UK UK - Penny Bell, 43, Ealing, London, 6 June 1991

[davidt]

This is another case that I think about often and hope will be solved one day the main head scratcher for me is the motive? This was such a frenzied killing attack that really seems to be personal and rage filled so its someone she knew.

It feels like that certainly. Or a random homicidal maniac. It's one of those cases you feel should be solved given the circumstances.

 

[tes1984]

Just as a further twist to this, I've been told that JR was close to COLIN IRELAND. I'm not suggesting he was involved but it's a bizarre link

I wouldn't be surprised if they knew each other. What was the connection you had between them?

 

[trish0000]

It feels like that certainly. Or a random homicidal maniac. It's one of those cases you feel should be solved given the circumstances.

Think this could of been a contract killing penny set up by her husband as he was aware of her affair with the builder friend.he knew full well about the monies taken from the bank and penny but made out he daint.the money was the payment.

 

[davidt]

Think this could of been a contract killing penny set up by her husband as he was aware of her affair with the builder friend.he knew full well about the monies taken from the bank and penny but made out he daint.the money was the payment.

I don't know of any specific affair PB was supposed to have been having unless you are referring to JR?

The idea Andrew knew of the cash withdrawal is an interesting one. The cash has never been accounted for but I suspect when it was originally withdrawn there would have been no reason to record serial numbers etc. So tracking it down would be pretty much impossible as it was spent etc. It would need someone to come forward who knew about it I think. There's a lot about the cash that could be clarified but never has been. The reconstructions show Penny as being very cavalier and open about carrying large sums around. £8,500 back then was a very large amount of cash to carry around so openly. Is it even possible she could have drawn it out on Andrew's behalf?

 

[tes1984]

I don't think AB's first name was Andrew. You must be mixing up another case!

 

[tes1984]

Think this could of been a contract killing penny set up by her husband as he was aware of her affair with the builder friend.he knew full well about the monies taken from the bank and penny but made out he daint.the money was the payment.

I don't think a hitman would commit a car jacking, or take a victim who lived in a quiet location to a crowded place to kill her, but you never know.

 

[davidt]

I don't think AB's first name was Andrew. You must be mixing up another case!

Alastair, I'm getting old!

 

[davidt]

I don't think a hitman would commit a car jacking, or take a victim who lived in a quiet location to a crowded place to kill her, but you never know.

It's odd isn't it? Other than the rather unlikely chance she picked up a random maniac it looks all to the world like a deeply personal attack. If that was the case it should narrow down the potential list of suspects quite dramatically. Yet in all these years nothing about PB has ever come to light that suggests anyone in particular other than the bizarre claims of JR.

 

[tes1984]

I can't think of many UK murders like this which take place in the morning.

The murder of Rachel Nickell was similar in that respect. Any others?

A busy road, during rush hour seems a terrible spot for an opportunistic killer to wait for a victim to car jack. There was a witness though who said he saw a man get into a car when it was stuck in traffic.

 

[davidt]

I can't think of many UK murders like this which take place in the morning.

The murder of Rachel Nickell was similar in that respect. Any others?

A busy road, during rush hour seems a terrible spot for an opportunistic killer to wait for a victim to car jack. There was a witness though who said he saw a man get into a car when it was stuck in traffic.

I always thought the culprit got lucky in that no one was aware of the attack taking place when it happened and PB wasn't discovered until hours later. That means anyone in the area when it happened had no particular reason to notice anybody unless they were really obvious, covered in blood or something.

 

[davidt]

New documentary giving a decent overview of tbe case to date.

 

[Markybug]

Its been mentioned that the amount of stab wounds = crime of passion, but what about a random mentally ill person off their meds ?

 

[davidt]

Its been mentioned that the amount of stab wounds = crime of passion, but what about a random mentally ill person off their meds ?

Yep that's the other possibility really. It certainly seems to have been the work of someone who lost all control.

 

[tes1984]

It certainly seems to have been the work of someone who lost all control.

Do you reckon the killer put gloves on before the murder? That would show a level of control.

 

[dotr]

2000 rbbm

Unsolved: woman knifed in Jaguar

Penny Bell was found slumped over the steering wheel of her Jaguar XJS in the car park of a leisure centre in Greenford, west London, on June 6 1991. She had been stabbed and slashed 50 times in the chest and arms with a long knife.

www.theguardian.com

''Police were convinced Mrs Bell knew her killer. A builder who was a family friend was arrested after his fingerprints were found in the Jaguar, but he was released without charge.''

''One witness described the man in the car as about 40 with dark hair, possibly sporting a beard and wearing a bracelet on his right hand. But circulation of the description failed to bring any new leads.''

Ealing's Local Web site

Online resource for Ealing, the site for property , restaurants , shops and information on the Ealing Community

www.ealingtoday.co.uk

''In the months leading up to Penny's death, extensive building work was being carried out at her home in Denham, Buckinghamshire, where she lived with her husband and two children. Builders and decorators were regularly entering and leaving the property''.
'' To this day, the £8,500 is unaccounted for and the reason for its withdrawal remains unknown.''

''Another witness contacted police to report a possible sighting of Penny at Black Park, Iver, Buckinghamshire, on Thursday 6 June about 9.40am. She describes how a woman fitting Penny's description, driving an identical car met with the driver of a bronze saloon car in Fulmar Common Road. She was sure from the subsequent publicity that it was Penny. Another witness claimed that between 9.50am and 10am he also saw a pale blue Jaguar XJS parked in Fulmar Common Road.''

''In January, 2019, a new witness contacted the police to report that they believed on the day Penny was killed they saw a man in his underwear who appeared wet, as if he had just washed, walking across the footbridge that crosses the A40 Western Avenue, Greenford. The witness said it was around 10.50am to 10:55am that she saw him and described him as a bronzed/tanned male, tall, with short brown hair which was lighter on top and aged in his early thirties. She added that he was wearing blue striped boxer shorts, a white t-shirt, had a chunky chain link thick bracelet and was carrying a rucksack.''

 

[davidt]

Do you reckon the killer put gloves on before the murder? That would show a level of control.

I think it would be indicative of a level of planning and premeditation but does not rule out losing control in the heat of the moment. Especially if as it seems Penny put up a fight. I think fingerprints were found belonging to JR. Frustratingly I'm sure I read somewhere he claimed he'd been given lifts from time to time. Yet I can't find trace of that anywhere now. Perhaps I dreamt it! There's been talk the crime scene was not preserved properly and possibly compromised.

 

[dotr]

rbbm

Murder of Penny Bell - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

''A former neighbour of the Bell family from when they lived in Whitmore Road in Harrow before moving to Baker's Wood in 1987, John Richmond, was arrested by the police in April 1992 after he sold a story to The Sun newspaper in which he admitted being the man Bell had been with on the morning of her death. Richmond also claimed to have been in a secret relationship with Bell at the time. His fingerprints were then found in Bell's car He was eventually released from police bail in July 1992 after the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to charge him.
The police investigation was then wound up, with Richmond being described as "completely in the clear" Police interviewed Richmond again in December 1994after he claimed Bell was killed by an "assassin" and that he had been paid £30,000 by the man behind the murder to keep quiet He claimed he knew the identity of the murderer because he was asked to recommend a hitman to carry out a knife attack, but didn't know Bell was the victim.''

 

[davidt]

rbbm

Murder of Penny Bell - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

''A former neighbour of the Bell family from when they lived in Whitmore Road in Harrow before moving to Baker's Wood in 1987, John Richmond, was arrested by the police in April 1992 after he sold a story to The Sun newspaper in which he admitted being the man Bell had been with on the morning of her death. Richmond also claimed to have been in a secret relationship with Bell at the time. His fingerprints were then found in Bell's car He was eventually released from police bail in July 1992 after the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to charge him.
The police investigation was then wound up, with Richmond being described as "completely in the clear" Police interviewed Richmond again in December 1994after he claimed Bell was killed by an "assassin" and that he had been paid £30,000 by the man behind the murder to keep quiet He claimed he knew the identity of the murderer because he was asked to recommend a hitman to carry out a knife attack, but didn't know Bell was the victim.''

Can I ask as I've being trying to work it out for ages. What does rbbm mean?I know it's going to be obvious!

 

[dotr]

Can I ask as I've being trying to work it out for ages. What does rbbm mean?I know it's going to be obvious!

Respectfully bolded by me, if an i is in there too, it means respectfully bolded and italicized by me, wish it was more exciting like a secret message or something!