Alfred Charles Whiteway

Murderer

2known / alleged victims

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Case Facts

Gender: male
Country: United Kingdom
Location: London, England, United Kingdom
Date of birth: 1931
Age at first offence: 22
Characteristics: serial rapist
Victim profile: Barbara Songhurst, 16, and Christine Reed, 18
Method of murder: Beating with an axe and stabbing with a Gurkha knife
Date(s) of murder: May 31, 1953
Years active: 1953
Date of arrest: June 28, 1953
Status: Executed
Executed by hanging at Wandsworth Prison on December 22, 1953

Case Summary

Background

Alfred Charles Whiteway was a serial rapist.

The offence

Both girls had very deep stab wounds to the chest and severe head wounds. Their skulls had been fractured. Whiteway admitted to the police that he had murdered the two girls.

Investigation

The body of Barbara was found half a mile downstream from the site of the murder the day after it took place. To be able to find Christine, the police had to drain the Thames between Teddington and Richmond, by using the locks at Teddington. Christine was found some miles downstream 6 days after the murder.

Traces of blood were found in the seam and eyelets of a pair of Whiteway's shoes. Whiteway had hidden the axe under the seat of a police car. A police officer found the axe and took it home to chop wood. By the time it was realised it was the murder weapon, the axe had been severely blunted, and no forensic evidence was found on it.

Arrest

Whiteway was arrested after two builders recognised him from his photofit and called the police.

Sentencing

Whiteway was sentenced to death.

Outcome

Whiteway was hanged at Wandsworth Prison on 23 December 1953.

Other details

Whiteway hid the axe under the seat of a police car, and it was later found by a police officer and taken home to chop wood.

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