Derek Bentley received serious injuries when his family's house was bombed during the Second World War. This led to health and developmental problems, including epilepsy. When he was fifteen, a series of tests concluded that Bentley had a mental age of ten, and the reading age of a four-year-old. Weak-minded and "easily led", young Derek started to mix with the wrong crowd, and soon had a police record for theft.
On 2nd November, 1952, Derek Bentley joined Christopher Craig (aged sixteen) in an attempt to break into the warehouse of the Barlow and Parker confectioners in Croydon, Surrey. Craig was in possession of a revolver.
The pair were spotted by neighbours, who called the police. Bentley (who had no history of violence) was soon arrested by Detective Sergeant Fairfax, but Craig was still on the loose. Bentley informed the arresting officer that Craig was armed. It is claimed that Bentley yelled out, "Let him have it, Chris!" Obviously ambiguous, it is not known whether that meant "shoot him", or "give him the gun".
Craig shot at Fairfax, wounding him. Police Constable Sidney Miles arrived on the scene, and was immediately killed by a single gunshot to the head. Out of ammunition, Craig jumped from the roof, fracturing his spine.
Chris Craig and Derek Bentley were charged with murder. At that time, murder was a capital offence in the UK, but because he was under eighteen, Craig could not be executed. However, Bentley was sentenced to death by hanging.
Of course, this lead to uproar. While some thought it was justified, many were horrified at the thought. After all, look at the events of that night. Not only was Craig the one who pulled the trigger, but Bentley was already in custody! It is understandable that the lad would be punished, but is it fair to execute an individual with such mental deficiencies?
The Home Secretary, David Maxwell Fyfe, received a plea for clemency from the Queen, but refused. It was also stated that Parliament could review the the sentence, but - and here is the really ignorant thing - only after the sentence had been carried out!
At 9am on 28th January, 1953, Derek Bentley was hanged at Wandsworth Prison, for the murder of P.C. Sidney Miles.
That was not the end of the saga, and Bentley's family fought long and hard to clear young Derek's name. On 29th July, 1993, Bentley received a Royal Pardon overturning the death sentence. Finally, on 30th July, 1998, the Court of Appeal quashed Derek Bentley's conviction for murder. Just to complicate matters, it is now thought by some that the shot that killed P.C. Miles was fired by a fellow police officer.
The case is well known in popular culture, with the 1991 film, Let Him Have It relating the story. A number of songs have also been written, including, Let Him Dangle (Elvis Costello), Derek Bentley (Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger), and Bentley and Craig (Ralph McTell).
Derek Bentley was laid to rest in Mitcham Rd Cemetery, Croydon. Yes, the headstone says it all - A Victim of British Justice...
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