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In this episode, I discuss the tragic story of Janet Commins, a 15-year-old schoolgirl who was sexually assaulted and killed in 1979.
Janet had planned to meet her friends at the local swimming baths on January 7, but her mum, Eileen, did not permit her to go as she looked pale and unwell. Sneaking out and leaving a note behind, Janet was never seen alive by her parents again.
This case features a massive miscarriage of justice, with the first murder trial occurring in June 1976. 18-year-old Noel Jones was accused of murdering Janet and, bizarrely, admitted manslaughter even though he was innocent and was handed a 12-year prison sentence, serving six.
Forty years later, 57-year-old Stephen Hough was arrested on an unrelated matter and had his DNA taken. It matched DNA found on samples taken from Janet's body.
Like Noel, Hough was found guilty of manslaughter in July 2017 and handed a 12-year sentence.
Intro music:
David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'
linktr.ee/davidjohnbradymusic
References:
Appeal for help in hunt for sex killer. (1976, July 12). Bristol Evening Post, 1.
Bagnall, S. (2021, October 10). Uncle of teenager raped and killed wants equal justice for victims as Sarah Everard killer gets life. North Wales Live. Retrieved July 27, 2023, from https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/uncle-teenager-raped-killed-wants-21780273
Edwards, A. (1976a, January 12). NEW ATTACK CLUE OVER SEX KILLER. Liverpool Echo, 1.
Edwards, A. (1976b, January 13). Riddle of sex victim’s walk. Liverpool Echo, 1.
Edwards, A. (1976c, June 16). Why girl told police about Janet’s death. Liverpool Daily Post (Welsh Edition), 7.
“Insufficient evidence” to suggest North Wales Police breached disciplinary regulations in 1976 investigation into Janet Commins’ murder. (2019, March 14). Deeside.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023, from https://www.deeside.com/insufficient-evidence-to-suggest-north-wales-police-breached-disciplinary-regulations-in-1976-investigation-into-janet-commins-murder/
Janet charge denial. (1976, June 14). Liverpool Echo, 3.
Janet Commins (1960-1976). (n.d.). Find a Grave. Retrieved July 27, 2023, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/248835329/janet-commins
Janet Commins: IPCC inquiry into 1976 murder investigation. (2017, January 4). BBC News. Retrieved July 27, 2023, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-38508940
Janet Commins murder: Police did not breach protocol - IOPC. (2019, March 14). BBC News. Retrieved July 27, 2023, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-47568392
Janet Commins: Noel Jones cleared of schoolgirl’s 1976 killing. (2019, January 31). BBC News. Retrieved July 27, 2023, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-47071443
Janet Commins: Stephen Hough guilty of 1976 rape and killing. (2017, July 13). BBC News. Retrieved July 27, 2023, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-40593656
Janet: Youth gets 12 years. (1976, June 16). Liverpool Echo, 1.
Lloyd, D. (2017, July 17). Janet Commins: How police caught her killer after 41 years. BBC News. Retrieved July 27, 2023, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-40568522
Murder case man “set to wed.” (1976, June 15). Liverpool Echo, 1.
North Wales Police investigated over Janet Commins murder and rape case in 1976. (2017, January 4). Express. Retrieved July 27, 2023, from https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/750179/Wales-Police-investigated-Janet-Commins-murder-rape-case-1976
R -v- HOUGH: SENTENCING REMARKS OF THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE LEWIS IN MOLD CROWN COURT. (2017). In Judiciary.uk. Retrieved July 27, 2023, from https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/sentencing-remarks-r-v-hough.pdf
Roberts, E. (2017, July 17). Janet Commins’ family reveal how her killing saw dad “give up on life.”North Wales Live. Retrieved July 27, 2023, from https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/janet-commins-family-reveal-how-13343417
SH. (2017, July 17). The Law Pages. Retrieved July 27, 2023, from https://www.thelawpages.com/court-cases/Stephen-Anthony-Hough-20546-1.law
Stephen Hough denies 1976 Flint killing of Janet Commins. (2017, June 27). BBC News. Retrieved July 27, 2023, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-40416256
Stephen Hough trial: Notes on Janet Commins’ body samples “destroyed.” (2017, June 28). BBC News. Retrieved July 27, 2023, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-40432201
Swabs from murdered girl’s body “matched accused’s DNA.” (2017, June 29). BBC News. Retrieved July 27, 2023, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-40445349
Walford, J. (2018, September 23). How it took police 40 years to catch a killer of a schoolgirl. WalesOnline. Retrieved July 27, 2023, from https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/how-took-police-over-40-15188736
Webb, S., & Kamouni, S. (2017, July 17). Ex-soldier is caged for 12 years for raping and killing tragic schoolgirl Janet Commins after cold case breakthrough finally brought him to justice 41 years on. The Sun. Retrieved July 27, 2023, from https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4036064/stephen-hough-trail-12-years-prison-murder-janet-commins/
Williams, K. (2017a, June 27). Flint murder accused claimed he was stealing petrol on night girl disappeared, court hears. North Wales Live. Retrieved July 27, 2023, from https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/flint-murder-accused-claimed-stealing-13248286
Williams, K. (2017b, July 18). Extra jail time for Hough for sex assault on teen that led to his capture for Commins killing. North Wales Live. Retrieved July 27, 2023, from https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/extra-jail-time-hough-sex-13344442
Williams, K. (2017c, July 19). “Animal who killed our lovely Janet should be caged forever.”North Wales Live. Retrieved July 27, 2023, from https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/janet-commins-killer-jail-forever--13355211
