Let Him Have It

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Let Him Have It is a 1991 British film set in 1952 and based on a true story. It is based on the case of Derek Bentley, who was hanged for murder under controversial circumstances. While he did not directly play a role in the murder of PC Sidney Miles, he received the greatest punishment in the case. It stars Christopher Eccleston as Bentley, with Paul Reynolds and Tom Courtenay, and was directed by Peter Medak.

The title of the film is taken from Bentley's alleged cry of "Let him have it, Chris!" shortly before Christopher Craig shot PC Miles. Despite what the film showed, a police officer dying from cancer stated that Derek Bentley never said the infamous phrase. It is believed that the reason the police attributed the quote to Bentley is that there was a similar case where someone had said "Let him have it!", and it was still fresh in the police officer's' minds; and also with the police still grieving over PC Miles, they wanted revenge; and Bentley was the only person they could get it from.

Christopher Craig was sentenced to jail At Her Majesty's Pleasure , but only spent ten years there. He has been a law abiding citizen ever since.

Derek Bentley's family had bought an expensive bottle of wine to celebrate their victory in proving that he was innocent. Sadly however, Bentley's parents never got to drink it, and died 1990. After numerous unsuccessful campaigns to get Derek Bentley a full pardon, he was posthumously pardoned in 1990 (despite the film's end titles stating that Bentley's sister Iris was still fighting for his pardon). Bentley's sister finally opened the bottle of wine, which was meant to be opened several years before.