Unsolved Murders in Southport

[Geepee]

Yes, I know this is ghoulish, but OTS gave me the idea with his postings on the News Forum about unsolved murders that the police are seeking to re-investigate. As far as I know, there are at least 2 "recent" unsolved murders in Southport - one was the "Belle Wilson" case in the 60s and the other, more recent one of the gay shoe shop owner in Banks (or was it Hesketh bank?). Does anyone have any info on these, or any other unsolved murder cases in (or near) Southport?

[Emily_21]

Was the Belle Wilson one down Bridge Street?.

[Phil Mitchell]

I remember an elderly gentleman who owned a shop on Easbank St bridge being murdered in the 60's. Wasn't he lured to his death by a young woman?

[blackdog-mick]

He was a lovely old fella Phil.
I remember him well but can't recall any details of the event, just feeling extremely sad about it.

[maisie]

I wonder if today with DNA technology they would have been solved. Anyone any idea of year/month? I could go and see what the local papers said at the time.

[Geepee]

The Belle Wilson case happened in 1969 or 1970, I'm not sure which. If I remember rightly, someone was arrested for the murder, but was acquitted.

[scassman]

Belle Wilson was Isobel Wilson from Sefton Street who suffered a blow to the back of her head with a hammer which smashed her skull open. She was returning form a New Year's Eve party after being dropped off at the corner of her road by a taxi driver.
I'm pretty sure this was New Year's Day 1972. Her husband Derek Wilson was arrested but acquitted in court through lack of evidence.

[scassman]

He was a lovely old fella Phil.
I remember him well but can't recall any details of the event, just feeling extremely sad about it.

Yeah - he had a shop on Eastbank Street Bridge. His surname was Griffiths. The murder took place during a burglary.

[blackdog-mick]

Griffiths, that's it. Possibly lived in Tulketh Street?

I was only a kid at the time, so it's all a bit hazy.

[MG Man]

The other one was Nigel Bostock

Published September 21st, 2004

Cut and pasted due to pop-ups.

Murder probe plea to gay community
Nicola Dowling

MANCHESTER'S gay community could hold the key to a 17-year murder mystery.
Nigel Bostock, 31, who was known to visit Manchester on nights out, was strangled and stabbed to death at his home in Banks, near Southport, in 1986.
The businessman, who owned a shoe shop in Southport, was found in his bath, wearing only a T-shirt.
Tonight, the detective in charge of the case will appeal to viewers of the BBC Crimewatch programme for help.
A mystery friend or boyfriend of Nigel's, named Carl, could have vital information.
Police also want to trace someone who sent them an anonymous letter about the killing 12 months ago.
A £5,000 reward is on offer for anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
Det. Supt Mick Turner said: "We know that Nigel went out a lot to Manchester and venues across the north west. It maybe someone from the Manchester gay scene has the information we need.
"We have had the letter for some time now and, thanks to new information, believe it could be significant to the inquiry. We also believe that there were at least three people other than Nigel present in the house on the night he died.
"Despite numerous appeals, these people have never been traced."

[DixieRoy]

I remember an elderly gentleman who owned a shop on Easbank St bridge being murdered in the 60's. Wasn't he lured to his death by a young woman?

He was a real nice man who ran a shop on the bridge. I was working at Diamond Plastics Co. 159 Eastbamk Street at the time.
We used to go in the mans shop for pop and ciggies.
The police came in and interviewed us all, to see if we had seen anything.
The rumour came about that the police knew who did it, but could not prove anything.
I think his name was possibly Mr Griffiths, but not sure on that.

[Geepee]

...so, if the Nigel Bostock case is still open, as MG Man's posting makes clear, are the police files still open on the Wilson and Griffiths cases?

[Lucifer]

I have been trying to find out details of this case for some time now. I was unsure how to go about getting information. I have only just picked up this thread.

I was about 10/11 years old at the time of the murder and remember quite vividly being in the pie shop with my mother in Bridge St when Mr Griffiths body was brought out of the house. I felt a little scared at the time and I also remember the police coming to our house as they did to all the surrounding houses to take statements from everyone.

My sister was working at the Odeon cinema at the time she worked in the evenings as an extra job to her daytime job, I remeber she sold hot dogs in the foyer and my brother used to go to meet her out of work to walk her home. It seems that they probably passsed the house at about the time the police think the crime was commited they were interviiewd by the police but my brother and sister neither heard nor saw anything out of the ordinary.

The police searched all of the gardens and bins looking for a murder weapon as the old gentleman was bludgened to death and as I remember money was strewn about on the floor but it was just small change. I don't know if anything was taken, locals said that he used to hide his money behind the sweet jars in the shop and that he had just a few pounds on him when he went home that night, how true this is I have no idea but I think it was reported that they lay in wait for him coming home and battered him to death.

I do remember he was quite a petite man and appeared quite frail I don't know how old he was but to me he seemed very old. I used to go into his shop regularly for sweets. Lime fruit and liquorice and limejuice and soda were my favourites and he knew when I came in just what I wanted, it was always 2 oz because that was all I could afford.

If anyone has any information about the case I would love to know, or if anyone can tell me how to access the new archives or police archives I would appreciate any help. I cannot remember if anyone was ever a suspect I do know the crime was never solved.

[RUSS1602]

Isobel Wilson was my mother and died on New Year's Day 1971.
I was 7 at the time along with my brother and sister who were 8 and 6 respectively.
The Merseyside police have been investigating this case again.

Belle Wilson was Isobel Wilson from Sefton Street who suffered a blow to the back of her head with a hammer which smashed her skull open. She was returning form a New Year's Eve party after being dropped off at the corner of her road by a taxi driver.
I'm pretty sure this was New Year's Day 1972. Her husband Derek Wilson was arrested but acquitted in court through lack of evidence.

[Tattyboo]

Isobel Wilson was my mother and died on New Year's Day 1971.
I was 7 at the time along with my brother and sister who were 8 and 6 respectively.
The Merseyside police have been investigating this case again.

so sorry to hear that. i hope that maybe one day justice will be made for your mother