Stephen's Study Room: British Military & Criminal History in the period 1900 to 1999.
HOME THE 1940s	Home - Criminal Cases - The 1940s - Neville Heath
Introduction The case of Neville George Clevely Heath was one of a series of famous post-1945 murder cases that occurred in the UK. The Case Details On 21 June 1946 the body of a film extra called Margery Aimeé Brownell Gardner, aged 32, was found in a Notting Hill Gate hotel room. She had been badly mutilated on both her body and sexual organs. Her cause of death was suffocation. Margery Gardner's body lay on its back, her right arm underneath her body. Both ankles were tied tightly together, and her wrists had been bound. Her face was bruised, as if she had been hit by a clenched fist. The room was also bloodstained. This room had previously been reserved in the names of Lieutenant Colonel and Mrs. Heath. Neville Heath was well known to the police, as he had a borstal record and additionally he had been tried by courts-martial for wearing uniforms and decorations that he was not entitled to. Posing as Group Captain Rupert Brooke, Heath met Miss Doreen Marshall, aged 21, at a Bournemouth Hotel on 3 July 1946. After they had dinner, they left the hotel after midnight. After not being seen for two days, the Hotel's Manager reported their absence to the local police. Health then went to a police station, posing as Group Captain Brooke, and asked if they had a picture of the missing lady. Due to his previous record, Heath was recognised and arrested. Among his belongings left at Bournemouth West Rail Station, were a bloodstained scarf and a metal-tipped whip. On 8 July 1946, Doreen Marshall's naked body (aside from her left shoe) was found in Branksome Chine, lying in some bushes. Her throat had been cut, and she had been sexually assaulted and savagely mutilated. No knife was found, nor was any of Doreen Marshall's blood found on Heath's clothes. It is thought that Heath stripped naked before attacking Doreen Marhsall, afterwards washing himself in the sea where he also discarded the knife. Heath's trial for the murder of Margery Gardner started on 24 September 1946 at the Old Bailey before Mr Justice Morris. The Prosecution case was led by Mr E.A. Hawke and Heath was defended by Mr J.D. Casswell. Heath did not take the witness box, as his counsel thought that his detached manner would not lend itself to his attempts to show that Heath was insane under the McNaghten Rules, and so must be found guilty but insane. However, two prison doctors testified that Heath was a sadist, a sexual pervert and a psychopath. However, he was judged to be sane although abnormal. After the 3 day trial at London's Old Bailey, the jury (which included 1 women) found Heath guilty and he was sentenced to death. Heath did not appeal his conviction and he was hanged at Pentonville Prison on 16 October 1946.
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Stephen's Study Room:

British Military & Criminal History in the period 1900 to 1999.

Home - Criminal Cases - The 1940s - Neville Heath

Introduction

The case of Neville George Clevely Heath was one of a series of famous post-1945 murder cases that occurred in the UK.

The Case Details

On 21 June 1946 the body of a film extra called Margery Aimeé Brownell Gardner, aged 32, was found in a Notting Hill Gate hotel room. She had been badly mutilated on both her body and sexual organs. Her cause of death was suffocation. Margery Gardner's body lay on its back, her right arm underneath her body. Both ankles were tied tightly together, and her wrists had been bound. Her face was bruised, as if she had been hit by a clenched fist. The room was also bloodstained.

This room had previously been reserved in the names of Lieutenant Colonel and Mrs. Heath. Neville Heath was well known to the police, as he had a borstal record and additionally he had been tried by courts-martial for wearing uniforms and decorations that he was not entitled to.

Posing as Group Captain Rupert Brooke, Heath met Miss Doreen Marshall, aged 21, at a Bournemouth Hotel on 3 July 1946. After they had dinner, they left the hotel after midnight. After not being seen for two days, the Hotel's Manager reported their absence to the local police.

Health then went to a police station, posing as Group Captain Brooke, and asked if they had a picture of the missing lady. Due to his previous record, Heath was recognised and arrested. Among his belongings left at Bournemouth West Rail Station, were a bloodstained scarf and a metal-tipped whip.

On 8 July 1946, Doreen Marshall's naked body (aside from her left shoe) was found in Branksome Chine, lying in some bushes. Her throat had been cut, and she had been sexually assaulted and savagely mutilated. No knife was found, nor was any of Doreen Marshall's blood found on Heath's clothes. It is thought that Heath stripped naked before attacking Doreen Marhsall, afterwards washing himself in the sea where he also discarded the knife.

Heath's trial for the murder of Margery Gardner started on 24 September 1946 at the Old Bailey before Mr Justice Morris. The Prosecution case was led by Mr E.A. Hawke and Heath was defended by Mr J.D. Casswell. Heath did not take the witness box, as his counsel thought that his detached manner would not lend itself to his attempts to show that Heath was insane under the McNaghten Rules, and so must be found guilty but insane. However, two prison doctors testified that Heath was a sadist, a sexual pervert and a psychopath. However, he was judged to be sane although abnormal.

After the 3 day trial at London's Old Bailey, the jury (which included 1 women) found Heath guilty and he was sentenced to death. Heath did not appeal his conviction and he was hanged at Pentonville Prison on 16 October 1946.