Winston Silcott
Encyclopedia
Winston Silcott is a British man of Afro-Caribbean
(Montserrat
) descent, who, as one of the "Tottenham Three", was convicted in March 1987 for the murder of PC Keith Blakelock on the night of 6 October 1985 during the Broadwater Farm riot
in north London. All three convictions were quashed on 25 November 1991 after scientific tests suggested the men's confessions had been fabricated.
Silcott subsequently received compensation of £50,000 for his wrongful conviction.
Two of the investigating police officers were prosecuted for fabricating evidence but were acquitted in 1994. Silcott received a further £50,000 in compensation from the Metropolitan Police
in an out-of-court settlement which ended a civil action against the force for malicious prosecution.
Silcott's other convictions include murder, burglary and malicious wounding.
Silcott served 18 years imprisonment for the murder of boxer
and reputed gangster Tony Smith, for which he was on bail when Blakelock was killed. Silcott claimed that he killed Smith in self defence
. He was released from Blantyre House Prison
in October 2003. Silcott had also spent 6 months in prison for assault in a nightclub prior to his conviction for the murder of Smith.
In March 2007, he was found guilty of theft from shops for a second time since his release from prison. After his initial arrest he was held in police cells for two days for failing to reveal his real address.
British African-Caribbean community
The British African Caribbean communities are residents of the United Kingdom who are of West Indian background and whose ancestors were primarily indigenous to Africa...
(Montserrat
Montserrat
Montserrat is a British overseas territory located in the Leeward Islands, part of the chain of islands called the Lesser Antilles in the West Indies. This island measures approximately long and wide, giving of coastline...
) descent, who, as one of the "Tottenham Three", was convicted in March 1987 for the murder of PC Keith Blakelock on the night of 6 October 1985 during the Broadwater Farm riot
Broadwater Farm riot
The Broadwater Farm riot occurred around the Broadwater Farm area of Tottenham, North London, on 6 October 1985.The events of the day were dominated by two deaths. The first was that of Cynthia Jarrett, an African-Caribbean woman who died the previous day from a stroke during a police search of her...
in north London. All three convictions were quashed on 25 November 1991 after scientific tests suggested the men's confessions had been fabricated.
Silcott subsequently received compensation of £50,000 for his wrongful conviction.
Two of the investigating police officers were prosecuted for fabricating evidence but were acquitted in 1994. Silcott received a further £50,000 in compensation from the Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
in an out-of-court settlement which ended a civil action against the force for malicious prosecution.
Silcott's other convictions include murder, burglary and malicious wounding.
Silcott served 18 years imprisonment for the murder of boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
and reputed gangster Tony Smith, for which he was on bail when Blakelock was killed. Silcott claimed that he killed Smith in self defence
Self-defense
Self-defense, self-defence or private defense is a countermeasure that involves defending oneself, one's property or the well-being of another from physical harm. The use of the right of self-defense as a legal justification for the use of force in times of danger is available in many...
. He was released from Blantyre House Prison
Blantyre House (HM Prison)
HM Prison Blantyre House is a Category C/D men's prison, located on the outskirts of Goudhurst in Kent, England. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service.-History:...
in October 2003. Silcott had also spent 6 months in prison for assault in a nightclub prior to his conviction for the murder of Smith.
In March 2007, he was found guilty of theft from shops for a second time since his release from prison. After his initial arrest he was held in police cells for two days for failing to reveal his real address.
External links
- Winston Silcott: An infamous past (BBC NewsBBC NewsBBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
, 20 October 2003) - Interview (The ObserverThe ObserverThe Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
, 18 January 2004) - Silcott in bid to cut youth crime (BBC News, 16 August 2005)