samkydd

Was There A Film Made Based On This Case

When three police officers pulled an old car over for a routine check, they didn't know it would be the last duty they would carry out. On the 12th of August, 1966 Officers David Wombwell, David Head and Gregory Fox were shot and killed in London, England. Their murderers were Harry Roberts, John Witney and John Duddy, three dangerous criminals who were planning a robbery and looking for a getaway car to replace the old car that they were driving. On 6th December the murderers were each sentenced to thirty years, and their conviction led to discussions on the restoration of the death penalty.

Does anyone know if there was ever a film or TV drama based on this this famous murder case? At the time it was big news and pictures of Harry Roberts were on WANTED posters all over the country.

Roberts is still inside today aged 68, having served 39 years and he's still not getting a release date I believe.

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

Steve Crook

A Google for the names David Wombwell, David Head and Gregory Fox turns up a documentary on The Biography Channel
- which looks like where you got the above paragraph from

But no sign of any feature film.

Steve

samkydd

Yes I did a search before posting the topic. Somewhere in the back of my mind I was convinced that there was a feature film or TV drama made, not necessarily using the real names of people involved. It's one of those notorious cases from the 60s with almost the same significance as the moors murders, The Great Train Robbery and the collapse of the Kray twins empire! The death penalty was abolished in 1965, and this was one of the first cases to question that decision and the public were outraged at these shocking murders.

Seeing that real crime is a great crowd puller at the movies I'd have though some enterprising film maker might have interviewed Roberts and others involved in the case, and put together a credible film as an alternative to the Guy Ritchie type Cockney cliche fantasy parodies.

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

Fellwanderer

It rings a [very faint] bell with me as well - TV drama rather than feature film and on the Beeb.

FELL

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

penfold

It's in development hell, apparently. I knew the name Harry Roberts rang bells, so I googled him; Jake 'The Long Firm' Arnott has written a novel based on the case, and the film based on it was due to be made last year, for now sleeping Film Four; it's called He Kills Coppers. As in...to the tune 'London Bridge is falling down'

"Harry Roberts is our friend, is our friend, is our friend
Harry Roberts is our friend,
He kills coppers"

Though I think that little rhyme has featured in something else I saw a while back...Buster?? something 60's East End set, anyway.

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

mysteriesofedgarwallace

Yes, I remember a fairly large feature in the (London) Evening Standard in 1996.
It made horrific reading.
I'm sure there is (or was) some 'Harry Roberts is innocent' type graffiti around London.

Jackdaw

This really was a sensational case at the time, and many people of my generation remember it as clearly as the Kennedy assassination.For example,I remember that the day in question was a Friday and that I had spent the day in Coventry.I further remember that the police car was a dark green Triumph 2000 and that Witney's car was a light blue Standard Vanguard estate.
The Sunday papers felt able,presumably owing to the rarity and the horrific nature of the crime,to print pictures of the scene, showing the bodies of the murdered officers.Sergeant Head's body was lying under the police car,having been run over when PC Fox,the driver,was shot.
Duddy and Whitney,now both deceased,were quickly captured,but Roberts was at large for a considerable time,thanks it was said,to his expertise in jungle warfare, gained in the Malayan War of the early fifties.
I have long been surprised that a high-profile dramatisation of this case has not been produced.

Cheers

Jacky

samkydd

The jungle survival training part would add another dimension to a feature film about the case, and it was a long manhunt to capture Roberts so plenty of scope for sub-plots, although film makers these days can only just scrape together one puny main plot!

At the time of the murders I remember seeing a pile of Wanted posters at home (my dad being a rozzer), but I was only five in 1966 and didn't read the 'papers then (I still don't now). Roberts' picture on the posters reminded me of the British actor Victor Maddern for some reason, and everytime I saw him in a film I thought he was Harry Roberts! Strange how your mind works as a kid (even stranger now)! For anyone who doesn't know him, Victor Maddern was a small part actor best described as being like Sam Kydd with attitude!

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

Steve Crook

And then of course, once he (& the others) were caught, that was a good test of the recently (1965) repealed death penalty.
That would make another good sub-plot to your film. How that could be debated in Parliament and by the man on the street (or in the pub).

Steve

samkydd

With all these elements it could well turn out to be a major film. Call me Mr Cynical but I suspect it'll be another The Krays with all the usual well worn cliches, well worn Cockney actors and soapsters "It's a perfect vehicle for young Dennis from Eastenders", and only "loosely based" on the real chain of events. The capital punishment debate could be chaired by some serious actor playing a senior judge like Johnny Vegas or Alan Davies, and the Dawn French could play the Standard Vanguard shooting brake/estate! But God help us if the yanks have a go at it instead!

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

penfold

I think it will probably have to wait for Mr Roberts to join his late colleagues in whichever department of the afterlife they now reside....

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

samkydd

The way people like Guy Ritchie are besotted with gangsterdum and high profile criminals I'd be surprised if the murderer Roberts wasn't guest of honour at the premiere!

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

samkydd

Referred to as Massacre of Braybrook Street there's quite a good piece of the story here.

http://www.creotec.com/index.php?page=ebus...raybrook_Street

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

Malcolm Lauder

He Kills Coppers is now filming for a three-part production on ITV starring, among others, Rafe Spall and Maureen Lipman. I am looking forward to being an extra in a pub scene next Monday. Malcolm L.

lordtednfs

I remember this very well and I lived in Braybrook Street for a few years and remember the worry of all the parents at the time who warned us kids about the killers. There is a memorial to those that died on that sad day on Braybrook St which is just up by "The Scrubs", where I hope those responsible, rot in hell.

As for dear Buster, I bought flowers from him many times at Waterloo. A criminal maybe, but always a gent and always a kind word for his customers. A bit like Raffles, a gentleman thief. Love to watch the movie Buster. Go to Police Roll of Honour Trust to see the memorial.

Won't use my usual "Hooked of the line" as this brings back sad memories. God bless the bobbies that sacrificed their lives on that day.