While the murder of 42-year-old Anthony Bird in 1980 had been under review by detectives, who had never given up on solving the case, it was the unexpected actions of John Paul (19.05.61), 61, of Ladbroke Grove, Kensington, that provided the breakthrough.
Paul nevertheless pleaded not guilty but was convicted by a jury of murder yesterday, Monday 24 October, following a trial at the Old Bailey.
Detective Chief Inspector Rebecca Reeves from the Met’s Central Specialist Crime Command said: “It is not every day that someone walks into a police station confessing to murder decades ago. I would like to praise the officers and staff at Hammersmith Police Station who dealt with Paul in such a calm and effective manner. This was a man evidently suffering with a mental illness and they listened to what he had to say, asking the right questions to establish the truth and inevitably leading to his conviction.
“We may never fully know the reasons why on that day in May 2021 Paul confessed to the murder. However, the result of this case coming years after his death has finally brought answers to Anthony Bird’s family.
“We know it’s unlikely that police will solve every non-recent case. However, they remain under review and given the advances in technology, officers work on these cases tirelessly in hope of bringing offenders to justice.”
Anthony was found dead at his property in Kensington Gardens Square, W2 on the afternoon of 6 June 1980 after concerns were raised by his employer when he failed to attend work. On arrival, officers discovered Anthony’s body, bound with electrical cable. There were a number of marks and bruises on his body. The property had been ransacked and a number of electrical items and alcohol had been stolen.
A murder investigation was launched and enquiries were conducted including forensic examinations, house to house, and speaking with witnesses and those who knew Anthony. However, by 1981 these enquiries were exhausted, with no evidence to identify the suspect coming to light.
While the case was regularly reviewed, his murder remained unsolved for 41 years, until Paul walked into Hammersmith Police Station on the morning of 5 May 2021 confessing to the killing of Anthony.
The matter was promptly referred to CID and by 15:40hrs that day Specialist Crime detectives had been consulted and Paul was arrested on suspicion of murder, and later charged.
The court heard how the pair had met on the evening of 3 June 1980, before they went back to Anthony’s home in Kensington.
Paul later said that he was out to steal something that evening and had gone back to Anthony’s flat with the intention of robbing him. It was while they were there alone that Paul, having tied Anthony up with cable, grabbed a piece of wood and beat Anthony with it until he was unconscious. Paul returned to the flat later that night, stealing items from within the property.
The investigation revealed that Paul’s fingerprints matched three prints lifted from the original crime scene.
Following Paul’s conviction, Anthony’s family said: “We came to terms with the death of Anthony Bird many years ago but we’re pleased that after 42 years his killer has come forward and been convicted. Sadly his brother died last year and was therefore unable to take comfort from the closure that the court case has brought.”
Paul will be sentenced at a later date.