John Christie (serial killer)

Johnchristie

John Reginald Halliday Christie (8 April 1899 – 15 July 1953) was an English serial killer and necrophile active during the 1940s and early 1950s. He was responsible for the murders of at least eight women, including his wife, Ethel Christie. His crimes were committed at his residence, 10 Rillington Place, Notting Hill, London.

Early Life

Christie was born in Northowram, West Riding of Yorkshire, England. He was the sixth of seven children in his family. His father, Ernest John Christie, was a carpet designer, and his mother, Mary Hannah Halliday, was a housewife. Christie had a troubled childhood, marked by a difficult relationship with his father and a domineering mother.

Military Service

During World War I, Christie served as a signalman in the British Army. He was injured in a gas attack, which left him with a hysterical muteness for three years. After the war, he worked in various jobs, including as a postman and a cinema projectionist.

Criminal Activities

Christie's criminal activities began with petty theft and fraud. However, his crimes escalated significantly in the 1940s. He lured women to his flat under the pretense of providing them with medical treatment, using his knowledge of pharmacology to render them unconscious before strangling them.

Murders

Christie's first known victim was Ruth Fuerst, whom he murdered in 1943. Over the next decade, he killed at least seven more women, including Beryl Evans and her daughter, Geraldine Evans. These murders led to the wrongful conviction and execution of Timothy Evans, Beryl's husband, which later became a significant miscarriage of justice case in the UK.

Capture and Trial

Christie was arrested on 31 March 1953, after the bodies of his victims were discovered in his flat. He was tried for the murder of his wife, Ethel, and was found guilty. Christie was sentenced to death and was executed by hanging on 15 July 1953 at HM Prison Pentonville.

Legacy

The case of John Christie had a profound impact on the British legal system, contributing to the abolition of the death penalty in the UK. The wrongful execution of Timothy Evans led to widespread public outcry and significant changes in the investigation and prosecution of criminal cases.

In Popular Culture

Christie's life and crimes have been the subject of numerous books, films, and television series. The most notable adaptation is the 1971 film 10 Rillington Place, in which Richard Attenborough portrayed Christie.

See Also

• List of serial killers by country
• Capital punishment in the United Kingdom
• Miscarriage of justice