Still At Large Podcast

Coffee tables across the country were being graced by a book that would spark a populist wave of renewed interest in the sciences. Famously including only one equation, Einstein's E=MC2 the author, the late great Dr Stephen Hawking explores the physics behind the cosmos and the then current ideas about the universe's beginning. Using easily accessible charts, illustrations and language, the redoubtable Doctor unlocks the story of how the universe came to be and how even with the vast leaps in technology and ability, we are still faced with mysteries in outer reaches of space, time and spacetime.

At the North Western end of the M6 motorway in the West Midlands, another and very different mystery was beginning to unfold.

At 4pm on the afternoon of Friday 21st September, Adam Minter was crossing the iconic Tower Bridge in London, when he spotted an object floating in the Thames. At first Mr Minter believed it to be either a stained barrel or manikin, but as the object came closer to the bridge, he was able to see that the object was the body of a young child. Mr Minter could also tell that the body had been mutilated. When the Police retrieved the body from the water, it became apparent that the child was a young boy dressed only in orange shorts. His head, arms and legs had been removed, his body washed and then placed into the Thames. As there was absolutely no way of immediately identifying the poor child, Detectives named him Adam. His murder remains unsolved and is one of the most disturbing murders ever committed in the UK.

At 4pm on the afternoon of Friday 21st September, Adam Minter was crossing the iconic Tower Bridge in London, when he spotted an object floating in the Thames. At first Mr Minter believed it to be either a stained barrel or manikin, but as the object came closer to the bridge, he was able to see that the object was the body of a young child. Mr Minter could also tell that the body had been mutilated. When the Police retrieved the body from the water, it became apparent that the child was a young boy dressed only in orange shorts. His head, arms and legs had been removed, his body washed and then placed into the Thames. As there was absolutely no way of immediately identifying the poor child, Detectives named him Adam. His murder remains unsolved and is one of the most disturbing murders ever committed in the UK.

1994 also witnessed the passing of the legendary formula one racing driver, Ayrton Senna on lap 6 of the San Marino Grand Prix, when he lost control of his car as he entered the Tamburello corner at 190mph and hit a wall. Tony Blair became the leader of the Labour Party, the Provisional IRA declared a ceasefire, trading was allowed on a Sunday for the first time and in a rather unremarkable working-class housing estate on the outskirts of Oxford, thirty-three years old biochemist with a post-doctoral research role at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, was murdered with a shotgun blast through the window of his kitchen at around half-past four on Saturday 10th December.

1994 also witnessed the passing of the legendary formula one racing driver, Ayrton Senna on lap 6 of the San Marino Grand Prix, when he lost control of his car as he entered the Tamburello corner at 190mph and hit a wall. Tony Blair became the leader of the Labour Party, the Provisional IRA declared a ceasefire, trading was allowed on a Sunday for the first time and in a rather unremarkable working-class housing estate on the outskirts of Oxford, thirty-three years old biochemist with a post-doctoral research role at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, was murdered with a shotgun blast through the window of his kitchen at around half-past four on Saturday 10th December.

Life on the mainland was, however, pretty normal for most people. For twenty-six-year-old Deborah Linsley it was the day she would return to her home in Edinburgh following a few days visiting her family in friends in Bromley, South East London, following a training course in London. Deborah was going to be her brother's bridesmaid in two weeks-time and the trip was a welcomed break that allowed her to catch-up with the wedding plans. At the time the train was most sensible and economic way to travel around the UK, so her brother took her to Petts Wood train station some twenty-minuets away so that she could catch the Orpington to London Victoria train and then onwards to Scotland.

Incidental music by Russel J White: https://soundcloud.com/russ-white

Life on the mainland was, however, pretty normal for most people. For twenty-six-year-old Deborah Linsley it was the day she would return to her home in Edinburgh following a few days visiting her family in friends in Bromley, South East London, following a training course in London. Deborah was going to be her brother's bridesmaid in two weeks-time and the trip was a welcomed break that allowed her to catch-up with the wedding plans. At the time the train was most sensible and economic way to travel around the UK, so her brother took her to Petts Wood train station some twenty-minuets away so that she could catch the Orpington to London Victoria train and then onwards to Scotland.

Incidental music by Russel J White: https://soundcloud.com/russ-white

Maida Vale, in 1972, wasn't the gentrified location preferred by affluent families, celebrities and successful professionals that it is today. Back then it had a reputation for being a bit sleezy and run down. There were many derelict buildings and the sizable student population was attracted to the area because of the low rents and proliferation of bedsits that were available there.

Incidental Music is by Russel J White

https://soundcloud.com/russ-white

Maida Vale, in 1972, wasn't the gentrified location preferred by affluent families, celebrities and successful professionals that it is today. Back then it had a reputation for being a bit sleezy and run down. There were many derelict buildings and the sizable student population was attracted to the area because of the low rents and proliferation of bedsits that were available there.

Incidental Music is by Russel J White

https://soundcloud.com/russ-white

If this the first episode you're listening to, I would advise that you go back and begin at the start of the Hammersmith Nudes mini-series. That is episode two of series two. This episode is the concluding part so it would be very confusing to start from here.

Over the last two episodes I have looked at the deaths of eight young women, and have examined the three primary suspects, none of whom were convicted. This episode will look at the various other suspects and some of the theories put forward about who is responsible for the deaths of these women.