Murderer. Known as the "Gentleman Vampire." He was hung at Pentonville Prison in England at the age of 29.
Heath's trial began on 24 September 1946. He originally told his counsel, J. D. Casswell KC, to plead guilty, but when Casswell questioned this, he said, "All right, put me down as not guilty, old boy". Casswell chose not to call Heath to give evidence and relied on the defence of insanity, calling William Henry de Bargue Hubert, an experienced criminal psychiatrist, to testify as an expert witness. Hubert testified that he believed Heath knew what he was doing but not that it was morally wrong, but the prosecution easily destroyed Hubert's argument; unknown to Casswell, Hubert was a drug addict and was under the influence of morphine as he testified in the witness box.
Two prison doctors testified that although Heath was a psychopath and a sexual sadist, he was not insane. He was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. Heath was executed by Albert Pierrepoint on 16 October 1946 at Pentonville Prison. A few minutes prior to his execution, as was the custom, he was offered a glass of whisky by the prison governor. A playboy to the last, Heath replied, "While you're about it, sir, you might make that a double".
In a final letter written to his parents prior to his execution, Heath informed his parents: "My only regret at leaving the world, is that I have been damned unworthy of you both."[
Contributor: Military Historian (47181822)
Heath's trial began on 24 September 1946. He originally told his counsel, J. D. Casswell KC, to plead guilty, but when Casswell questioned this, he said, "All right, put me down as not guilty, old boy". Casswell chose not to call Heath to give evidence and relied on the defence of insanity, calling William Henry de Bargue Hubert, an experienced criminal psychiatrist, to testify as an expert witness. Hubert testified that he believed Heath knew what he was doing but not that it was morally wrong, but the prosecution easily destroyed Hubert's argument; unknown to Casswell, Hubert was a drug addict and was under the influence of morphine as he testified in the witness box.
Two prison doctors testified that although Heath was a psychopath and a sexual sadist, he was not insane. He was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. Heath was executed by Albert Pierrepoint on 16 October 1946 at Pentonville Prison. A few minutes prior to his execution, as was the custom, he was offered a glass of whisky by the prison governor. A playboy to the last, Heath replied, "While you're about it, sir, you might make that a double".
In a final letter written to his parents prior to his execution, Heath informed his parents: "My only regret at leaving the world, is that I have been damned unworthy of you both."[
Contributor: Military Historian (47181822)
Murderer. Known as the "Gentleman Vampire." He was hung at Pentonville Prison in England at the age of 29.
Heath's trial began on 24 September 1946. He originally told his counsel, J. D. Casswell KC, to plead guilty, but when Casswell questioned this, he said, "All right, put me down as not guilty, old boy". Casswell chose not to call Heath to give evidence and relied on the defence of insanity, calling William Henry de Bargue Hubert, an experienced criminal psychiatrist, to testify as an expert witness. Hubert testified that he believed Heath knew what he was doing but not that it was morally wrong, but the prosecution easily destroyed Hubert's argument; unknown to Casswell, Hubert was a drug addict and was under the influence of morphine as he testified in the witness box.
Two prison doctors testified that although Heath was a psychopath and a sexual sadist, he was not insane. He was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. Heath was executed by Albert Pierrepoint on 16 October 1946 at Pentonville Prison. A few minutes prior to his execution, as was the custom, he was offered a glass of whisky by the prison governor. A playboy to the last, Heath replied, "While you're about it, sir, you might make that a double".
In a final letter written to his parents prior to his execution, Heath informed his parents: "My only regret at leaving the world, is that I have been damned unworthy of you both."[
Contributor: Military Historian (47181822)
Heath's trial began on 24 September 1946. He originally told his counsel, J. D. Casswell KC, to plead guilty, but when Casswell questioned this, he said, "All right, put me down as not guilty, old boy". Casswell chose not to call Heath to give evidence and relied on the defence of insanity, calling William Henry de Bargue Hubert, an experienced criminal psychiatrist, to testify as an expert witness. Hubert testified that he believed Heath knew what he was doing but not that it was morally wrong, but the prosecution easily destroyed Hubert's argument; unknown to Casswell, Hubert was a drug addict and was under the influence of morphine as he testified in the witness box.
Two prison doctors testified that although Heath was a psychopath and a sexual sadist, he was not insane. He was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. Heath was executed by Albert Pierrepoint on 16 October 1946 at Pentonville Prison. A few minutes prior to his execution, as was the custom, he was offered a glass of whisky by the prison governor. A playboy to the last, Heath replied, "While you're about it, sir, you might make that a double".
In a final letter written to his parents prior to his execution, Heath informed his parents: "My only regret at leaving the world, is that I have been damned unworthy of you both."[
Contributor: Military Historian (47181822)
Advertisement
Advertisement
