In this edition: an explanation of the new format; arrest in the Harry Pitman murder; jail terms handed down for Jack Norton murder; murder conviction in Ryan Watson case
Hello, Serial Investigations Case Files subscribers! It’s been a minute.
I’ve been turning over and over in my mind what I want to do with this publication. In the meantime, more of you have been signing up to follow me, so thank you for that! For a good percentage of you this will be the first email you receive from me.
And it’s the first of a new format, so I hope that doesn’t send you instantly running for the hills. I’ve finally landed, I think, on a format that will work for me. In a nutshell, it had to be:
Not something that would take up too much time, as I’m so busy already
Not something that would suck the joy out of the work for me
Something that I could update without feeling like I HAD TO rush and get another newsletter out
I’m already doing weekly posts over on
, so this is not going to be that. Instead, please allow me to introduce Lunch Time Crime, your new missive on a semi-regular basis.Here’s how it works:
I write a short piece designed to be read in your lunch break based around breaking or updated UK crime news (mostly murders and disappearances). Over time, we’ll be following cases live as they develop
There’s no schedule, except to say that I will be posting updates around 12pm UK time (ready for lunch). No regular dates, no set intervals, just a new update whenever I have the time and find something interesting to talk about
I don’t intend to include opinion or speculation in my posts. I will simply present the facts. I don’t want to be exploitative or insensitive, and we all know what can happen when an armchair detective thinks they’ve found some major break on a case but instead they’re just ruining someone’s life.
I don’t plan on including sources simply because I won’t include many quotes and will look at multiple sources for each post. The sources section could end up being longer than the post itself. Any relevant sources and media will be linked.
This will continue until I a) run out of free time, b) get bored or start to dislike the format, or c) I think of something even better to replace it with.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the new format below today’s updates, which are coming next.
A 16-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of Harry Pitman.
Pitman was fatally stabbed on New Year’s Eve on Primrose Hill, where crowds had gathered to watch the annual firework display. He had met with friends near the viewing platform when the incident happened. Pitman died shortly before midnight despite attendance from police and paramedics.
The accused is said to be from Westminster and is also charged with possession of an offensive weapon. His name has not been revealed due to his young age. He is expected to appear again at the Old Bailey on Tuesday.
A 17-year-old boy who was arrested on suspicion of murder along with the 16-year-old has been released on bail. Three other boys aged 15, 16, and 18 have been released without charge.
Two teens have been jailed for the murder of a third near Walsall in December.
Brandon Price, 19 (18 at the time of the attack) and a 16-year-old who cannot legally be named were handed minimum terms of 20 years and 15 years respectively. They were also convicted of possession of a bladed article but no time was added to their sentences for this offence. They will be eligible for parole in 19 and 14 years due to time served while on remand.
Their victim was Jack Norton, also known as Jack Lowe, who was 18 at the time of his death. The motivation behind the attack has not become clear.
Chillingly, the killers were heard celebrating as they ran out of the park, shouting “You didn’t think we’d… do it, we’ve done it, we’ve done it.”
Price had been released from prison for violent offences just 3 months prior to the attack. The defence teams argued that their young clients came from unstable backgrounds with mental difficulties.
23-year-old Alice Wood has been convicted of murder, despite pleading not guilty, after the death of Ryan Watson, 24, on the 6th of May 2022. She will be sentenced to life in prison on the 29th of January.
The pair were a couple engaged in a row after a party when they left to drive home. Later in the night, near their home, Watson was struck three times by Wood’s car. The third time, he was also dragged for up to 525ft under the car, resulting in his death.
The row and subsequent attack were reportedly provoked by flirtatious behaviour between Watson and another woman at the party. It later escalated during a row over who should be the one to drive them home. Both had been drinking.
Wood claimed it was an accident and that she did not realise he was trapped under the car as she drove away; the jury, however, came to a unanimous verdict of guilty.
When she stopped her car, Wood asked a nearby passerby to “please phone an ambulance, I think I’ve run over my boyfriend”. Video has been released of the party, the attack, and Alice’s arrest.
That’s all for today. Please provide any tips or updates you wish to see included in future updates in the comments, and like this post if you want to see more like it.