Neville Heath
Encyclopedia
Neville George Clevely Heath (June 6, 1917 – October 16, 1946) was an English
killer who was responsible for the murders of at least two young women. He was executed
in London in 1946.
, England. Although he came from a lower middle class
background, his father, who was a barber, made considerable financial sacrifices so that he could attend private school. He joined the Royal Air Force
in 1937, but was dismissed for going absent without leave . He was caught obtaining credit by fraud, and six months later was sent to Borstal
for housebreaking and forgery. He used a number of alias
es, including "Lord Dudley" and "Lieutenant-Colonel Armstrong".
When the Second World War broke out, Heath joined the Royal Army Service Corps
, and was posted to the Middle East
. He lasted less than a year. He was shipped home, but on his way he escaped the guard and headed for Johannesburg
where he joined the South African Air Force
, eventually rising to the rank of Captain. He married, and the couple had a son, but at the end of the war his wife divorced him on grounds of desertion. He was also court martialled, for wearing medals to which he was not entitled. He returned to England in 1946.
. He used his real name, but added the title Lieutenant-Colonel. He was with a woman, Yvonne Symonds, who he said was his wife - in fact they had only just met. Heath had promised to marry her, so she spent the night with him and returned to her home the next day.
. The following day the assistant manager entered Heath's room as the chambermaid had been unable to gain entry. Margery Gardner’s body was found naked on the bed, her wrists and ankles bound. There were 17 slash marks on her body, her nipples had been savagely bitten, and an instrument had been inserted into her vagina.
In the fireplace there was a short poker, which Home Office
pathologist Professor Keith Simpson said was responsible for her internal injuries. The whip that had inflicted the slash marks on her body was nowhere to be seen. These marks showed the distinctive diamond pattern of a woven leather riding crop. Professor Simpson told the police "Find that whip and you’ve found your man", Professor Simpson estimated Margery’s time of death as between midnight and the early hours of the morning. The police learned that Heath and Margery had arrived at the hotel around midnight, and that nothing had been heard until a door slammed at 1.30am. The cause of death was suffocation, but only after the other injuries had been inflicted.
to see Yvonne, the girl he had proposed to, and spent a few days with her. Her parents were impressed with the "Lieutenant-Colonel", but he left when his name appeared in the newspapers in relation to Margery's murder. He then went to Bournemouth
and took a room at the Tollard Royal Hotel, under the alias "Group Captain Rupert Brook". A few days later he met Doreen Margaret Marshall, who was staying at the Norfolk Hotel. They spent the day together, had dinner at Heath's hotel, and talked until midnight. Doreen ordered a taxi back to her hotel but Heath persuaded her to cancel it and offered to walk Doreen back. She was not seen alive again.
The police were informed of her disappearance, and the manager at the Norfolk Hotel remembered that she had taken a taxi to the Tollard Royal Hotel. There, the manager said she may have been the woman with Group Captain Rupert Brook. Although Heath/Group Captain Brook denied this, he telephoned Detective Constable Souter and said he might be able to help. He went to the police station
, and identified Doreen's picture as the girl he had been with, but said he had left her at the Norfolk Hotel. The detective recognised Heath as the man wanted by Scotland Yard
, and asked "Isn't your name Heath?" Heath denied it, and said he wanted to return to the hotel for his coat. The police fetched it for him and searched it. They found a railway cloakroom ticket, which led them to an attaché case containing a riding whip with a diamond pattern weave. Professor Simpson identified it as the object used on Margery Gardner. Heath was questioned again, and he admitted his real identity. The next day he was transferred to London where he was charged with the murder of Margery Gardner.
While Heath was denying the murder of Margery Gardner the body of Doreen Marshall was discovered. Her clothes had been removed, apparently without a struggle, but wounds found on her hands suggested she had grasped defensively at a knife. She had received blows to her head, her wrists and ankles had been tied, one nipple had been bitten off and her throat had been slashed. As with Margery Gardner, an instrument had been inserted into her vagina. She also had a massive gash that ran from the inside of her thigh up to her mutilated breast.
, to plead guilty, but when Casswell questioned this, said "All right, put me down as Not Guilty, old boy". Casswell chose not to call him to give evidence, and relied on the defence of insanity, calling Dr William Henry de Bargue Hubert, an experienced criminal psychiatrist, to testify as an expert witness. Dr Hubert testified that Heath knew what he was doing but not that it was wrong, but the prosecution easily destroyed Hubert's argument: unknown to Casswell, Hubert was a drug addict and was under the influence of morphine in the witness box. Two prison doctors testified that although Heath was a sexual pervert and a psychopath, he was not insane. Heath was found guilty and sentenced to death. He was hanged by Albert Pierrepoint
on 16 October, 1946 at Pentonville Prison. Prior to his execution Heath, as was the pre-execution custom, was offered a whisky, and he replied, "Considering the circumstances, better make it a double".
Heath is also said to have been the assailant when, in 1946, a few months before the murders, a woman was found naked and tied up in a hotel bedroom in the Strand, London. She had alerted the staff of the hotel by screaming. She refused to press charges, possibly to avoid the publicity.
It is not clear when Heath met Margery Gardner or how he could have attacked her without her screaming. In a statement Heath admitted that he had gagged her, and a saliva soaked scarf was found with the whip. It emerged after the trial that Margery had been a masochist who liked to be bound and lashed. She had probably gone back with Heath for pleasure, and so had probably allowed herself to be bound and gagged. It was possible that he could have been convicted of manslaughter
, if Heath had put up the defence that Gardner's death had been a kinky sex game gone wrong. Years after the trial J. D. Casswell KC wrote: "It is almost certain that a month before her death she had been with Heath to another hotel room, and had only been saved by [...] a hotel detective
."
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
killer who was responsible for the murders of at least two young women. He was executed
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
in London in 1946.
Early career
Heath was born in EssexEssex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England. Although he came from a lower middle class
Lower middle class
In developed nations across the world, the lower middle class is a sub-division of the greater middle class. Universally the term refers to the group of middle class households or individuals who have not attained the status of the upper middle class associated with the higher realms of the middle...
background, his father, who was a barber, made considerable financial sacrifices so that he could attend private school. He joined the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
in 1937, but was dismissed for going absent without leave . He was caught obtaining credit by fraud, and six months later was sent to Borstal
Borstal
A borstal was a type of youth prison in the United Kingdom, run by the Prison Service and intended to reform seriously delinquent young people. The word is sometimes used loosely to apply to other kinds of youth institution or reformatory, such as Approved Schools and Detention Centres. The court...
for housebreaking and forgery. He used a number of alias
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
es, including "Lord Dudley" and "Lieutenant-Colonel Armstrong".
When the Second World War broke out, Heath joined the Royal Army Service Corps
Royal Army Service Corps
The Royal Army Service Corps was a corps of the British Army. It was responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air despatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery ; administration of...
, and was posted to the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. He lasted less than a year. He was shipped home, but on his way he escaped the guard and headed for Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
where he joined the South African Air Force
South African Air Force
The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...
, eventually rising to the rank of Captain. He married, and the couple had a son, but at the end of the war his wife divorced him on grounds of desertion. He was also court martialled, for wearing medals to which he was not entitled. He returned to England in 1946.
Murders
On Sunday 16 June, 1946, Heath took a room at the Pembridge Court Hotel in Notting Hill GateNotting Hill Gate
Notting Hill Gate is one of the main thoroughfares of Notting Hill, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Historically the street was a location for toll gates, from which it derives its modern name.- Location :...
. He used his real name, but added the title Lieutenant-Colonel. He was with a woman, Yvonne Symonds, who he said was his wife - in fact they had only just met. Heath had promised to marry her, so she spent the night with him and returned to her home the next day.
Margery Gardner
The following Thursday Heath spent the evening with Margery Gardner. She was older than Heath, a part-time actress who had left her husband and daughter to seek her fortune. Heath and Margery had been dancing together at the Panama Club in KensingtonKensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
. The following day the assistant manager entered Heath's room as the chambermaid had been unable to gain entry. Margery Gardner’s body was found naked on the bed, her wrists and ankles bound. There were 17 slash marks on her body, her nipples had been savagely bitten, and an instrument had been inserted into her vagina.
In the fireplace there was a short poker, which Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
pathologist Professor Keith Simpson said was responsible for her internal injuries. The whip that had inflicted the slash marks on her body was nowhere to be seen. These marks showed the distinctive diamond pattern of a woven leather riding crop. Professor Simpson told the police "Find that whip and you’ve found your man", Professor Simpson estimated Margery’s time of death as between midnight and the early hours of the morning. The police learned that Heath and Margery had arrived at the hotel around midnight, and that nothing had been heard until a door slammed at 1.30am. The cause of death was suffocation, but only after the other injuries had been inflicted.
Doreen Marshall
Heath headed to WorthingWorthing
Worthing is a large seaside town with borough status in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, forming part of the Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation. It is situated at the foot of the South Downs, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester...
to see Yvonne, the girl he had proposed to, and spent a few days with her. Her parents were impressed with the "Lieutenant-Colonel", but he left when his name appeared in the newspapers in relation to Margery's murder. He then went to Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
and took a room at the Tollard Royal Hotel, under the alias "Group Captain Rupert Brook". A few days later he met Doreen Margaret Marshall, who was staying at the Norfolk Hotel. They spent the day together, had dinner at Heath's hotel, and talked until midnight. Doreen ordered a taxi back to her hotel but Heath persuaded her to cancel it and offered to walk Doreen back. She was not seen alive again.
The police were informed of her disappearance, and the manager at the Norfolk Hotel remembered that she had taken a taxi to the Tollard Royal Hotel. There, the manager said she may have been the woman with Group Captain Rupert Brook. Although Heath/Group Captain Brook denied this, he telephoned Detective Constable Souter and said he might be able to help. He went to the police station
Police station
A police station or station house is a building which serves to accommodate police officers and other members of staff. These buildings often contain offices and accommodation for personnel and vehicles, along with locker rooms, temporary holding cells and interview/interrogation rooms.- Facilities...
, and identified Doreen's picture as the girl he had been with, but said he had left her at the Norfolk Hotel. The detective recognised Heath as the man wanted by Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard is a metonym for the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service of London, UK. It derives from the location of the original Metropolitan Police headquarters at 4 Whitehall Place, which had a rear entrance on a street called Great Scotland Yard. The Scotland Yard entrance became...
, and asked "Isn't your name Heath?" Heath denied it, and said he wanted to return to the hotel for his coat. The police fetched it for him and searched it. They found a railway cloakroom ticket, which led them to an attaché case containing a riding whip with a diamond pattern weave. Professor Simpson identified it as the object used on Margery Gardner. Heath was questioned again, and he admitted his real identity. The next day he was transferred to London where he was charged with the murder of Margery Gardner.
While Heath was denying the murder of Margery Gardner the body of Doreen Marshall was discovered. Her clothes had been removed, apparently without a struggle, but wounds found on her hands suggested she had grasped defensively at a knife. She had received blows to her head, her wrists and ankles had been tied, one nipple had been bitten off and her throat had been slashed. As with Margery Gardner, an instrument had been inserted into her vagina. She also had a massive gash that ran from the inside of her thigh up to her mutilated breast.
Trial and execution
The trial of Neville Heath for the murder of Margery Gardner began on 24 September 1946. Heath originally told his counsel, J. D. Casswell KCQueen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
, to plead guilty, but when Casswell questioned this, said "All right, put me down as Not Guilty, old boy". Casswell chose not to call him to give evidence, and relied on the defence of insanity, calling Dr William Henry de Bargue Hubert, an experienced criminal psychiatrist, to testify as an expert witness. Dr Hubert testified that Heath knew what he was doing but not that it was wrong, but the prosecution easily destroyed Hubert's argument: unknown to Casswell, Hubert was a drug addict and was under the influence of morphine in the witness box. Two prison doctors testified that although Heath was a sexual pervert and a psychopath, he was not insane. Heath was found guilty and sentenced to death. He was hanged by Albert Pierrepoint
Albert Pierrepoint
Albert Pierrepoint is the most famous member of the family which provided three of the United Kingdom's official hangmen in the first half of the 20th century...
on 16 October, 1946 at Pentonville Prison. Prior to his execution Heath, as was the pre-execution custom, was offered a whisky, and he replied, "Considering the circumstances, better make it a double".
Heath is also said to have been the assailant when, in 1946, a few months before the murders, a woman was found naked and tied up in a hotel bedroom in the Strand, London. She had alerted the staff of the hotel by screaming. She refused to press charges, possibly to avoid the publicity.
It is not clear when Heath met Margery Gardner or how he could have attacked her without her screaming. In a statement Heath admitted that he had gagged her, and a saliva soaked scarf was found with the whip. It emerged after the trial that Margery had been a masochist who liked to be bound and lashed. She had probably gone back with Heath for pleasure, and so had probably allowed herself to be bound and gagged. It was possible that he could have been convicted of manslaughter
Manslaughter
Manslaughter is a legal term for the killing of a human being, in a manner considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is said to have first been made by the Ancient Athenian lawmaker Dracon in the 7th century BC.The law generally differentiates...
, if Heath had put up the defence that Gardner's death had been a kinky sex game gone wrong. Years after the trial J. D. Casswell KC wrote: "It is almost certain that a month before her death she had been with Heath to another hotel room, and had only been saved by [...] a hotel detective
Hotel Detective
A hotel detective is a security guard employed by a hotel. Hotel detectives feature prominently in certain noir fiction, especially in the works of Raymond Chandler, and are sometimes referred to as "House Dicks"...
."
External links
- http://www.murderuk.com/serial_neville_heath.html
- http://www.real-crime.co.uk/Murder1/doch.htm#Heath,%20Neville%20George%20Clevely