Coster Geraldine

Timothy John Evans, a Welsh lorry driver, was convicted in January 1950 of murdering his infant daughter, Geraldine, and his wife, Beryl, and was executed by hanging on March 9, 1950. During his trial, Evans implicated his downstairs neighbor, John Christie, who was the primary witness against him. Three years after Evans's execution, Christie was exposed as a serial killer responsible for multiple murders in the same residence, including that of his wife, Ethel. Christie confessed to murdering Mrs. Evans. An official inquiry in 1966 concluded that Christie had indeed murdered Geraldine, leading to Evans receiving a posthumous pardon. Although a legal attempt to officially overturn Evans's conviction was dismissed in 2004 due to cost, the court acknowledged his innocence. The case is widely regarded as a grave miscarriage of justice and contributed to reforms in capital punishment law.

Born in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, Timothy John Evans faced early adversity, including his father's abandonment and learning difficulties exacerbated by a childhood foot injury. These challenges resulted in low literacy skills into adulthood, though he could read simple texts. Evans developed a tendency to invent stories to enhance his self-esteem, a trait that later complicated his interactions with authorities. He moved to London with his mother and stepfather, working as a painter and decorator. After a brief stint in the coal mines, he returned to London, eventually settling in Notting Hill, near his future residence at 10 Rillington Place.

Timothy Evans married Beryl Susanna Thorley in 1947. The couple lived in a flat at 10 Rillington Place, with their downstairs neighbors being John and Ethel Christie. Their marriage was marked by frequent and loud quarrels, often concerning financial difficulties, Evans's infidelity, and Beryl's housekeeping. Witnesses described Evans as having a violent temper and physically assaulting his wife on several occasions. In 1949, Beryl became pregnant with their second child, and due to the family's financial struggles, they agreed to an abortion, which Christie offered to perform.

Evans was arrested after reporting his wife's death to the police in November 1949. His initial confession claimed he accidentally killed Beryl during an attempted abortion and disposed of her body. He later changed his story, implicating John Christie in performing the abortion, stating Beryl died, and that Christie would arrange for their daughter Geraldine to be cared for. Police found the bodies of Beryl and Geraldine strangled in the wash-house. Evans was shown the victims' clothing and informed of their strangulation, at which point he confessed to killing them himself. Authors have questioned the validity of this confession, suggesting police coercion, the late-night interrogation of an emotionally distressed man, and the potential for police phrasing influencing the statement of an illiterate individual.

Following Evans's execution, John Christie was revealed to be a serial killer and confessed to murdering Mrs. Evans. An official inquiry in 1966 concluded Christie was responsible for Geraldine's death, leading to Evans's posthumous pardon. While a 2004 legal bid to quash Evans's conviction was dismissed on procedural grounds, the court acknowledged his innocence. The case, alongside others, significantly influenced the restriction and eventual abolition of capital punishment in the UK, contributing to legal reforms like the introduction of diminished responsibility.