UK - John Greenwood & Gary Miller, both 11, murdered, Whiston, Merseyside, 16 Aug 1980

[Legally Bland]

Police have reopened the case of two 11-year-old friends murdered in Merseyside 36 years ago.

John Greenwood and Gary Miller died after being found beaten and hidden under a mattress on a rubbish tip in Whiston on 16 August 1980.

A man was tried for their murders in 1981, but found not guilty.

Police are making a fresh appeal for anybody who saw the boys on the day of the murders after receiving new information.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-37671385

 

[Elainera]

I just came here to post about John and Gary. Thanks LB!

Another link:
http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknew...ed-11-year-olds-found-buried-alive/ar-AAj1lkE

What The Sunday Times found:
A confession Mr Cheeseman made to detectives was criticised in the trial because there had been no guardian or lawyer present during the interview.
The Sunday Times report a review in 2008 found forensic exhibits, including blood-stained clothing, had been lost or destroyed.
The national newspaper also claims to have found a new witness in the case who said Mr Cheeseman turned up at her door on the night of the murders with “what looked like red paint” on his trousers.

Another neighbour said three days before the killings Mr Cheeseman appeared at her door angry and distraught and said he would “get the family” back after John’s father had complained about him playing on the street with the boys.

The investigation has also claimed to have unearthed allegations of a potential new suspect.
The paper reports that a Whiston resident told friends in 1999 she tried to commit suicide because she could no longer live with the guilt of her husband killing the two boys.

 

[Legally Bland]

How the case was originally reported by the Liverpool Echo.
__________
August 21, 1980
The heartbroken parents of John and Gary asked for them to be buried side by side in a joint funeral after Gary’s death the previous day.

The Reverend E Mitchell, vicar of St Nicholas Church in Whiston, said: “Both parents have asked that the two little boys be buried together and that will be arranged.”

[...]

May 9, 1981
The jury in the trial of John Cheeseman were told they faced a “whodunnit”, and his barrister Benet Hyfner said they were faced with trying a “very bizarre case”.

He said his client did not fit the description of the killer and had been seen by more than 12 “reputable” eye-witnesses in a different place at the time of the murders

May 11, 1981
A jury took less than an hour to clear John Cheeseman of the killings of John Greenwood and Gary Miller.

 

[Legally Bland]

It's a bit worrying evidence was lost or destroyed, hopefully they can still solve this.

 

[Elainera]

Public facebook group set up by John's sister Deborah Lewis:

https://m.facebook.com/groups/554400824747183/?view=group

 

[Alyce]

subscribing, will read through later

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Well, having just read this old article which reports his interview/confession, I'd say Cheeseman must have done it. How else would he know about the mattress and rope?

 

[Legally Bland]

I don't subscribe to the Times, so can only see first couple of paragraphs. Seems they're making the case that John Cheeseman did it.
_______________

Cleared suspect ‘was at scene of boys’ murder’

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/cleared-suspect-was-at-scene-of-boys-murder-62vx98b2p

 

[OkieGranny]

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-39655639

Detectives investigating the murder of two 11-year-old schoolboys who were buried alive nearly 37 years ago have said they are pursuing new leads...

Officers now want to trace three schoolboys who may have been witnesses...

Detectives are hoping to trace two men, who would have been boys aged between 10 and 15 in 1980, who were seen being assaulted by an older male outside Whiston Health Centre weeks before the murders.

They also want to speak to another man, then also a boy aged 10 to 15, who was called either 'Duffy' or 'Cuffy'.

 

[Jartykarate]

Suspect the police can't question in double murder of schoolboys

Double jeopardy preventing original suspect being questioned until new evidence comes to light.

 

[AgoraphobicSleuth]

This was on our local news today (I live in the same general area where it happened). It was a few years before I was born, but I grew up hearing about it because it was such a gruesome case and people were upset about what transpired. I support the Double Jeopardy law in theory but in cases like this it seems like there have been massive errors and justice hasn't been done.

 

[Jartykarate]

Renewed police appeal

Witnesses could hold information to solve a 40 year old murder of schoolboys

 

[RobinCAL]

Families of murdered boys plead for justice 40 years on | ITV News

"School friends John Greenwood and Gary Miller were found by a dog walker hidden under a mattress in a rubbish tip in Whiston, near Liverpool, in the early evening of Saturday August 16, 1980.
Both were taken to hospital from the scene in Pottery Lane, in an area now known as Stadt Moers Park, but died from head injuries."

"A man went on trial in 1981 for the boys' murders but was found not guilty."

 

[RobinCAL]

The case was reopened in 2016

Murder case of friends John Greenwood and Gary Miller re-opened after 36 years

 

[Mind your biscuits]

I don't think this has been posted yet. A bit more info here.
Fresh investigation launched into the 1980 murders of John Greenwood and Gary Miller | Daily Mail Online

 

[Pinny]

I am from that general area originally as well, though I was only a toddler at time of the murders.
I'm not sure how much I can say but I do vaguely know John Cheeseman. He was my mum's milkman until fairly recently - not the guy who delivers the milk but the one who collected the money. I find it hard to believe he would be capable of the murders but reading that transcript there are a few things which make me think it must be him.

 

[Bit of hope]

Not saying he definitely didn't do it but I'm not so sure he did.

Suspect the police can't question in double murder of schoolboys

-No scrap of blood or evidence etc.
-Forensic tests had failed to link the clothes worn by Cheeseman to those of the young boys etc
- No traces of grass, pollen, or debris from the tip on Cheeseman's clothes

The way the confession was obtained.....unheard off....yes, he was lying and supposedly knew things that IMO he heard through radio and newspaper read to him by the milkman. Detectives full of prejudice. Cheeseman was considered strange, a bit different and what not....so the conclusion was quickly made....he must have done it.


The Sunday Times said detectives had unearthed allegations pointing towards Robert Fisher, who died in 1991, aged 73. His wife, Ethel, reportedly committed suicide in 1999 after telling friends she could no live with the guilt of knowing her husband had killed the boys. Fresh investigation launched into the 1980 murders of John Greenwood and Gary Miller | Daily Mail Online

 

[RobinCAL]

Appeal over 40-year-old murder of two schoolboys to feature on Crimewatch Roadshow

 

[Legally Bland]

Appeal over 40-year-old murder of two schoolboys to feature on Crimewatch Roadshow

The item starts at about 2 minutes in, only available till 10am tomorrow:
BBC iPlayer - Crimewatch Roadshow - Series 12: Episode 13

 

[Alyce]

Thanks for the link Legally. Absolutely harrowing listening to the two mothers speaking.
Hard to believe that they will find the killer now, after so much time has passed, but maybe, just maybe, some new information will be provided.