S8 Ep22: The 40 Year Secret - Part 2

Concluding the tale begun last time around on The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast, which dealt with the horrific rape and murder of a young girl on a winter's night back in the North Wales town of Flint, in January 1976. It was a fast moving investigation back at the time, which quickly led to an arrest, charges, and ultimately, imprisonment. 

And that was it - or so it was thought. But four decades later, the case was heard once again before a court - because, had police caught the right killer at the time? Or, had the real killer long been roaming free?

The episode contains details and descriptions of crimes and events, involving children, involving injury detail and descriptions of a sexual nature, that some listeners may find disturbing and or distressing, so discretion is advised whilst listening.

Music used in this episode: "The Descent" by Kevin Macleod. All music used is sourced from https://filmmusic.io/ and used under an Attribution Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Playlist Tracks

• Ocean Colour Scene - July
• Black Pumas - Colors

The True Crime Enthusiast's Fundraiser For Macmillan Cancer Support

References:
Assorted articles available via the British Newspaper Archive

• Ex-soldier jailed for raping and killing schoolgirl sentenced to additional three years for sexual assault offence - Wales Online
• Family say 'so galling' to think schoolgirl's killer lived in community for decades - Wales Online
• The 'no comment' interview an ex-soldier gave when interviewed over the death of a schoolgirl in 1976 - Wales Online
• Teen's family reveal their feelings about man who killed her and avoided justice for 40 years - North Wales Live (dailypost.co.uk)
• Janet Commins' family reveal how her killing saw dad 'give up on life' - North Wales Live (dailypost.co.uk)
• North Wales Police admit they got the wrong man over Janet Commins killing - North Wales Live (dailypost.co.uk)
• Forensic archive system 'far from perfect' Janet Commins trial hears - North Wales Live (dailypost.co.uk)
• Flint murder accused claimed he was stealing petrol on night girl disappeared, court hears - North Wales Live (dailypost.co.uk)
• Flint remembers murdered schoolgirl with touching floral tributes - North Wales Live (dailypost.co.uk)
• Janet Commins' uncle tells of the 'misery and desperation' her killing caused family - North Wales Live (dailypost.co.uk)
• Gypsy jailed for killing Janet Commins says he was a 'scapegoat who fitted the bill' - North Wales Live (dailypost.co.uk)
• Woman Passenger Disarms Taximan Taxi Driver Alan- Greenwood Stopped His Car In A Dark Country Lane and Pul-Leda Knife On | Liverpool Daily Post (Welsh Edition) | Thursday 29 January 1976 | British Newspaper Archive
• Janet Commins: How police caught her killer after 41 years - BBC News
• Stephen Hough jailed for 12 years for Janet Commins killing - BBC News
• Rapist who murdered Janet Commins, 15, escaped justice | Daily Mail Online
• Janet Commins' uncle tells of the 'misery and desperation' her killing caused family - North Wales Live (dailypost.co.uk)
• How it took police over 40 years to catch a killer of a schoolgirl using DNA - Wales Online
• Op_Willow_Final_report.pdf (policeconduct.gov.uk)
• Sentencing remarks of The Honourable Mr Justice Lewis: R -v- Stephen Hough (judiciary.uk)
• Man jailed over Janet Commins murder denies telling girlfriend he did it - North Wales Live (dailypost.co.uk)

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Remembering Janet