John William Slater (Leeman)

liferreilly
Full Member

Posts: 241

John William Slater (Leeman) May 16, 2020 19:14:37 GMT

Post by liferreilly on May 16, 2020 19:14:37 GMT

Just been reading the above case you've been updating, then did a little further reading.

An interesting case and one i'd never heard about before. Shame he didn't get the rope when it was due.

He's sentenced originally for child cruelty; then when inside, murders an inmate and is sentenced to death.

Gets a reprieve from the gallows and is eventually released.

Then he abuses a young boy - jailed again; then released again, to go and abuse another young boy. Released yet again, to murder someone in the late 80s.

Appalling.

Anyhow, I took a quick look on the Deaths in Custody list:
John Leeman (76) died in Wakefield on 12th August 2001. Natural causes. The age seems to be about right.

Just checked, source: Murder most foul no 44: "from Durham:'Silent' Killer John Leeman dies in prison."

historian
New Member

Writer Historian and researcher on British Murder from 1800-Present

Posts: 34

John William Slater (Leeman) May 17, 2020 13:17:01 GMT

Post by historian on May 17, 2020 13:17:01 GMT

He was formally known as John William Slater. Leeman spent 10 years in Wakefield refusing to talk to anyone, officers or inmates. He died of malnutrition after going on hunger site. It was found that he had cancer of the throat but because he did not talk to anyone and was on hunger strike the symptoms of lost voice and weight loss were not realised. You are correct in that it was 2001.
His brother James Slater was convicted of murder in 1972.
Forum press covered the story in Master Detective (July 2012).

liferreilly Full Member Posts: 241	John William Slater (Leeman) May 17, 2020 15:51:18 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by liferreilly on May 17, 2020 15:51:18 GMT Hi Historian Thanks for the additional information. Just saw that James Slater junior and senior were both on trial for murder (J 212/26) To call that family dysfunctional would be a huge understatement!

ayrshireman
New Member

Posts: 30

John William Slater (Leeman) May 19, 2020 0:17:56 GMT

Post by ayrshireman on May 19, 2020 0:17:56 GMT

May 16, 2020 19:14:37 GMT liferreilly said:

Just been reading the above case you've been updating, then did a little further reading.

An interesting case and one i'd never heard about before. Shame he didn't get the rope when it was due.

He's sentenced originally for child cruelty; then when inside, murders an inmate and is sentenced to death.

Gets a reprieve from the gallows and is eventually released.

Then he abuses a young boy - jailed again; then released again, to go and abuse another young boy. Released yet again, to murder someone in the late 80s.

Appalling.

Anyhow, I took a quick look on the Deaths in Custody list:
John Leeman (76) died in Wakefield on 12th August 2001. Natural causes. The age seems to be about right.

Just checked, source: Murder most foul no 44: "from Durham:'Silent' Killer John Leeman dies in prison."

Any info on the last murder?.

Last Edit: May 19, 2020 0:18:33 GMT by ayrshireman

liferreilly
Full Member

Posts: 241

John William Slater (Leeman) May 19, 2020 9:15:16 GMT

Post by liferreilly on May 19, 2020 9:15:16 GMT

Lawyers Offer No Defence (Newcastle Evening chronicle 5th May 1989)

Defence lawyers in the trial of murder accused John William Leeman,
today told Newcastle crown court they would not be calling any evidence.
Leeman, 64, of Eglesfield Road, South Shields, denies murdering Stuart Dowson, 32, of Clive Street, South Shields.
The jury has heard how early on October 5th last year, a neighbour heard an argument between the two men,
who had been friends for some time.
Leeman is alleged to have stabbed Dowson in the chest, with one of the wounds penetrating his heart.
Neighbours have told the jury they saw Leeman drag Mr Dowson across the pavement and prop him up against a wall,
before swilling blood off the pavement in Eglesfield Road.
Leeman then allegedly hid the murder weapon and telephoned for an ambulance. Mr Dowson died in hospital despite
urgent efforts to save his life by surgeons.

blackkalendar.nl/c/17347/John%20William%20Slater

ayrshireman
New Member

Posts: 30

John William Slater (Leeman) May 19, 2020 12:41:52 GMT

Post by ayrshireman on May 19, 2020 12:41:52 GMT

May 19, 2020 9:15:16 GMT liferreilly said:

Lawyers Offer No Defence (Newcastle Evening chronicle 5th May 1989)

Defence lawyers in the trial of murder accused John William Leeman,
today told Newcastle crown court they would not be calling any evidence.
Leeman, 64, of Eglesfield Road, South Shields, denies murdering Stuart Dowson, 32, of Clive Street, South Shields.
The jury has heard how early on October 5th last year, a neighbour heard an argument between the two men,
who had been friends for some time.
Leeman is alleged to have stabbed Dowson in the chest, with one of the wounds penetrating his heart.
Neighbours have told the jury they saw Leeman drag Mr Dowson across the pavement and prop him up against a wall,
before swilling blood off the pavement in Eglesfield Road.
Leeman then allegedly hid the murder weapon and telephoned for an ambulance. Mr Dowson died in hospital despite
urgent efforts to save his life by surgeons.

blackkalendar.nl/c/17347/John%20William%20Slater

Thank you.