Hanratty, James (1936-1962)

Alleged English murderer. He was found guilty of the murder of Michael Gregsten, who was shot while in his car with his lover, Valerie Storie, in August 1961. After Hanratty was hanged in April 1962, several witnesses came forward supporting his alibi. A police inquiry in 1997 concluded that he was wrongly convicted, and the alleged miscarriage of justice was passed to the Criminal Cases Review Commission; in March 1999 the case was referred back to the Court of Appeal.

Storie, who had been raped and paralysed by several bullets, picked out Hanratty from an identity parade and he was charged. Hanratty, who was reportedly a petty criminal of low intelligence, denied the charge but refused to name his alibis, saying that to do so would betray his friends' trust. He then changed the location of his alibi from Liverpool to Rhyl, where he was later reported to have been seen. His family has campaigned for over 30 years to clear his name.