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Timeline |
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Who's who |
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Derek Christian's tariff |
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Timeline |
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Who's who |
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Derek Christian's tariff |
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| 10.30 |
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Mrs Matson followed/stalked by unknown man |
| 07.00 | Derek Christian arrives at work | |
| 13.30 |
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Mrs Price followed/stalked by unknown man |
| 15.01 |
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Derek Christian leaves work |
| 15.30 |
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Margaret Wilson murdered |
| 16.06 |
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Derek Christian withdraws cash from ATM |
| 11.00 |
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Derek Christian - as owner of a Ford Montego - visited at home by police, "Personal Descriptive Form" completed |
| 15.00 |
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Derek Christian makes routine statement to police at home |
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Derek Christian’s car examined by police forensic expert, no evidence found linking Derek to incident | |
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Derek Christian interviewed about the murder weapon | |
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Derek Christian completes knife project questionnaire | |
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Derek Christian’s car examined by police forensic expert, again no evidence found linking Derek to incident | |
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First put in writing by the police that Derek Christian’s silver Montego could look white in the sun (follow on from police visit of 12/02/95) | |
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Derek Christian arrested | |
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Derek Christian unconditionally bailed | |
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Derek Christian voluntarily makes fresh statement altering his alibi | |
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Fibre evidence report published | |
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Derek Christian arrested and charged with murder | |
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Derek Christian's trial begins | |
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Kate Bushell murdered | |
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Derek Christian convicted | |
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Lord Chief Justice comments on tariff | |
| Application for Leave to Appeal against conviction refused | ||
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Pro-bono hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice, further application for Leave to Appeal against conviction refused | |
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Broadcast of BBC1's Crimewatch File dealing with the conviction of Derek Christian | |
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Murder of Lynda Bryant | |
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Derek Christian’s tariff set at 17 years by Home Secretary Jack Straw | |
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Derek Christian spends his 1,000th day in prison | |
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Marie Cundall
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Eye-witness, saw assailant minutes before the murder, it is firmly believed the man might well have attacked this woman; describes a clean-shaven man in a white car |
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Martin Hornsey
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Eye-witness, farm-worker; adamant that car was white |
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Nigel Houseman
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Eye-witness, farm-worker; states that car was white or silver |
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Louise Grey
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Eye-witness, saw assailant, assisted with creation of a photofit; describes a clean-shaven man |
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Karen Holloway
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Eye-witness, saw assailant; states that car was white |
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Lynda Rounding
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Claimed to have seen a man driving around the village in a white car between 13.00 and 15.00 on day of murder; committed perjury in mid-trial |
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Wendy Price
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Stalked by unknown man between 13.00 and 13.30 ca. 10 miles from the murder scene on day of murder |
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Ann Matson
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Stalked by unknown man at around 10.30 ca. 11 miles from the murder scene two days prior to murder |
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DCI Midgeley
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Police officer; in charge of murder investigation |
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DC Marsden
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Police officer; claimed Derek Christian’s silver Montego looked white on 12/2/95, first put this in writing on 28/2/96 |
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DC Stephens
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Police officer; stated in court that DC Marsden had seen Derek Christian’s two cars on the driveway, and was asked by DC Marsden to supply a statement (28/2/96), also stated that he had an "idea" that DC Marsden was making a similar statement at the same time |
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Roger Keen QC
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Defence counsel |
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Andrew Campbell QC
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Prosecuting counsel |
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Andrew Falconer
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Prosecution forensic expert (fibres) |
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Mr. Justice Bell
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Trial judge |
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Lord Bingham
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Lord Chief Justice in January 1998 |
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| The tariff is the period of time that a convicted murderer must serve
in custody so as to satisfy the requirements of retribution and deterrence.
Mr Justice Bell recommended a punitive term of 20 years for the crime. The Lord Chief Justice, stating that "this is such a strange and obscure story", was "inclined", on the other hand, "to recommend a somewhat shorter term, of 16-17 years". |
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| After considering the circumstances of the offence, the recommendations
of the trial judge and the Lord Chief Justice, as well as the written representations
made on Derek Christian's behalf, the Home Secretary did indeed set Derek's
tariff at 17 years. What may have been a "concession" on his part is, however,
nothing of the sort.
As "confessing" to a crime and showing remorse forms a part of parole requirements, these three years will have very little effect on Derek Christian. Whilst he continues to protest his innocence he is unlikely to - ever - be released. |
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has now spent in prison |
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