for rape. The police then left.

It was some seven years later when a black man with a scar on his cheek was arrested at the prison gates after serving seven years for rape. He was charged with the murder of Janie Shephard.

Trial

The black man with a scar on his cheek was subsequently found guilty.

Sentencing

David Lashley was sentenced to life in prison on March 19, 1990.

Outcome

Advances in forensic science using DNA evidence led to conviction for the Janie Shepherd murder.

Cracknell’s role in the investigation was described as solving the murder without leaving the confines of his home, and without becoming actively involved, despite nearly being arrested as a suspect.

The murder case had captured the attention of the British public.

Aftermath

Cracknell heard nothing further from the police after the officers left.

The killer had been sent to prison for other crimes, but on release advances in forensic science using DNA evidence meant he was convicted for the Janie Shepherd murder.

Major cases of psychic investigation were associated with the Janie Shepard murder.