Town Without Pity: The Fight to Clear Stephen Downing of the Bakewell Murder: Amazon.co.uk: Don Hale: Books

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"Town Without Pity" DVD

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Ananova review of book launch
A journalist who campaigned tirelessly for the release of a man wrongly jailed for murder has released a fascinating new book about the case.

Press Association review of book launch
Town Without Pity reveals vital evidence that helped clear Stephen Downing after 27 years - and considers who was responsible for 30 year-od murder.

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4 Reviews

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4.0 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)

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8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read - even for non true crime fans., 22 May 2002

By A Customer

I am ususally not a "true crime" reader, perferring fictional mysteries and police procedurals. However, I was following the Downing story on the BBC News website and couldn't resist the chance to read the book. I was glad I did. I thoroughly enjoyed the book - it was well written, never boring, and I still think about it even after having finished it. Don Hale is most certainly to be commended for his perserverance, not to mention Stephen Downing. This is a must read.

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6 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating real-life thriller., 14 May 2002

By A Customer

The fight to free Steven Downing from prison reads like a John Grisham novel. It is amazing to read how Don Hale had the guts and persistence to see this case through and put right this terrible injustice. What an inspirational journalist he must be.

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6 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This is a true life drama that looks and reads like a best-s, 2 May 2002

By A Customer

Town Without Pity tells the story - both skillfully and graphically - of the author's successful eight year campaign to clear Stephen Downing of the 1973 murder of Wendy Sewell in Bakewell churchyard. This is a true-life drama that looks and reads like a best-selling detective novel - which if it were could justifiably be catagorised as a 'compelling read'; but this is a true story - and as such it goes on my 'absolutely rivetting' list. The Downing case has received worldwide media coverage. Infamously known as 'The Bakewell Tart Murder' it has been the subject of much speculation and conjecture and has hardly been out of the news in recent years. This brilliantly written book dispenses with the need to speculate further and in providing the answer to the question on everyone's lips -"If Stephen Downing is innocent then who did kill Wendy Sewell?" - gives the authors own account of how he unearthed an elaborate cover-up which convinced him of Downings innocence and revealed the truth of what took place that fateful day back in September 1973 at Bakewell Cemetery.The book, co-written with husband and wife team, Hamish McGregor and Marika Huns tells how Stephen Downing, who was a naive seventeen year-old with a reading age of eleven worked as a gardener in the cemetery. He was taken to the police station, interrogated for nine hours without access to a solicitor and signed a confession which he did not write and that he could not read. Forever afterwards and during his 27 years in jail he maintained his innocence even though he was offered his freedom if only he would 'admit his guilt'. After Don Hale was approached by Stephen's parents he began a private investigation, the results of which cast serious doubt about both police procedure and motive, revealing evidence which for some reason the local police surpressed, and convinced Don Hale of Downing's innocence. Why did the police ignore crucial evidence? Who was the man a witness claims to have seen running away from the murder scene? Who was the man seen with Wendy Sewell in the cemetery minutes before she was attacked? Everyone in the town of Bakewell seemed to have a theory about who the real culprit(s) might be. As Don Hale continued his one-man investigation he was threatened by the police with prosecution and told to 'mind your own business', threatening 'phone calls warned him off and several serious attempts were made on his life. This is a fascinating expose of how one man operating on his own fought against all the odds for justice - and tells the tale of how his personal heroism eventually secured Downing's release after the longest running miscarriage of justice in British legal history. The reader can follow the trail of clues and discover exactly what Don Hale discovered - the truth that led to Stephen Downings release, what the authorities wanted to keep hidden, and why - and ultimately to Stephen Downing's conviction for murder finally being quashed by the Appeal Court. This is unquestionably my 'book of the year'.

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5.0 out of 5 stars breathtaking and brilliant. A compulsive read.
A fast moving and page turning thriller. It kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I read it on the train from London to the North East and couldn't get the story out of my... Read more

Published on 15 May 2002 by harry

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Town Without Pity: The Fight to Clear Stephen Downing of the Bakewell Murder (Hardcover)

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	88% buy the item featured on this page: Town Without Pity: The Fight to Clear Stephen Downing of the Bakewell Murder 4.0 out of 5 stars (4)
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