The photograph Part 2.

In April 1972 Richard Palmer murdered a homeless man in the churchyard of what would become my church, St Martins in Fenny Stratford. Palmer later admitted in court that he was influenced by reading the book, and probably had recently seen the film when, at almost exactly the same age as the leading character, he committed a murder almost identical to one in both.

Looking at the archival material and comment easily available today it is interesting how much of it is either sensational real crime reportage or concentrates on trying to exculpate the film and book from any direct influence on Palmer’s actions. Some of the arguments used to do the latter are questionable, such as that because he was only 16 at the time he couldn’t have seen the film at the local cinema as he was under age. I know from experience that that is a specious argument.

For me though the whole affair remains personal. There is not only that photograph, there are other stories remembered by my family from early childhood and my own subsequent memories from the school playground during breaks. My mother tells of the time Palmer attacked my brother with a hammer and I can still recall the size of his fist and the force of his leather shoes hitting my legs. It was in the sacred space of my church that his wicked act happened- a witness who saw him running away from the scene thinking he was wearing a red mask, when it was the blood of his victim David McManus. Later I would frequently meet friends in the pub where Palmer had stood his future victim a drink in the days before he murdered him.

Although, of course, all those who refuse to believe that life can imitate art would surely object that could never have happened as Palmer was too young to buy alcohol.