Hit and Run
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X6403701007 |
| Date | 01 October 1964 |
| Author | Robert H. S. Langley |
| Published date | 01 October 1964 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
CriJlllina.1
Investi~ati~n
DET.
CONST.
ROBERT
H.
S.
LANGLEY
Durham County Constabulary
HIT
AND
RUN
Accident?
A I a.m. on Sunday, May 26, 1963, two men, who had spent an
evening in West Hartlepool, began a long walk to their homes at
Easington Colliery.
It
was a dry, moonless night and an hour and
ahalf later they were still walking home, having unsuccessfully
tried to
"thumb"
a lift from passing motor cars travelling along
the A.1086 coast road. They were ruefully contemplating the
probability that they would be obliged to walk the whole distance
when one of them stumbled over something lying on the grass
verge. He walked on for about two yards, then looked back, and
saw he had, in fact, stumbled over a man. He called to his friend
and they saw that the man was injured. After a cursory examination
they came to the startling conclusion that he was dead.
This began an inquiry which ended in two youths appearing at
Durham Assizes on Monday, July I, 1963, one being found guilty
of causing death by dangerous driving and both guilty of jointly
taking a motor vehicle without the consent of the owner. The
first was sentenced to a term of borstal training and disqualified
from driving for 10 years. The second was put on probation for
three years.
The investigation which followed the discovery of the body, and
ended in the subsequent conviction of those responsible, discloses
the value of scientific evidence and is an outstanding example of
the worth of meticulous attention to detail at any scene of crime or
incident.
The A.1086 coast road is the main highway from West Hartlepool
to Blackhall.
It
is an undivided three-way road and carries a heavy
volume of traffic which eases after midnight.
It
is unlit over most
of its length and the unlit section includes that part
of
the road
where the body was found.
The dead man was Mathew Bell, 26 years
of
age. At the time
of
his death he was living with his mother at Blackhall Rocks, whilst
his wife was living with her mother and family at Hartlepool.
Bell visited the home of his wife at 11.40 p.m. on the evening
prior to his death and a disturbance ensued which required police
October 1964 485
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