Last Week In England by Coroner’s Investigator Paul Beecroft

My friend, Paul Beecroft, has spent a good deal of his life in law enforcement, in England. He’s worked Foot Patrol, Area Car, Instant Response Car and also as a Police Motorcyclist. He’s currently a coroner’s investigator and has traveled all over England, Wales, Scotland and even Germany to investigate crimes. Today, Paul sends us the latest scoop about England’s cops and crooks.

Last Week In England

Derrick Bird a 52 year old Taxi Driver left his home in the village of Rowrah, Cumbria, taking with him his .22 Rifle and his Shotgun. This should have just been a normal day but it was not to be. For reasons that are not yet confirmed Derrick Bird shot and killed his twin brother David and then shot and killed the family Solicitor Kevin Commons age 60. This occurs before 10.00 am.

At 10.35 emergency services are despatched to Duke Street in Whitehaven following shots fired. Bird has gunned down fellow taxi drivers killing one.

Bird has left the scene before Police arrive and he has driven off in his Taxi. He drives to the village of Egremont where he shoots and kills 60 year old Kenneth Fishburn on a bridge and also Susan Hughes in her 60’s who had been out shopping.

He then drives towards the village of Wilton and on route shoots and kills a local man Spike Dixon. In the village he then kills Jimmy and Jennifer Jackson

He then headed towards Gosforth where he shoots and kills Garry Purdham at point blank range whilst he was working in a field.

He then moved to Seascale where he kills a 64 year old cyclist Michael Poke and Jane Robinson a lady in her 70’s who was out delivering catalogues. Jamie Clark aged 23 is also shot and killed as he drives through the village.

Around 1.00 pm Cumbria Police find his Taxi which he has now abandoned and some 40 minutes later they find Bird’s body in woods near to the village of Boot.

In total Bird shot and killed 12 people and injured up to 25 others some of whom are in a serious condition.

In total there are 30 crime scenes.

The Queen of England has released a statement saying she is deeply shocked and shares the country’s grief and horror.

Update – 5:07pm 6-7-10

Police officers who frantically chased crazed killer Derrick Bird were forced to abandon their pursuit when he turned his gun on them.

Three unarmed officers followed father-of-two Bird but could not stop the massacre.

Cumbria Police insisted there was never an opportunity to stop the carnage – which left 12 dead.

A neighbourhood policing officer first gave chase after hearing shots in Whitehaven and commandeering a car.

But as the officer raced towards Bird’s car the 52-year-old pointed his gun out of the driver’s window and fired at a passing taxi.

The pursuit was abandoned to help the taxi driver and his female passenger who had been shot.

Two other officers in a police van then took up the chase but stopped when Bird pulled up and pointed his gun at them.

Thinking cabbie Bird was going to open fire the officers ducked for cover behind the dashboard.

They escaped with their lives – but lost sight of the gunman’s grey taxi as he fled.

Bird’s killing spree began in the early hours of Wednesday when he murdered his twin brother David. It is believed this – and the killings of family solicitor Kevin Commons, 60, and fellow cabbie Darren Rewcastle – were sparked by bitter grudges.

Bradford, Yorkshire

Criminology student Stephen Griffiths aged 40 has appeared in Court charged with the murder of three prostitutes.  When the Court asked him to confirm his name he replied “The crossbow cannibal”

Stephen Griffiths

Police and Forensic experts are examining a suitcase reputed to contain knives, hacksaws and some human tissue which has been found in a river near to where parts of a body were found.

An officer carries evidence away from the scene.

Forensics officials search the grounds around Griffiths’ flat.

Human remains were discovered in the River Aire.

Evidence found in the River Aire.

*Mailonline photos

Surrey

Peter Wallner a 34 year old Chef is sentenced to Life Imprisonment and is to serve a minimum of 20 years for the murder of his wife Melanie. Wallner killed his wife with a griddle pan and then hid her body in a freezer for 3 years before putting it in a wheelie bin to be collected during the weekly rubbish collections. Her body was discovered when neighbours spotted her foot sticking out of the bin.

*TimesOnline photos

Derbyshire

Police were called to an address in Holbrook, Derbyshire. The bodies of Rachael Slack aged 38 and her 23 month old son had been stabbed to death. Her ex boyfriend, 44 year old Andrew Cairns then took his own life.

Rachael Slack

Officers search for evidence outside the home.