Arthur Hutchinson
Encyclopedia
Arthur Hutchinson is a British
convicted murderer.
Born at Hartlepool
, County Durham
(now Cleveland), he attained notoriety in 1984 when he was convicted of three murders committed in Dore
, Sheffield
, South Yorkshire
, on 23 October 1983. He murdered Basil Laitner (aged 59), his 55-year-old wife Avril, and their 28-year-old son Richard. He raped their 18-year-old daughter Nicola at knife-point before fleeing. Just hours earlier, the family had hosted the wedding reception of their other daughter Suzanne at the house. It is believed that he was planning to commit an armed robbery at the house.
Hutchinson was also wanted for a rape
at the time, and had already spent more than five years in prison for the attempted murder of his brother-in-law. His identity was established by the description given by Nicola, and by forensic evidence in the form of a palm-print left on a champagne glass. After spending weeks on the run, wearing disguises and moving from place to place in Barnsley, Nottinghamshire, Manchester, York, and Scarborough, he was finally captured on a farm in Hartlepool.
He was found guilty of all three murders and the rape on 14 September 1984. He was sentenced to life imprisonment
with a recommended minimum term of 18 years, which could have seen him out of prison by 2002 and the age of 61 in the event of the Parole Board
deciding that he no longer posed a risk.
However, it was later reported that the Home Secretary
had placed Hutchinson on the list of prisoners whose life sentences should mean life
, meaning that he would probably never be released.
Hutchinson later appealed against the Home Secretary's ruling. His case was heard on 16 May 2008 at the High Court
, nearly six years after the final say on minimum terms for life sentence prisoners was transferred from the Home Secretary to the High Court. His solicitors argued that a whole life tariff was a breach of his human rights.
However, his appeal was rejected and the High Court agreed with the Home Secretary's ruling that life must mean life for Hutchinson.
Hutchinson lodged a second appeal against his sentence shortly afterwards, his case returning to the High Court on 6 October 2008, but this too was rejected.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
convicted murderer.
Born at Hartlepool
Hartlepool
Hartlepool is a town and port in North East England.It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County Palatine of Durham. A railway link from...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
(now Cleveland), he attained notoriety in 1984 when he was convicted of three murders committed in Dore
Dore
Dore is a village in South Yorkshire, England. The village lies on a hill above the River Sheaf, and until 1934 was part of Derbyshire, but it is now a suburb of Sheffield. It is served by Dore and Totley railway station on the Hope Valley Line...
, Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
, on 23 October 1983. He murdered Basil Laitner (aged 59), his 55-year-old wife Avril, and their 28-year-old son Richard. He raped their 18-year-old daughter Nicola at knife-point before fleeing. Just hours earlier, the family had hosted the wedding reception of their other daughter Suzanne at the house. It is believed that he was planning to commit an armed robbery at the house.
Hutchinson was also wanted for a rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
at the time, and had already spent more than five years in prison for the attempted murder of his brother-in-law. His identity was established by the description given by Nicola, and by forensic evidence in the form of a palm-print left on a champagne glass. After spending weeks on the run, wearing disguises and moving from place to place in Barnsley, Nottinghamshire, Manchester, York, and Scarborough, he was finally captured on a farm in Hartlepool.
He was found guilty of all three murders and the rape on 14 September 1984. He was sentenced to life imprisonment
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
with a recommended minimum term of 18 years, which could have seen him out of prison by 2002 and the age of 61 in the event of the Parole Board
Parole Board
A parole board is a panel of people who decide whether an offender should be released from prison on parole after serving at least a minimum portion of their sentence as prescribed by the sentencing judge. Parole boards are used in many jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom and the United...
deciding that he no longer posed a risk.
However, it was later reported that the Home Secretary
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
had placed Hutchinson on the list of prisoners whose life sentences should mean life
Whole life tariff
This is a list of prisoners who have received a whole life tariff through some mechanism in jurisdictions of the United Kingdom.Eight of these prisoners have since died in prison, while three of them have had their sentences reduced on appeal, meaning that there are currently at least 48 prisoners...
, meaning that he would probably never be released.
Hutchinson later appealed against the Home Secretary's ruling. His case was heard on 16 May 2008 at the High Court
High Court
The term High Court usually refers to the superior court of a country or state. In some countries, it is the highest court . In others, it is positioned lower in the hierarchy of courts The term High Court usually refers to the superior court (or supreme court) of a country or state. In some...
, nearly six years after the final say on minimum terms for life sentence prisoners was transferred from the Home Secretary to the High Court. His solicitors argued that a whole life tariff was a breach of his human rights.
However, his appeal was rejected and the High Court agreed with the Home Secretary's ruling that life must mean life for Hutchinson.
Hutchinson lodged a second appeal against his sentence shortly afterwards, his case returning to the High Court on 6 October 2008, but this too was rejected.