Roger Panes

Background

Roger Panes (1933-1974) was a cattle dealer in Andover, Hampshire. He was a member of the Exclusive branch of the Plymouth Brethren. In November 1973, he was "shut up," or shunned, by the other members of his church for wrongfully shunning another member of the Brethren. His family was encouraged to shun him in turn; he could not sleep with his wife or eat with the family.

Between November 1973 and February 1974, members of the Brethren called on Mr. Panes five or six times, but the matter had not been resolved. On Feb. 21, Mrs. Panes contacted Mr. Fennell to tell him that her husband had taken an overdose of tablets and had been admitted to hospital. On March 2, two days before the murders were discovered, a meeting was held by the Brethren but no decision was taken to "withdraw from him or excommunicate him."

The offence

On March 4, 1974, Roger Panes killed his wife Pamela, 39, his two sons Graham, 7, and Adrian, 4, and his daughter Angela, 6, as they slept in their beds in their detached home in Salisbury Road, Andover, Hants. An axe was found covered in blood, and severe head injuries were found on Mrs. Panes and the children.

After killing his family, he hanged himself from the stair bannisters with an electrical cable.

Investigation

Detective Chief Insp. Stanley Atkinson, head of Basingstoke CID, told the inquest at Andover that he found Mrs. Panes lying in a double bed in a front upstairs bedroom in the house, where she had severe head injuries. The children were found with similar injuries in other bedrooms.

Det. Chief Insp. Stanley Atkinson said that in another bedroom a blood-stained axe with a seven and a half inch blade was found. He also reported that a bed had been prepared but not slept in.

Mr. Atkinson read part of a statement he had taken from Mr. Fennell, the sect's leader in Andover, in which Mr. Fennell said Mr. Panes had been "shut up" during November 1973 because of the way he treated another member of the brethren over a minor technical offence, and shut up that person wilfully. Mr. Fennell said that this "shutting up" was carried out by Mr. Panes without the consent of other members of the brethren.

Mr. Atkinson explained the term "shut up" to the inquest jury. He said:

"It means he is shut up from the other Brethren none of whome are allowed to associate with him and his family. "If it is mutually agreed between him and his wife, he can be shut up from them (his family) -- that is to say he is cut off from the rest of his family within his own household," he added.

In a pocket of a jacket found in the house, an unaddressed note in Mr. Panes' handwriting was found. The note read:

"There's never been such a wicked man. This house will have to be left empty or bulldozed. You go to the Brethren. I trust they will take you in. Cry to God for mercy for you all and the dear children. The Lord is coming very soon."

Arrest

On March 5 a Post Office engineer called to fix the phone in the Panes home in Salisbury Road, Andover. Hanging, the engineer found Mr. Panes hanging from the bannister with a length of electric wire round his nect. When police arrived they found Mrs. Pamela Panes hacked to death by an axe in the front bedroom. The children, Graham, aged seven, Adrian, four, and Angela, aged six, were found in other rooms, all killed by axe wounds.

Trial

An inquest was held. The jury returned a verdict that Mr. Panes murdered his wife and three children and then committed suicide while the "balance of his mind was disturbed".

In his summing up to the jury, Mr. Ronald Bowker, the coroner, said:

"It is up to anyone in this country to follow such religious beliefs as he pleases, without question. The only qualification I suppose one would make is if such beliefs are thought to be injurious to the community as a whole or individuals in particular. "These might be matters for inquiry, but matters for inquiry elsewhere and not here."

Mr. George Fenalh of Barlow's Lane, Andover, who was said to be a "responsible member" of the Brethren, said that Mr. Panes had been "shut up" in November, 1973. Mr. Fenalh said:

"He was shut up because of the way he treated another member of the Brethren over a minor technical offence. He shut up that person wrongly. That was not right. It was contrary to the accepted code and violations of the Divine Principles involved in the Brethren. Definition As he was unable to accept these, he was shut up."

Detective Chief Inspector Atkinson gave the inquest jury a definition of being "shut up." He said:

"It means he is shut up from the other Brethren none of whome are allowed to associate with him and his family. "If mutually agreed between him and his wife he can be shut up by the rest of his family in his own household. He doesn't sleep with his wife and he doesn't eat with the rest of his family."

Dr. Vanessa Heath, from Winchester Hospital, said that when Mr. Panes was admitted with a drug overdose she asked his wife why he had taken it. Dr. Vanessa Heath said:

"She told me it was a matter between him and God. She would offer no further explanation."

Sentencing

No sentencing information was provided.

Appeals

No appeal information was provided.

Outcome

Mr. Panes was found having hanged himself after murdering his wife Pamela and their children Graham, Adrian, and Angela. The jury also found that he committed the murders and suicide while the "balance of his mind was disturbed".

Aftermath

A bed in the house had been prepared but not slept in. Mr. Panes left instructions that the house should be left empty or bulldozed, and he told whoever read the note to go to the Brethren. More than 150 members of the local Exclusive Brethren filled the public benches at the inquest in Andover, Hants.

The Exclusive Brethren was described as being notorious for the severity of its discipline and was ruled with an iron hand by its world leader, Big Jim Taylor, until his death in 1970.