On the night of September 1, 1986, four people were brutally murdered in Burgate House, a secluded mansion in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, England. The victims were:
- Joseph Cleaver, 82, the owner of Burgate House
- His wife Hilda Cleaver, 82
- Their son Tom Cleaver, 47
- The family nurse, Margaret Murphy, 38
The murders were committed by George Francis Stephenson, a former employee of the Cleaver family. Stephenson had been sacked from his job three weeks before the murders, and he was arrested shortly after the killings. He confessed to the killings, but he later retracted his confession.
The murders
The Cleavers and Murphy were all found dead in their beds. They had all been strangled, and their bodies had been mutilated. The murders were particularly brutal, and the police were baffled as to why anyone would want to kill them.
The investigation
The police investigation into the murders was led by Detective Chief Inspector David Gee. The investigation was hampered by the fact that the murders had taken place in a remote location, and there were no witnesses. However, the police were able to gather enough evidence to charge Stephenson with the murders.
The trial
Stephenson’s trial took place at Winchester Crown Court in 1987. He was represented by barrister John Mortimer. The prosecution case was that Stephenson had murdered the Cleavers and Murphy in a fit of rage after being sacked from his job. The defense argued that Stephenson was innocent, and that he had been framed by the police.
Stephenson was found guilty of all four murders and sentenced to six life sentences. He is currently serving his sentence at HMP Frankland in County Durham.
Stephenson’s background
Stephenson was born in 1953 in Fordingbridge. He had a troubled childhood, and he was diagnosed with schizophrenia in his early twenties. He had a history of violence, and he had been in and out of prison for various offenses.
The aftermath
The murders of the Cleavers and Murphy had a profound impact on the people of Fordingbridge. The town was a close-knit community, and the murders shocked and horrified everyone. The case also led to a review of security at Burgate House, and new security measures were put in place.
The George Stephenson case
The George Stephenson case is a tragic story of a man who committed horrific crimes. It is also a reminder of the importance of security and the need to be vigilant against crime.
Additional details
- The murders were committed with a ligature, which was never found.
- The police believe that Stephenson may have been assisted by an accomplice, but no one has ever been charged with the murders.
- Stephenson has never revealed his motive for the murders.
- He has made several attempts to appeal his conviction, but all of his appeals have been unsuccessful.
- He is now in his 70s, and he is unlikely to ever be released from prison.
The case remains unsolved
The George Stephenson case remains unsolved in many ways. The motive for the murders is still unknown, and the possibility that Stephenson had an accomplice has never been ruled out. The case also raises questions about the effectiveness of the police investigation and the fairness of Stephenson’s trial.
The case is a reminder that even in small towns, horrific crimes can happen. It is also a reminder that the justice system is not perfect, and that innocent people can sometimes be convicted of crimes they did not commit.tuneshareGoogle it