Michael Queripel
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43 victims
- Gender
- male
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Location
- Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom
- Date of birth
- 1938
- Age at first offence
- 17
- Characteristics
- juvenile (17)
- Victim profile
- Elizabeth Currell, 46
- Method of murder
- Beating with an iron tee-marker
- Date(s) of murder
- April 28, 1955
- Years active
- 1955
- Date of arrest
- August 19, 1955
- Status
-
Imprisoned
Sentenced to be detained at Her Majesty's Pleasure, 1955
Name
Michael Queripel
Timeline
- 29 April 1955 — Mrs Elizabeth Currell took her dog out for a walk on the golf course and never returned; at dawn her battered body was found in the rough near the 17th tee on Potters Bar Golf Course.
- 19 August — A palm print matching 17-year-old Michael Queripel was found after over 9,000 sets of prints were taken.
- 12 October — Michael Queripel’s trial for murder took place at the Old Bailey; he pleaded guilty.
- 1955 — He was ordered to be detained during Her Majesty’s Pleasure (life imprisonment when the prisoner was under 18 and too young to be executed).
The offence
Mrs Elizabeth Currell was found dead near the 17th tee on Potters Bar Golf Course. A stocking had been tied around her throat. She had been killed by blows from a heavy iron tee-marker that lay nearby. A bloody palm print had been on the iron tee-marker.
Michael Queripel’s palm print matched one taken from the area, and he confessed to the motiveless murder.
Background
Mrs Elizabeth Currell had taken her dog out for a walk on the golf course each evening. Her husband reported her missing when her dog returned alone the previous evening. Michael Queripel was 17 years old and worked as a clerk with Potters Bar Urban District Council.
Investigation
Over 9,000 palm prints were taken in the area. When the palm print was not found in police records, police decided to fingerprint local employees. On 19 August, a print was found that matched Michael Queripel.
Initially, Michael Queripel told police that he had only discovered the body, but he later admitted the killing. He told police that he was out walking trying to clear a migraine, had seen the woman, and hit out at her.
Arrest
Michael Queripel was identified through palm-print matching after police fingerprinted local employees, and he was questioned by police.
Trial
Michael Queripel’s trial for murder was at the Old Bailey on 12 October. He pleaded guilty.
Sentencing
Michael Queripel was ordered to be detained during Her Majesty’s Pleasure. The term was described as life imprisonment when the prisoner was under 18 and too young to be executed.
Outcome
Michael Queripel was sentenced to be detained at Her Majesty’s Pleasure in 1955 after pleading guilty to murder.
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