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In this episode, I tell the story of Gordon and Carol Park.
In July 1976, Gordon Park returned to his Leece home from a family trip to Blackpool with his three children to discover that his wife, Carol, was missing.
In August 1997, 21 years after she went missing, Carol Park's body was found by amateur divers in Coniston Water, a lake in the Lake District.
Gordon was arrested on suspicion of Carol's murder in that same month, but the charges were later dropped. However, he was re-arrested in January 2004 and found guilty of Carol's murder in January 2005.
In 2010, on his 66th birthday, Gordon Park took his own life. A posthumous appeal of his conviction was referred to the Court of Appeal in October 2018, but it was dismissed in May 2020.
This incredibly divisive case was referred to in the media as 'The Lady in the Lake trial'.
Intro music:
David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'
https://linktr.ee/davidjohnbradymusic
References:
Armstrong, J. (2013, March 19). Lady in the Lake killer studied Harold Shipman’s suicide report before he was found hanged in prison cell. Mirror. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/gordon-park-inquest-lady-lake-1773669
Armstrong, J. (2014, November 8). Lady in the Lake killer could be cleared 5 YEARS after he was hanged in prison. Mirror. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/lady-lake-killer-could-cleared-4593150
Brunt, M. (2020, May 1). “Lady in the Lake”: Appeal court upholds murder conviction for Gordon Park. Sky News. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://news.sky.com/story/lady-in-the-lake-appeal-court-upholds-murder-conviction-for-gordon-park-11981843
Bunyan, N. (2004, November 27). Son of “Lady in the Lake” tells court of the last day he saw her. The Telegraph. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1477626/Son-of-'Lady-in-the-Lake'-tells-court-of-the-last-day-he-saw-her/
Bunyan, N. (2005, January 29). Calculating killer who lived a lie for 30 years. The Telegraph. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/01/29/nlake129.xml
Carter, H. (2019, November 5). Family of “Lady in the Lake” killer begin posthumous appeal against his conviction. Manchester Evening News. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/lady-lake-killer-posthumous-appeal-17201611
Crickmer, C. (1997, August 21). 21-YR-OLD LAKE BODY IS TEACHER. The Mirror, 14.
Crickmer, C., & Dennis, S. (1997, August 22). Body in lake’s ex will face cop quiz. The Mirror, 21.
Dennett, J. (2005, November 4). Exclusive: Convicted “Lady in the Lake” killer writes from prison. The Westmorland Gazette. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/647938.exclusive-convicted-lady-in-the-lake-killer-writes-from-prison/
Keegan, M. (2013, January 12). Prison ban on pastor “for praying.”Manchester Evening News. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/prison-ban-on-pastor-for-praying-948512
Lady body is Carol Park. (1997, August 22). Burton Daily Mail, 2.
“Lady in the Lake” murder: Gordon Park’s conviction “unsafe.”(2019, November 5). BBC News. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-50306383
“Lady in the Lake” murder: Gordon Park’s conviction upheld. (2020, May 1). BBC News. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-52499437
Lake crime scene visited by jury. (2005, January 11). BBC News. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/4164137.stm
Narain, J. (2010, January 26). Lady in the Lake killer Gordon Park commits suicide in cell on 66th birthday. Mail Online. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1245897/Lady-Lake-killer-Gordon-Park-commits-suicide-cell-66th-birthday.html
Police to name ‘lady in the lake.’ (1997, August 22). Liverpool Echo, 8.
Robins, J. (2020, May 7). ‘No closure’ for family of Gordon Park as appeal court dismissed ‘lady in the lake’ case. The Justice Gap. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.thejusticegap.com/no-closure-for-family-of-gordon-park-as-appeal-court-dismissed-lady-in-the-lake-case/
Sweeney. (2020). Gordon Park (Deceased) v Regina. In Courts and Tribunals Judiciary([2020] EWCA Crim 589). Royal Courts of Justice. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/r-v-park-judgment-010520.pdf
Woffinden, B. (2010, January 27). SPECIAL INVESTIGATION: Why I believe the Lady in the Lake killer was innocent and the real murderer is still at large By BOB WOFFINDEN. Mail Online. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1246355/Lady-Lake-killer-innocent-real-murderer-large-says-investigative-journalist.html
