Guenther Podola
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Guenther Fritz Erwin Podola (8 February 1929 – 5 November 1959) was a German-born petty thief, and the last man to be hanged in Britain for killing a police officer.[1] His trial was notable and controversial because of his defence of amnesia and the use of expert witnesses to determine whether his illness was real.[2]
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[edit] Life
Podola was born in Berlin, Germany. He was a fanatical member of the Hitler Youth movement.[3] Podola moved to Canada in August 1952. On 1 March 1957 he was sentenced to 10 days' imprisonment following a conviction for burglary in Montreal. Then on 26 March he was sentenced for another 11 counts of theft and burglary and imprisoned for 2 years. On 25 July 1958 Podola was released and deported back to West Germany.[3]
[edit] London
Podola moved to London on 21 May 1959. He assumed the alias of Mike Colato and pretended to be a gangster[4]. He broke into the house of an American model[5], Verne Schiffmann, and stole jewellery and furs worth £2,000.[1] He tried to blackmail her in return for her possessions, asking for £500[4], but she notified the police who attempted to arrest Podola on 12 July 1959 in Kensington.[6] Podola shot one of the officers, Detective Sergeant Raymond Purdy, in the heart with a pistol.[3] He was later apprehended and Podola claimed he was beaten up by the police[7] and that as a result he lost his memory of events.[1] The police claimed that he was merely hit on the head when they broke down the door to his hotel room.[4]
[edit] Trial
The start of the trial was delayed for 9 days while a jury heard evidence of whether Podola was medically fit to stand trial.[8] After 3½ hours of deliberation, they decided he was.[3] A fresh jury was called to hear the trial itself.[3] When asked for his plea, he replied: "I do not remember the crime for which I stand accused ... I am unable to answer the charges."[8] He was defended by Frederick Lawton QC[4]. Neurologist Michael Ashby gave evidence as an expert medical witness at his trial, as did psychiatrist Archibald Leigh, who claimed Podola was feigning his illness.[7]
The jury took 38 minutes[8] to find Podola guilty, and he later confessed his guilt.[7] He was sentenced to death and hanged at Wandsworth prison.[5] Podola was buried in the prison graveyard (grave 59).[3]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Rupert Furneaux, Crime Documentary Series, Stevens & Sons, London 1960
- ^ The Modern Law Review, Vol. 24, No. 3, May 1961, pp. 413-415
- ^ a b c d e f Gunter Podola
- ^ a b c d Google books - Villain's Paradise: A History of Britain's Underworld, p452
- ^ a b Infamous Murders: Murdered on Duty - Crime And Investigation Network
- ^ Crimetime
- ^ a b c Royal College of Physicians
- ^ a b c Verdict on Podola - Time Magazine
