| Wannabe in my gang?
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- The Empire Crumbles
While on remand the Krays refused to believe they had
been beaten. Only when former accomplices lined up in
court to give evidence against them did they realize their
stranglehold had been broken. Even locked up in Brixton
Prison, the twins were confident they could still escape
justice.
Every day their mother brought them lunch, usually cold
chicken and a bottle of wine, while friends would drop
by with news from the outside world. With their cousin,
Ronnie Hart, and Ronnie's minder, lan Barrie, still at
large, most people who knew them thought they could continue
to ensure that no one would talk.
Even when these two failed to escape Nipper Read's net,
the Krays still believed the wall of silence would hold
strong. Slowly, however, the first seeds of doubt crept
into their minds as the messages reaching them grew more
pessimistic. Their fears were confirmed at the preliminary
hearings held at Old Street Magistrates Court on 6 July
1968.
To generate as much publicity as possible, the twins asked
for all press restrictions to be lifted. We want the world
to see the diabolical liberties the law has been taking,'
Reggie said. Journalists were delighted the trial would
be the biggest they had witnessed for years.
The twins were less happy when into the witness box stepped
Billy Exley who had guarded both Vallance Road after the
killing of George Cornell and Frank Mitchell after his
escape from Dartmoor. For the first time Reggie and Ronnie
began to look vulnerable. Exley was followed by the Blind
Beggar's barmaid.
As she stood to begin her evidence, Nipper Read could
not resist a smile he knew his assistant Superintendent
Mooney had persuaded her to reveal the threats she had
received after the killings of George Cornell.
Breathing space
With the completion of the preliminary hearings, the twins
were held in Brixton Prison for five more months. This
gave Read the breathing space he needed to convince more
members of the Firm to take the witness stand and testify
against Reggie and Ronnie. The actual trial opened at
the Old Bailey on 7 January 1969.
Reggie and Ronnie were both charged with murder and being
an accessory to murder. Public interest was intense. Seats
in the public gallery were sold on the black market for
£5, and celebrities such as Charlton Heston were
in attendance.
The twins' old friend Judy Garland sent them a good-luck
telegram (prompting Ronnie to remark to the judge, 'If
I wasn't here now I'd probably be having a drink with
Judy Garland'). It soon became clear that almost all the
twins' Firm had deserted them. Ronnie Hart was the principal
prosecution witness.
Along with John Dickson, the man who had driven Ronnie
and lan Barrie to the Blind Beggar, he turned Queen's
evidence in return for freedom from prosecution. Altogether
28 criminals gave evidence against the twins.
Spirited defence
With the odds weighing so heavily against them, the twins
had no chance of escape. They elected, however, to go
down fighting. When Ronnie stepped into the witness box,
he embarked on a spectacular course of denial. Not only
were he and George Cornell friends, but he had never even
been to the Blind Beggar on the evening in question.
Reggie likewise refused to concede a thing. In their own
eyes, they behaved with dignity and integrity throughout
the trial, while their former accomplices and friends
had betrayed their loyalty. On only two occasions did
the twins lose their composure. Ronnie called the prosecuting
counsel 'You fat slob!' after hearing how the police had
confiscated his grandparents' pension books.
And when the court was hearing about the circumstances
surrounding Frances's death and funeral, Reggie screamed,
'The police are scum.' In one respect, however, they disappointed
the press and public. Many people hoped that there were
secrets to reveal about the celebrities and politicians
who knew them. But again, according to the twins, this
was a matter of honour.
Members of their Firm may have grassed on them, but they
were not going to stoop to their level. 'We never informed
on anyone,' said Ronnie. 'We believe that two wrongs do
not make a right. We believe we are better off than the
rats who deserted our ship.' Only three men remained loyal
throughout the trial.
lan Barrie, who received 20 years for his role in the
murder of Cornell, the twins' elder brother, Charlie,
and a friend of his, Freddie Foreman, who were both sentenced
to ten years for disposing of McVitie's corpse. After
the longest criminal trial in legal history - 61 days
in all the jury retired.
They took six hours and 54 minutes to find the twins guilty.
Just after 7 p.m, on 8 March 1969, the judge, Mr Justice
Melford Stevenson, finally pronounced sentence, 'I am
not going to waste words on you.
In my view society has earned a rest from your activities.
I sentence you to life imprisonment, which I recommend
should not be less than 30 years.' The Krays had finally
been broken. They were both 34. By the time they left
jail, they would be almost ready to draw their pensions.
Law of the jungle
A few other matters remained to be cleared up. The twins
were tried for the murder of Frank Mitchell. Although
they pleaded guilty to harbouring him, there was insufficient
evidence to convict them of his death.
The charges concerning their criminal business activities
were left on file. They had lived by the law of the jungle,
on the principle that only the fittest had the right to
survive. Now the Krays were behind bars, fit only for
study as one of nature's oddities. |
| Contact : bernard.omahoney@bernardomahoney.com |
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