Listening to the Dead - Forensics uncovered

S3 Ep4: Handwriting and the Yorkshire Ripper Hoax


Listen Later

In October 1975, Peter Sutcliffe committed his first murder. Over the next five years he went on to become one of the UK’s worst serial killers. One of the main reasons the police took so long to find him was because they were sent off in the wrong direction by a series of hoax letters and a tape purporting to be from the killer. 
Nicknamed Weirside Jack, the perpetrator was never identified at the time. It wasn’t until 25 years later that Chris Davies – a forensic document examiner – got his hands on the letters. Chris joins Lynda and Cass to discuss how Weirside Jack was finally brought to justice. 

Christopher Davies started work in the Metropolitan Police Forensic Science Laboratory in 1981 where he was trained in questioned document examination. He continued to work in London when the Metropolitan Police Laboratory became part of the Forensic Science Service in 1996. He became one of the senior document examiners responsible for dealing with serious crime, including counterterrorism, cases. In 2010 he left the London Laboratory when the Questioned Documents Section there was closed and continues to work as an independent consultant.

Lynda's new novel Vanished is out on March 31st 2022 in hardback, ebook and audiobook. 

Discover more at: www.lyndalaplante.com/listening-to-the-dead/

Credits
 This podcast was made by Bonnier Books UK
 Host & Director: Jon Watt
 Producer: Laura Makela
 Sound Engineer: Chris Attaway
 Theme music: Game Over by Magic in the Other
 End music: Sweeney by Mike Relm 

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Listening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredBy Lynda La Plante and Cass Sutherland

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

15 ratings


More shows like Listening to the Dead - Forensics uncovered

View all
Casefile True Crime by Casefile Presents

Casefile True Crime

38,552 Listeners

They Walk Among Us - UK True Crime by They Walk Among Us

They Walk Among Us - UK True Crime

2,960 Listeners

UK True Crime Podcast by Always True Crime

UK True Crime Podcast

712 Listeners

Mens Rea: A true crime podcast by GoLoud

Mens Rea: A true crime podcast

973 Listeners

RedHanded by Wondery | RedHanded

RedHanded

12,419 Listeners

Murder Mile UK True Crime by Always True Crime

Murder Mile UK True Crime

905 Listeners

The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast by Always True Crime

The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast

827 Listeners

Seeing Red A True Crime Podcast by Seeing Red

Seeing Red A True Crime Podcast

401 Listeners

Forensic Tales by Rockefeller Audio

Forensic Tales

366 Listeners

British Murders with Stuart Blues by Stuart Blues

British Murders with Stuart Blues

254 Listeners

Crime Analyst by Laura Richards

Crime Analyst

1,855 Listeners

Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley by BBC Radio 4

Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley

522 Listeners

The Trial: Kim Kardashian by Daily Mail

The Trial: Kim Kardashian

141 Listeners

The Trial of Lucy Letby: The Inquiry by Daily Mail

The Trial of Lucy Letby: The Inquiry

38 Listeners

Crime Next Door by BBC Sounds

Crime Next Door

77 Listeners