The Murder of Linda Peacock: A Triumph for Forensic Odontology
| Published date | 01 July 1968 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X6804100712 |
| Date | 01 July 1968 |
| Author | William Muncie |
| Subject Matter | Article |
DET.
CHIEF
SUPT.
WILLIAM
MUNCIE
Lanarkshire Constabulary
Mr. Muncie was in charge
of
the inquiry into the following murder,
which is surely uniquein British criminal annals, for a warrant to take
measurements and examine a person was granted before his arrest and
his being charged. It is thought also that this is the first time that a
conviction for murder has been so completely dependent on dental
evidence.
THE
MURDER
OF
LINDA
PEA(;O(;J{:
A
Triumph
for
Forensic
Odontology
On Sunday, August 6, 1967, in the picturesque market village of
Biggar, in the uplands of Lanarkshire, the 3,000 odd villagers had
spent just another pleasant day, the only diversion from normality
having been a travelling Fair, but as the day ended there was creeping
into the minds of two parents a fear for their 15-year-old daughter's
safety. '
Linda Peacock was a happy girl, perfectly normal for her 15
years, attractive and perhaps best known among the village girls by
reason of her equestrian ability. She was regularly to be seen ex"
ercising ponies at and around a nearby farm and competing at local
gymkhanas. She lived in what the national press came to describe as
a picture postcard cottage about a mile and a half from the village.
That
day she had spent among the ponies and about 8p.m. she was
given a lift in a car into the village by a young man, well known to the
family, who was temporarily lodging with them. On dropping Linda
in the village, he inquired about her getting home and suggested he
might pick her up. She had replied that he need not bother as he had
let her down with a similar arrangement one evening earlier that
week. He saw her walk from his car and join a girl of about her own
age. About II p.m. he returned to his lodgings and was immediately
asked by Linda's mother if he had seen her. He was surprised that she
had not returned and immediately drove to the village to check at
relations' homes, but Linda had not visited there. The relatives joined
him in further unsuccessful searching and then informed the police.
Two village constables joined in the search of the village and country-
side towards her home.
The Scene
Between the village and her home lay St. Mary's Cemetery and at
6.40 a.m. the constables found Linda dead, lying by a gravestone,
almost hidden from view by a yew tree. She had two open wounds on
the crown of the head, which had bled freely. She had been strangled
by a ligature
but
this had been removed, presumably by her attacker.
July 1968 319
On the left wrist was the mark of a ligature which had also been
removed, this time by burning. A burn on her wrist at the base of the
thumb was considered post mortem. The burn mark itself was coated
with black carbon. There was no sign of a spent match and it was
quickly realized that this had been caused by a cigarette petrol-
lighter. There was no sign of the burned ligature. Stuck in blood in
the left forefinger nail was a short fibre from sisal string. The yew
tree had obviously been brushed against; many dead yew leaves and
particles ofleaves had fallen on the body. The girl's pants were intact
and the stretching of the skirt under her buttocks towards the feet
clearly indicated that she had been dragged on her back head-first
into the position where the body was found. Her anorak was badly
disarranged and about half off towards the head. Her petticoat and
brassiere had been pulled completely up baring her breasts. On the
inner aspect of the right breast was a clear indication of a bite.
In the yew tree on the opposite side from the body was a piece of
sisal string knotted at either end, and in addition there was a slip
knot. There had been no burning of it.
It
was completely free of blood.
Some 10yds. north of the head were two 3 in. circular patches of
blood and between them and the body were several coins, quite
equally spaced, a comb and, about two feet from the head, a purse, all
of which were later identified as Linda's property. Some four yds.
west of the feet were two other blood patches, a few inches apart and
of a much heavier saturation. The scene suggested that Linda had
been struck two blows on the head, causing two wounds of different
lengths, and that she had been on her back on the grass after having
received these wounds but had managed to move, possibly to run,
these 14yds. where she was again on her back on the grass, probably
strangled there and then dragged into the cover of the yew tree.
The entrance and paths within the cemetery were of natural sparse
gravel and dust, an easily disturbed surface,
but
there was nothing to
indicate that a struggle had taken place outside the gate, in the area
within it, or on the path leading to the graves.
Linda's clothing was not of a nature likely to cross fibre with her
attacker. She had well-kept, full, strong nails.
First
Inquiries
What then had we to look for on a suspect? Blood, sisal string,
yew leaf, a cigarette lighter, preferably a petrol-fuelled one, and
possibly scratch injuries, and from the lay-man's view of the bite,
possibly irregularity of the upper incisor teeth. An express message
went out to this effect, and a team of detectives was quickly mustered
from all over the county, supplemented by regional crime squad
officers.
There was plenty to occupy them. The travelling showmen
had
almost all packed overnight and left the
district-all
had to be
located; a busy caravan site of regulars, weekenders and many casuals;
two farm servants who had failed to return to their farms the previous
320 July 1968
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