Chapter 33 Closing the Case
It was lucky for Gavin Locke that the police, although hitherto missing from guarding his house, they were in attendance at his hanging and managed to cut him down before any damage was done. After a short interview he was charged for his part in taking a share of the money that belonged to Roger Grey. He was sentenced to five years. John Whip was also charged but received a lighter sentence, for it was felt that he had suffered and it was touch and go whether he would survive. He received a suspended sentence of two years and was also to serve the community for one year.
Guy Arnold was guiltless and having no part in the fraud had been released without charge. But later on was arrested for conspiracy to murder his wife as new evidence had come to light. He was in custody for three months and finally released without being charged. It seemed that complications had set in which involved Robert Gregg who was serving ten years for manslaughter.
After serving only four years of a ten year sentence Robert Gregg was released from prison through some technical detail overlooked at the time of sentencing. Sue Arnold married Robert Gregg after divorcing Guy Arnold.
Guy Arnold was having an elicit affair with Sandra Phelps at the time he was married to Sue Arnold and they were now expecting their first child and decided to get married. As it was not a police matter, no charges could be brought to bear in this case.
P.C. Sam Lodge who had been helpful in the identity of the killer was at one time facing suspension and the probability of being dismissed from the force. At his tribunal, the Chief Superintendant spoke on his behalf and P.C. Sam Lodge now worked under the wings of Wragg and was to serve a one year’s probation.
Roger Grey was to be voted the worst criminal that ever walked the earth and although he was guarded closely night and day, he managed to obtain poison. He was a clever man and he had knowledge of different elements that if brought together would be poisonous to the human being, even though in single form would be innocent of anything nasty.
So it was on the day before Roger Grey was due in court that they found him in his cell in a coma and although he was rushed to hospital, they could not save him.
On reflection it took a long time for Wragg to bring about the arrest of the serial killer and if hadn’t been for his wife they would still be scratching the earth like chickens. The culmination of three errors, the first being meeting two policemen in a public house mistakenly in the hope that they would become allies, which turned out to be a red herring, secondly the murder of George Steal where Roger lost his car keys and thirdly kidnapping Gladys Wragg which was to be ultimately his final downfall and capture.
The End