00:00:00
on November 26 2010 a mother was faced with her worst nightmare in a small town on the Michigan Ohio border three boys
00:00:09
went missing Andrew Alexander and Tanner Skelton were with their father for the Thanksgiving holiday he was supposed to
00:00:17
drop them off at their mother's the next day that didn't happen and she hasn't seen her son since that was almost a
00:00:25
decade ago and we still have no answers on what the father did with these kids hear the whole story and find out why
00:00:32
investigators are closer than ever to solving this case listen to shattered a Black Friday podcast wherever you listen
00:00:39
to podcasts [Music] our episodes deal with serious and often distressing incidents if you feel at
00:00:59
anytime you need support please contact your local crisis center for suggested phone numbers for confidential support
00:01:05
please see the show notes for this episode on your app or on our website today's episode deals with a crime
00:01:13
committed against the child that won't be suitable for all listeners 9 year old Sarah not her real name left her home in
00:01:24
the turf Hill estate to meet her best friend she lived a short walk from Leslie mal Said's family on Delamere
00:01:30
Road and - both girls had gone to the same school the day was July 3rd 1976 into the fear that plagued Rochdale in
00:01:40
the wake of Leslie's noda had long since faded child killer Stefan kishka was in
00:01:45
custody his trial would begin in four days time doors were left unlocked and children were allowed out unsupervised
00:01:53
again life had returned to normal in the semi-industrial end of Rochdale was of oversaw Street a gray brick road encased
00:02:03
by rod stiles trademark terraces it was a quiet lonely street with minimal traffic Sarah would often meet there
00:02:11
with her friend to play on this occasion the two chased each other in a game of tag
00:02:17
a red taxi pulled into the street and crawled along the curb rolling to a stop beside the girls inside the vehicle was
00:02:25
a lone male driver Sara didn't give him a second thought assuming the taxi was hailed by a
00:02:31
neighborhood appear any second it wasn't until the driver emerged from the vehicle that a girl sensed something was
00:02:39
wrong he was walking toward them not the house when he got to arm's length he lunged her friend managed to flee the
00:02:51
Sara was grabbed and forced into the taxi after he slammed the door shut she reached for the handle but it was
00:02:59
locked the attacker left into the driver's seat and in seconds the taxi was speeding away Sara yelled over and
00:03:07
over I want to go home let me go each time her attacker responded no you're not going
00:03:18
he drove through Rochdale suburban streets with clear familiarity pulling up near a park at a derelict and B house
00:03:25
Sarah was quickly forced inside half an hour into the attack Sarah violently kicked the man in the leg he
00:03:35
faltered and she took the split-second opportunity to escape Sarah ran home and told her mother what had happened
00:03:43
Rochdale police were called immediately suffering severe trauma Sarah had difficulty remembering the exact details
00:03:51
of what happened in the house she did recall her attacker exposed his genitals and masturbated there was no evidence of
00:03:58
penetrative sexual attack but semen staining was found on her clothing she described her attacker as Caucasian
00:04:05
Ariana 30 years old with a stocky build and receding ginger red hair Sarah climbed into a police car with her
00:04:14
mother and took officers along the route the taxi had driven as they drove beyond
00:04:19
turf Hills narrow leafy streets she sprung up anxiously the red taxi was right there on the road in front of them
00:04:28
in the front seat was the ginger-haired suspect police swooped in nine days later on July 12 Sara's
00:04:39
attacker was brought before Rochdale Magistrates Court he pled guilty to indecent assault and incitement to
00:04:45
commit an act of gross indecency for his brazen and traumatic crime he was only ordered to pay a fallen of fifty pounds
00:04:53
he left the court of freemen this attack bore a chilling resemblance to the Leslie mole seed attack which had
00:05:02
occurred almost nine months earlier both were young girls residents of the turf Hill estate who were snatched off
00:05:09
Rochdale streets within a few kilometers of each other they were both taken to a
00:05:14
secluded location and sexually assaulted in an identical manner that almost seemed to unique to be just a
00:05:20
coincidence had Sara not taken the chance to escape both crimes may have ended the same way but no connection was
00:05:30
made between the two attacks they couldn't be connected police had already caught Lesley Marseille to kill
00:05:37
[Laughter] [Music] behind bars Stefan Kisco was the lowest of the low a convicted pedophile who murdered his
00:06:10
victim despised by the prison population they taunted and threatened him constantly
00:06:16
soon after arriving he was set upon by a group of inmates in another attack he was struck on the head with a mock
00:06:24
handle needing stitches even the prison chapel wasn't safe there Stefan was punched in the face he
00:06:33
received a little sympathy from prison staff who put the blame on Stefan noting he was being difficult
00:06:40
he was often placed in segregation for his own safety in May 1978 nearly two years after his murder conviction Stefan
00:06:50
Kish goes legal team launched an appeal they push to get Stefan's conviction downgraded from murder to manslaughter
00:06:57
on the grounds of diminished responsibility Lord Justice Nigel bridge ruled quote we can find no grounds
00:07:06
whatsoever to condemn the jury's verdict of murder as in any way unsafe or unsatisfactory the appeal is dismissed
00:07:16
in prison Stefan's mental state deteriorated diagnosed with depression paranoia and emotional instability he'd
00:07:25
often withdraw into a catatonic like silence he struggled to think or act independently
00:07:32
eventually he refused food and soiled himself as punishment he was sent to the strip cell where he had little else but
00:07:41
a concrete slab for a bed years passed and Stefan's mind drifted further from reality showing signs of schizophrenic
00:07:51
delusions he spoke of hearing coded messages through the radio and obsessed over the numbers 5 & 8 the fifth was the
00:07:59
day Leslie disappeared the eighth was the day her body was found Stefan believed he was part of a
00:08:07
government experiment at his lowest point he suspected his own mother was in on the scheme prison doctors had to
00:08:15
prescribe him tranquilizers to cope unless he admitted to the murder of Leslie mal seed Stefan knew he would
00:08:23
spend the rest of his life in prison parole officers and psychiatrists tried to coax a confession
00:08:30
they offered Stefan a sex offenders treatment program that would fast-track him to parole but Stefan refused the
00:08:37
offer psychiatrists concluded Stefan's mental instability and delusions allowed him to
00:08:44
maintain false ideas of innocence Sunday's were once predictable for Charlotte kishka
00:08:52
in the morning she rose early and attended mass afterwards she'd buy fresh flowers and take them to her husband's
00:09:00
grave at the Rochdale Cemetery Stefan was always with her Charlotte didn't drive so he drove her around town after
00:09:10
the cemetery they'd stop by a grocery store on Tweeddale Street which sold German food remaining Charlotte of her
00:09:16
childhood Charlotte always maintained that they did this weekly ritual on the Sunday that Leslie mole seed was
00:09:24
abducted behind her motherly warmness was a resolved tough as concrete Charlotte enjoyed charred wood in
00:09:33
nazi-occupied Slovenia then fled the Soviet Army setting course for England in Rochdale she picked up work at the
00:09:41
cotton mills it was tough work that took its toll but she persisted the community
00:09:49
saw her as a kind and intelligent woman she took pride in herself and her home where everyone was welcomed with open
00:09:55
arms and a glass of fortified wine despite her gentle disposition Charlotte had immense inner strength as she left
00:10:05
cord on the day of Stefan's conviction abuse was hurled at her but she remained firm in her belief that Stefan was
00:10:12
innocent twice a month Charlotte made the ATO a return bus trip from Rochdale to Wakefield prison she would have seen
00:10:20
Stefan more often if prison regulation allowed at first the Rochdale community viewed her with sympathy a naive mother
00:10:29
unwilling to face the harsh truth but it didn't take long for people to grow tired her incessant proclamations of
00:10:37
Stefan's innocence grated on them pity turned to resentment and Charlotte was ostracized
00:10:48
for over a decade charlotte campaigned to have her son's conviction reviewed stonewalled by police politicians the
00:10:56
prime minister and even the queen charlotte eventually contacted justice a uk-based human rights and more reform
00:11:03
organization from there she was put in touch with a manchester solicitor named campbell malone skeptical at first
00:11:13
malone was drawn to Charlotte's intensity and adamant that her son was innocent so he agreed to look into
00:11:19
Stefan's conviction malone expected that his investigation would reinforce the guilty verdict but it wasn't long before
00:11:27
he felt things weren't adding up he put together a small investigation team of two law students and a private eye
00:11:35
malone also sought help from philip clay the junior counsel for Stefan's defense
00:11:40
at trial clegg had lurking doubts that Stefan was guilty while Malone's team didn't find anything that absolved
00:11:49
Stefan they did discover errors made during his trial a worrying amount of circumstantial evidence was relied on as
00:11:56
conclusive proof and the most problematic for Stefan was an inadequate effort from his own legal defence team
00:12:02
to argue his innocence malone detailed his concerns in a petition urging that Stefan's case be reopened on October 26
00:12:13
1989 the file was sent to the Home Secretary where it languished for a year but Malone kept pushing hard for action
00:12:22
and finally his efforts paid off on November 26 1990 West Yorkshire Police detective Superintendent Trevor
00:12:33
Wilkinson was handed a file marked confidential on the front was the name Stefan kishka Wilkinson didn't work the
00:12:43
Mulsanne murder investigation but he knew other officers who did he had no reason to doubt the work of his
00:12:49
colleagues and friends if they reached the conclusion that Stefan kishka killed Leslie mole seed
00:12:56
then he must have done thumbing through the documents that looked like routine stuff a rehash of the investigation and
00:13:05
conviction Wilkinson conceded that the investigating police may have been heavy-handed in their approach to
00:13:11
illicit Stefan's confession but by that stage there was already enough evidence pointing to Stefan as the killer
00:13:19
Stefan's confession wasn't tape recorded only handwritten notes existed recording
00:13:26
wasn't legally required in 1975 without an arrest and Stefan had attended the police station voluntarily his arrest
00:13:34
came after he made his confession a break in questioning was the first time Stefan admitted to killing Leslie
00:13:42
Detective Sergeant John Ackroyd was the only officer supervising him at the time
00:13:46
without a recording to prove it Wilkinson had to take Ackroyd's word but he had since passed away the services of
00:13:57
an attorney were not offered to Stefan during his questioning but again it was only mandatory to do so after an arrest
00:14:05
there were no implications Stefan was mistreated by the investigating police and Stefan had made no formal complaint
00:14:13
regarding his treatment yet as Wilkinson continued to read Stefan's file he heard
00:14:20
a faint alarm bell ringing from the back of his mind inside the fall was a statement written
00:14:31
by Stefan's general practitioner dr. George de vars months prior to Leslie's murder
00:14:37
Stefan fractured his ankle he was also overweight and had an awkward gait in builted diverses opinion it would have
00:14:45
been near impossible for Stefan to scale the lay-by hillside dragging a child behind him as though as Lee's killer had
00:14:53
done dr. Davis was never called to give evidence at Stefan's trial [Music] Maria Baron had also provided a
00:15:04
statement to police Murray around the continental grocers on Tweeddale Street the Charlotte and
00:15:09
Stephan regularly visited to buy German food Charlotte was adamant she and Stefan were at the store at the time
00:15:16
Lesley was abducted during the murder investigation Maria actually confirmed Stefan's alibi but investigating police
00:15:26
told her she wouldn't be required to appear at Stefan's trial she found it strange but believed her statement was
00:15:33
enough after being told she wouldn't be needed at court Maria went ahead with holiday plans when Stefan's court
00:15:42
proceedings began the defense asked for someone from the store to testify but Maria was now overseas her daughter also
00:15:50
worked in the store so she appeared instead however Maria's daughter couldn't confirm Stefan's alibi
00:15:58
Maria's statement was never read in court for reasons unknown during the late stages of Stefan's trial a juror
00:16:09
informed the judge of a serious problem when the court was adjourned for lunch she overheard a conversation between
00:16:16
officials they were discussing how the defense counsel advised stephan to plead guilty
00:16:22
I do remember hearing misinformation was considered highly prejudicial and a conflict of interest she should have
00:16:30
been discharged from jury duty but she wasn't during the time of Leslie's disappearance two suspicious vehicles
00:16:40
were sighted in turf Hill Estate and who they were also spotted parked at the lay-by where Leslie was found one was a
00:16:48
cream-colored 1964 Vauxhall Viva the other a turquoise Morris Minor 1000 minivan the cars were
00:16:56
never identified and inquiries to find the owners ended the moment Stefan Kish Co was in custody Rossdale resident Emma
00:17:05
Tong saw a girl in the Vauxhall favour she knew as early mal Sade by sight and she was adamant the girl in the car was
00:17:13
Lesley Emma appeared at Stefan's trial the judge accepted her as an entirely honest and careful witness her testimony
00:17:23
was highly valuable in Stefan's defence as he drove a bronze Hillman Avenger the
00:17:28
judge told the jury that if they believed in his testimony then Stefan Kisch code must be acquitted however the
00:17:37
defense weren't given in a statement until day one of the trial there was no explanation why this information was not
00:17:44
disclosed to them earlier they were not given to properly investigate the cream Vauxhall Viva or the turquoise Morris
00:17:51
minivan Stephan's legal team could have and should have sort in a German to conduct
00:17:57
an investigation but they didn't the alarm bells were now deafening detective Trevor Wilkinson couldn't ignore them
00:18:08
anymore he compiled a small team of police officers whose integrity he trusted they were instructed to
00:18:15
reinvestigate Stefan Kish cows conviction solicitor Campbell Malone wrote to Stefan at Wakefield Prison to
00:18:22
give him the good news but Stefan's response was hollow he wrote back I hope you and the detectives
00:18:30
are getting somewhere Wilkinson's team visited Rochdale they walked to the route Leslie took from her
00:18:37
home to stay up slain the isolated alley where she was last seen from there they
00:18:43
drove to the Labour and scaled the hillside to the embankment with the greater more personal understanding of
00:18:50
Leslie's final journey Wilkinson and his team were ready to start ray interviewing witnesses
00:18:56
Emma Tong was now 82 years old and even after a decade and a half she was still certain a girl she saw in the Vauxhall
00:19:05
Viva that Sunday afternoon in 1975 was Leslie mal seed Christopher Coverdale was the only witness to say a man and a
00:19:15
girl on the lay-by the afternoon of October 5 1975 his description of the girl matched Leslie mal seed and he
00:19:23
described the man as plump between the ages of 30 and 35 with light brown or fair colored hair it wasn't a stretch to
00:19:32
link these descriptions to Stefan kishka Stefan was overweight looked older than
00:19:37
his age and had short brown hair Christopher also recalled that the man's hair was receding although Stefan wasn't
00:19:46
going bald he did have a large forehead which may have been misidentified as a receding hairline however Christopher
00:19:54
also described the men on the laborer as being about 5 foot 6 inches tall this was the big difference to Stefan
00:20:01
who had a towering six foot two inch frame dr. David Andersson was a hormone treatment specialist Stefan was referred
00:20:12
to him in late 1975 suffering from hypogonadism dr. Andersson prescribed Stefan primo testing a drug containing
00:20:21
testosterone supplied via injections every three weeks the prosecution argued that these injections resulted in overly
00:20:30
aggressive and sexual behavior leading to Lesley mal Seeds murder but dr. Andersson had spoken to both the
00:20:37
prosecution and defense prior to Stefan's trial he explained the Stefan's medication only exacerbated existing
00:20:46
aggressive tendencies it did not create them and Stefan was widely regarded as a
00:20:51
gentle joy a statement by dr. Andersson was read out at Stefan's trial but it was not called to testify he believed
00:21:01
this was because his views didn't serve either side the prosecution argued the drugs turned Stefan into a sex-crazed
00:21:09
murderer and that was an argument that suited the defense as a diminished Stefan's responsibility the dr.
00:21:17
Anderson's evidence proved them both wrong days before Leslie's abduction on the night of Friday October 3rd 1975 an
00:21:29
indecent exposure incident near the Kingsway Park youth club was recorded to police in his first since redacted
00:21:37
confession Stefan told police he was the men exposing himself to children that know however there was another
00:21:44
explanation for this event Morris home was out driving on the night of October 3rd when he urgently needed to urinate
00:21:52
it was late so his options were limited he pulled over and searched for somewhere private to relieve himself
00:21:59
believing the empty and shadowy parklands were ideal several girls stumbled across him they
00:22:06
saw his penis and ran away shrieking thinking no one would believe the truth Morris ran to his vehicle and left the
00:22:14
scene when a similar incident was linked to Stephon kishka Morris worried that it
00:22:20
was actually his incident that Stephan was being blamed for swallowing his fear and embarrassment Morris went to the
00:22:27
police they took a statement but it was never mentioned in Stefan's trial there were large discrepancies between Morris
00:22:37
Holmes statement and the young witnesses the girls involved made the situation sound alarming a man left out in front
00:22:45
of them dropped his pants exposed his penis and threatened something along the lines of come here and let me Ram this
00:22:51
up you was the incident a simple misunderstanding where a threatening sexual assault determined to find out
00:23:00
Wilkinson's team tracked down the girls involved Kathryn Burke was now 31 years old
00:23:09
Wilkinson's team was shocked when she openly admitted she lied in 1975 Katherine never saw him and exposed
00:23:16
himself and had never heard a threat pamela horn was now 33 years old Pamela had also lied she admitted she did not
00:23:27
see the man's penis she was only told about it she said she got carried away and went along with the
00:23:32
other girls reflecting on the untruthful accounts you gave police in 1975 p.m. Ella said it was foolish but we were
00:23:42
young and it was a confusing situation [Music] Pamela's false statement police about
00:23:49
the incident was read out in Stefan's trial it appeared Morris home statement was
00:23:55
true the girls just stumbled across him urinating Stephon Kish Co had nothing to
00:24:01
do with the youth club incident Wilkinson's team were keen to investigate the other indecent exposure
00:24:07
allegation made against stephan kishka it was the incident involving Maxine Buckley who became the star witness for
00:24:14
the prosecution in Kish Coast trial she positively identified Stephon as the man
00:24:19
who exposed himself to her and a friend in Vava sauce tree on October 4th 1975 she stated he appeared infront of them
00:24:28
opened his coat exposed these genitals then ran away Wilkinson's team now had serious doubts
00:24:35
about Maxine's story she described a man wearing a green Parker but Stefan didn't
00:24:41
own a green parka she said the man took off running did Stefan couldn't run due to his ankle
00:24:47
injury awkward gait and lack of fitness Maxine never spoke with Wilkinson's team
00:24:53
so they couldn't get to the bottom of her story Wilkinson's team then intricately picked
00:25:03
apart Stefan's confession Stefan had stated some facts that were only known to the most senior detectives working
00:25:10
the case this included unusual details such as no occurrence of rape Lesley's attacker ejaculated on the
00:25:17
outside of her underwear into the murder weapon was wiped clean on her body yet a woman was overheard discussing
00:25:25
these confidential facts in a public place while Leslie's murder investigation was still under way the
00:25:31
leak was traced to her husband a Rochdale police officer were still he was not even assigned to the case so if
00:25:40
he knew the details others would have known as well Stefan's interrogation lasted two days before he confessed
00:25:50
Stephan was asked hundreds of questions regarding the murder and there's a very likely possibility he shaped his
00:25:56
confession on details police revealed in their questioning when he came across information he didn't know Stephan would
00:26:04
say his memory was hazy other details he actually had completely wrong Stephan confessed he went hazy and stabbed
00:26:13
Leslie in the neck but Leslie's 12 wounds were centralized in her back The Smoking Gun that puts Stephan kishka at
00:26:23
the crime scene was written on a piece of paper police had found it in the glove box of his car Stephan recorded
00:26:31
the registration number of a vehicle that had passed the lay-by around the time of Leslie's abduction the
00:26:38
registration number was on a list of other registration numbers Stephan had written down but this one stood out
00:26:44
because it was written in red ink ADK 539 Oh Stefan couldn't explain why he'd written this registration number down
00:26:54
but he could explain all the others the original investigators believed he had written it down because he saw it past
00:27:01
the lay-by while he was there with Leslie Wilkinson's team found the person who owned the car in 1975 they offered
00:27:10
nothing new confirming they had driven past the lay-by around at the time Leslie was abducted
00:27:15
but Wilkinson's team went a step further they found the previous owner of the vehicle and this person proved crucial
00:27:25
the previous owner often parked in the same lot Stephan used for work and Stefan said he recorded registration
00:27:33
details of vehicles that bothered him maybe this vehicle had bothered Stefan in his work parking lot and he recorded
00:27:41
the registration plate long before the murder of Leslie mole seed Wilkinson's team had revealed a number
00:27:49
of failings in Stefan's trial there were errors and discrepancies in the vital information when ignored uninvestigated
00:27:56
or inadequately defended keen to take advantage of DNA testing advancements Wilkinson wanted to save Stefan was a
00:28:05
DNA match to the semen on lesli mal Said's clothes testing like this didn't exist in the 1970s and the result would
00:28:13
make or break Stefan's case prior to trial the semen found at the crime scene was determined to have come from an
00:28:21
infertile man and a Jew to his hypogonadism Stefan Kisco was infertile clothing Lesley mol seat wore the day of
00:28:32
her murder was destroyed in 1985 however samples of the semen were placed on five
00:28:37
microscopic slides Wilkinson's team visited the lab where the samples were stored only to find
00:28:45
that they were missing Wilkinson's hopes of conducting a DNA comparison were dashed
00:28:52
they had one avenue left though to sift through all the files and data from the original forensic tests to try and find
00:29:00
something worthwhile while studying the data they found a handwritten note on the edge of a page the note stated the
00:29:09
semen sample from the crime scene had a positive H sperm count although positive H is a link to team
00:29:17
fertility those with positive H still have sperm even if the count is very low yet testing proved Stefan had a sperm
00:29:28
count of zero Ronald outer Ridge was the lead forensic scientist for the mole seed murder
00:29:34
investigation now retired he agreed to meet with wilkinson when asked about the positive edge sperm count in the sample
00:29:43
from the crime scene Eider each became defensive the data also showed that forensics had
00:29:50
collected 14 microscopic slides of Stefan's semen sample it was clear his samples had been examined thoroughly and
00:29:57
repeatedly and each test proved his sperm count was zero Wilkinson believed outrage was urged by
00:30:05
the original investigators to keep testing Stefan's semen to try and find a trace of sperm that's why there were so
00:30:12
many samples when a der each failed he simply stated the sample from the crime scene was from an infertile man and
00:30:21
Stefan was an infertile man it wasn't a lie but it was a deception the semen sample from the crime scene was linked
00:30:31
to Dean fertility but it still had a sperm count Stefan's sperm count was zero adhiraj
00:30:41
did not the allegation he was deceptive with the result Wilkinson pressed him on other forensic
00:30:47
evidence connecting Stefan to the crime scene specifically fibers found on Leslie's
00:30:52
clothing that matched the carpet in Stefan's car add originated the fibers were not unique and other foreign fibers
00:31:00
found on Leslie's body were not linked to Stefan or his car also the Penton found at the crime scene that matched
00:31:08
pens used the Stefan's workplace was a standard common felt-tip pen there were no distinguishing features to prove a
00:31:16
belonged to Stefan Wilkinson's team compiled a 50 page report of their investigation cross-referencing three
00:31:25
large volumes of statements they were convinced that not only did Stefan kishka receive an unfair trial but he
00:31:33
was not Lesley mal Said's killer based on the evidence he should never have been charged an innocent man was
00:31:40
imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit Leslee mal Said's killer was still at large
00:31:59
thank you for listening to today's episode not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to listen to podcasts though
00:32:06
an estimated 5% of the world's population 432 million adults and 34 million children have disabling hearing
00:32:15
loss the Starkey Hearing Foundation provides hearing aids and hearing related health care to millions of
00:32:21
patients in over 100 countries empowering them to achieve their full potential Afghanistan Cambodia El
00:32:28
Salvador India and Peru are just a few of the countries where the Starkey Hearing Foundation has provided aid the
00:32:36
impact of hearing loss not only affects the individual but their family community country and of the world at
00:32:42
large this month Starkey Hearing Foundation and audio boom are launching the listening campaign and - they're
00:32:49
asking case file listeners to help them reach their $25,000 fundraising goal funds raised from the listening campaign
00:32:57
will support the next round of global outreach you can help Starkey Hearing Foundation reach their $25,000 goal by
00:33:04
donating to the listening campaign today to give the gift of hearing go to listen
00:33:09
in campaign org that's lis ta n ayan CA MP a ign.com campaign org to give the gift of hearing
00:33:25
today today's episode is brought to you by Casper case file listeners are invited
00:33:32
to take advantage of Casper's competitive limited time Memorial Day sale offer what better way to listen to
00:33:38
case file then on a new Casper mattress there are three mattress lines to choose
00:33:43
from the original Casper mattress combines multiple supportive memory foams for a quality night's sleep
00:33:49
surface with the right amounts of both sync and balance the wave mattress features a patent-pending premium
00:33:55
support system to mirror the natural shape of your body and to the essential mattress has a streamlined design at a
00:34:02
price that won't keep you up at night you can be sure of your purchase with Casper's 109 risk-free sleep on a trial
00:34:09
and if you're not completely satisfied returns are hassle free start your summer off right by choosing the
00:34:16
Internet's favorite mattress this Memorial Day it's also the favorite mattress of case file producer of mic
00:34:21
medias at first starting work on case file kept Mike awake at night but now he's found casper sleepless nights are a
00:34:30
thing of the past take advantage of Casper's competitive limited on Memorial Day sale offer by visiting Casper
00:34:37
dot-com slash savings and received ten percent off your order with any mattress purchase this special offer expires May
00:34:44
29th 2018 terms and conditions apply again for 10 percent off your order with any
00:34:51
mattress purchase go to kasa.com slash savings special offer expires may 29th 2018
00:35:06
in February 1992 a judicial investigation into Stefan kishkes conviction began three judges listened
00:35:15
to arguments for and against Stefan's guilt when the defense presented wilkinson's new evidence the prosecution
00:35:22
didn't argue any over the judge has reached a decision the following day Lord Chief Justice Lane quote it has
00:35:31
been shown that this man cannot produce burn this man can not have been the person responsible for ejaculating over
00:35:38
the girls knickers and skirt and consequently cannot have been the murderer justice Lane ordered Stefan
00:35:45
Kish goes and mediate release from custody he had been in prison for 16 years Stefan's suicide out Campbell
00:35:54
Malone recalled the moment quote when I sat in court listening to the judgement it was a uniquely emotional experience
00:36:02
I've never felt it before or since Stefan received no apology for expression of regret from any solicitors
00:36:11
investigators or witnesses whose actions led to his conviction West Yorkshire Police admitted they were wrong but
00:36:18
defended the position they took in 1975 Stefan's defense team said that if the evidence found after his imprisonment
00:36:26
was known at trial the outcome would have been different two days after the verdict Stefan kishka
00:36:33
fronted the press he embraced his mother before the cameras and said my mother had been great she had been very
00:36:41
supportive that was very important to me I did not want to lose her because of the crime of which I was convicted mum
00:36:49
had given me every confidence Stefan spoke of the years in prison referring to them as hell quote it's been a
00:36:59
nightmare situation to be honest prisons being very difficult the whole situation
00:37:04
in the police station was a very difficult one it's been intolerable I'll feel angry towards the police the
00:37:11
way they handled all of it because they should never have arrested me they should have arrested the right person I
00:37:17
always believed in my own innocence I didn't lose faith that I would be acquitted I always believed to the
00:37:25
courts would come on my side I had faith in British justice I still have that faith they just wanted somebody to go
00:37:32
down as a mud in a way I was framed because the detectives told me to get it wrapped up in time for Christmas Stefan
00:37:43
remained in hospital for psychiatric treatment 12 weeks later he was able to return home for the first time in 16
00:37:50
years his room had been kept just as he had left it hundreds of letters from supporters around the world were waiting
00:37:58
phim on April 14 1993 Charlotte Kish goes tireless campaigning for her son was formally recognized she was awarded
00:38:08
Rochdale Woman of the year the BBC interviewed Stefan shortly after his release he told them he was enjoying
00:38:15
sleeping in and catching up with old friends he wanted to get married visit Australia and America and to get on with
00:38:22
life as best as he could a claim for compensation was lodged on Stefan's behalf and he was awarded five hundred
00:38:30
thousand pounds pleased to have her son back home Charlotte knew Stefan would never be the same he needed to be
00:38:38
medicated for the mental illness he developed in prison despite Stefan's plans to travel the
00:38:44
world he became a recluse who showed little interest in anything frequent attention from well-wishers frightened
00:38:50
him and he rarely ventured out he'd sit in silence by the window for hours a visiting psychiatrist stated it is
00:39:01
hard to comprehend the enormity of what this man has been subjected to through wrongful conviction aside from the
00:39:07
normal distribution he had been the subject of two serious assaults early in his sentence and has
00:39:17
developed the most crippling of mental illnesses schizophrenia in October 1993 Stefan was diagnosed with angina severe
00:39:28
chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to his heart on the night of December 21st 1993 Stefan kissed his mother
00:39:39
goodnight and went to his room minutes later Charlotte was startled by a thumping crash she rushed to Stefan's
00:39:48
bedroom where she found him pale and motionless on the floor tucking a pillow under his head
00:39:53
Charla whispered his name over and over he didn't respond an ambulance rushed to Stefan to
00:40:01
Rochdale infirmary but it was too late Stefan Kisco died of a heart attack at age 41 less than two years since he's
00:40:11
released from prison Steve pianta of the Manchester Evening News visited Charlotte the day after
00:40:19
Stefan's death despite her sadness she greeted him with warmth Charlotte told him quote there are certain people are
00:40:29
cannot forgive for the way they treated my son there is one police officer in particular who would not only have the
00:40:35
jailing of an innocent man on his conscience but this as well the police took him away three days before
00:40:42
Christmas and two now three days before Christmas again God has taken him at least Stefan will go to his grave with
00:40:52
his name cleared and having some freedom again [Music] On January 5th 1994 Stefan Kisco was
00:41:02
laid to rest alongside his father's grave in Rochdale cemetery father William O'Connor spoke at the funeral
00:41:09
quote the world has failed Stefan but there will be no more pain no more suffering for him now Stefan died before
00:41:20
receiving the 500,000 pounds awarded in compensation for his wrongful conviction
00:41:26
four months later Charlotte Kish code died suddenly those who knew her well believed she kept illness at bay whilst
00:41:35
campaigning for her son's innocence but with him gone she lost her will to live her grave reads a loving wife and a very
00:41:46
devoted mother the compensation money owed for Stefan's wrongful imprisonment was never paid to anyone in July 1994
00:41:58
the lead investigators in the leslie mal seed murder investigation former Chief Superintendent Jack Dibb detective
00:42:06
Superintendent d : and delayed forensic scientist Rinaldi at her age were formally charged with
00:42:12
suppressing evidence in the case against Stefan kishka by this time but D : and Ronald average were retired and to
00:42:20
Jack Dibb had died Poland and outrage blamed all wrongdoing on the deceased Jack Dibb with the passage of time and
00:42:29
the loss of vital exhibits and documents it was determined the charges against Holland and outrage be stayed the case
00:42:37
was never presented before a jury no one was ever held accountable for Stefan Kish goes botched investigation unfair
00:42:44
trial or false imprisonment detective Superintendent Trevor Wilkinson headed the new investigation into the murder of
00:42:54
Leslie mol seed they came across the notes of Detective Sergeant David Paxton who was part of the original
00:43:01
investigation in 1975 Paxton had interviewed a man from taured midden a market town in West Yorkshire about 20
00:43:09
kilometres northeast of Rochdale the man's name was Raymond Hewlett and he'd had a previous conviction for a sex
00:43:16
offense against the Mona on the morning of September 19 1972 Hewlett tricked the 12 year-old neighbor
00:43:24
into his car he drove her to an isolated Road where he pushed the turpentine soaked rag to her face she lost
00:43:31
consciousness and awoke naked on the backseat Hewlett threatened to hunt her down and kill her if she ever told
00:43:38
anyone in January 1973 he pled guilty to rape and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment he was released after 12
00:43:49
what drew detective Paxton to Hulett was that he once owned a Morris Minor 1000 minivan on November 7 1975 one month
00:44:01
after Leslie mal Said's murder Paxton caught up with Hewlett who had just been arrested for theft Hewlett
00:44:08
denied any involvement in the abduction or murder of Leslie he admitted once owning a blue Morris
00:44:14
Minor 1000 minivan but said he had since swapped it for another vehicle when Stephon kishka was arrested for Leslie's
00:44:22
murder detective Paxton indicated he was unhappy having to end his inquiry with Raymond Hewlett three years later
00:44:30
Hewlett attacked a 14 year old girl as she was home alone he pointed a gun and ordered her to an upstairs bedroom she
00:44:38
warned Hewlett her friends would you over any minute into this caused Hewlett to give up on his plan he threatened her
00:44:45
to keep quiet but she reported the attack Hewlett pled guilty and was sentenced to four years but he only
00:44:52
served 16 months before being released a decade later Hewlett kidnapped another 14 year old girl at Northpoint with the
00:45:01
intention to rape her however he prematurely ejaculated onto her jeans cutting his plans sure he
00:45:10
forced the girl into the boot of his car and abandoned her at a quarry he was sentenced to six years for kidnapping
00:45:17
and indecent assault within two years he was granted home leave which he absconded and went on the run Hewlett
00:45:26
was spotted and arrested in September 1991 he was in the company of a woman and her three children the nine-year-old
00:45:34
daughter told police Hewlett had been indecently assaulting her he was returned to prison after Stephon kishka
00:45:42
exoneration Hewlett was questioned again about Leslie mal seeds murder he answered every question no reply
00:45:50
this carried on for several days before police can say that Hewlett would give them nothing on November 6th 1992
00:45:59
Hewlett completed his sentence and was immediately arrested for the murder of Leslie Moll saved upon his release the
00:46:07
arrest didn't work either after four days of unsuccessful interrogation they were forced to release him Hewlett
00:46:15
offered an open hand to an investigating officer and said no hard feelings Hewlett fled overseas remarried and had
00:46:25
six children they lived a nomadic life in the back of a van travelling throughout France Spain and Portugal
00:46:33
Hewlett died of throat cancer in 2010 or the year 2000 Leslie mol seeds killer remained
00:46:44
unidentified the West Yorkshire Police set up a cold case review team under the leadership of Detective Chief
00:46:50
Superintendent max McLean a new forensic examination of the evidence retained from the 1975 crime scene began
00:46:59
the five microscopic slides that help the suspect semen sample were still missing but several pieces of sellotape
00:47:06
were found in the evidence boxes they were immediately tested and to their surprise two pieces of the tape were
00:47:13
found to hold traces of seminal fluid on the de Leslie's body was found forensic
00:47:20
officers sellotaped her clothes to pick up any fibers before they blew away in the wind the tape was the latest stored
00:47:26
away and forgotten until now the two pieces of tape containing seminal fluid had enough genetic material for
00:47:34
scientists in the year 2000 to complete a full DNA profile of Leslie's killer if
00:47:40
there were any lingering doubts about Stephan kishka they were now gone the DNA proved beyond any doubt he was not
00:47:49
Leslie's killer the DNA profile was compared to known suspects members of Leslie's immediate family were ruled out
00:47:58
so was convicted pedophile raymond hewlett some wondered if the Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe could have been
00:48:05
responsible but the DNA proved he wasn't in fact the DNA didn't match anyone it belonged to a man completely unknown to
00:48:16
police later detective McLean made a television appeal on BBC crime program crime watch he revealed new DNA evidence
00:48:26
had been obtained and to urged for Raj Stiles community to come forward with names of people they suspect murdered
00:48:32
Leslie including those who may have since passed away quote it may be that someone has harbored a
00:48:40
suspicion for 27 years that a friend relative or acquaintance could have killed this little girl we now have the
00:48:47
ability through the development of scientific methods to eliminate these people once and for all it is an
00:48:53
extremely simple procedure which involves us taking a mouth swab we have already eliminated 300 people and are
00:49:00
continuing to work through our list of suspects there could be a husband boyfriend partner or brother
00:49:07
there are simple scientific tests we can undertake to determine whether they are
00:49:12
responsible for her death I want to stress the people that it is impossible for Stefan Kish Co to have been involved
00:49:19
in this crime get that image out of your mind he was not the killer the appeal resulted in 250 calls to
00:49:29
police allowing a list of 90 new suspects to be compiled all were investigated but there was no match
00:49:40
years went by and still no match for the DNA entered the police database on October 1st 2005 police received a call
00:49:50
from a hotel room in Oldham eight and a half kilometers southeast of Rochdale the caller was a distressed woman when
00:49:58
police arrived she told them she was a sex worker her client was 51 year-old runnel de Castries when the pair went to
00:50:06
the room he went back on their agreement she wouldn't consent to what Castro wanted so he raped her
00:50:15
Kasturi denied the allegation he was arrested but the charges were later dropped nevertheless he had been
00:50:24
arrested for a sex crime new laws required him to submit a routine mouth swab for DNA analysis Castro's DNA was
00:50:33
placed in the national database it was a direct hit to the profile of Leslie mal
00:50:39
Said's kill Ronald Castro he was born in 1953 in little borough a small town within the borough of Rochdale or the
00:50:51
early 70s he was married to Beverly they settled in a house on Oldham Road situated on the eastern edge of turf
00:50:58
hill estate at the time kastri worked as an administration clerk and a part-time
00:51:04
taxi driver the marriage was unhappy Beverly recalled Pastore was failed with his mouth and felt with his fists
00:51:13
weeks after their wedding he punched her in the face for the first time he also derived sexual pleasure from violence
00:51:21
and acts of bondage she founded the grading he made a dress up like a schoolgirl and he'd pretend to molest
00:51:28
her when Beverly refused his demands Castries turned to sex workers on September 19 1975 Beverly gave birth
00:51:40
to a son the biological father was a man with whom she'd been having an affair Kasturi knew he was not the child's
00:51:48
father and a caused the tension in the relationship nevertheless he agreed to raise the child as his own on October
00:51:57
3rd 1975 Beverly was admitted to Rochdale infirmary suffering deep vein thrombosis days later on October 5th
00:52:07
castrate left his home around a midday to visit his wife in hospital he arrived too late that afternoon when he left
00:52:15
home he was only a few streets away from sky up slain the last place leslie Massey was seen alive nearly nine months
00:52:26
later Castries was arrested for the indecent assault of nine year old Sarah whom he had come across playing tag with
00:52:33
a friend on Vava sauce tree the attack that was detailed at the beginning of this episode
00:52:39
Kasturi pled guilty and received a fifty pound fine as punishment just over two years later Castries struck again this
00:52:48
time he abducted a seven-year-old boy and took him to an unused garage during the ordeal the boy screamed someone
00:52:57
overheard and intervened Castries was arrested charged pled guilty and again received just a 50 pound fine as
00:53:06
punishment it was 31 years after the murder of Leslie mal Sade the police pulled up to the front of
00:53:14
Castries council-owned house it was November 1st 2006 the DC 176 to Jeff Dunn from West Yorkshire Police now that
00:53:29
everything that we say is being taped recorded are you Ronald Charles Edward Custer I am but listen very carefully to
00:53:40
what I've got to say to you now you're under arrest for the murder of Leslie Susan mol see ya joke between
00:53:48
12:00 noon on Sunday the 5th of October 1975 and for 6:45 a.m. on Wednesday 8th of October 1975 you do not have to say
00:54:03
anything but it may harm your defense if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in
00:54:10
court anything you do say may be given in evidence do you understand the caution yes I was
00:54:17
on because your arrest is necessary for the prompt and effective investigation of the offense ok you're gonna be taken
00:54:24
from here to Halifax police station now ridiculous on October 22nd 2007 the trial of Ronald Castro for the murder of
00:54:35
Leslie Massey began at Bradford the Crown Court cash tree could not explain why his DNA was at Leslie's crime scene
00:54:43
his defense suggested cross-contamination may have occurred they also took advantage of Stefan
00:54:50
kishkes previous conviction for the crime and put forth the idea that cash tree was also being set up by police
00:54:57
during his trial cursory boasted of having numerous Affairs during his marriage he said he regularly had sex in
00:55:05
the back of his taxi with one-night stands Castries defense hinted but never directly argued that Leslie may have
00:55:13
been a passenger in the taxi and Castries semen from a previous liaison transferred from the C so Leslie's
00:55:19
underwear retired forensic scientist Ronald outrage was called to kasturi's trial outrage was involved in the semen
00:55:28
sample testing back in 1975 leading to the incorrect conviction of Stefan kishka the outer edge spoke in Castries
00:55:37
defense he maintained to the man who left semen on Leslie's underwear may not have been her killer
00:55:44
Eldridge never afforded Stefan Kisco this same possibility Castries defense labeled convicted
00:55:52
pedophile raymond hewlett as the Lesley's killer the prosecution argued castries we have done the same turf hill
00:55:59
estate as Leslie he had no solid alibi for the time of her abduction he had a history of
00:56:05
snatching children of local streets for the purpose of sexually assaulting them they believed his wife having the child
00:56:11
of another man may have been a trigger for cash tree furthermore Christopher Coverdale was eyewitness testimony of
00:56:19
the man with the girl on the laborer for a striking resemblance to Ronald Castro
00:56:23
in 1975 between the ages of 30 and 35 years old five foot six inches tall plump with fair hair that was receding a
00:56:36
forensic expert explained to the court how the DNA taken from Leslie's underwear was a direct match to Castro
00:56:43
and the chance had belonged to anyone else was one in a billion on November 12 2007 after 11 hours and 38 minutes of
00:56:56
deliberation the jury reached a verdict Ronald Castro was found guilty for the murder of Leslie mal seed he was given
00:57:06
life with a minimum of 30 years judge Openshaw quote this was a truly dreadful crime Leslie
00:57:18
mal Sayed was only 11 she was vulnerable not just because of her age but because
00:57:24
of her learning difficulties you approached her he would have had no difficulty in luring her away for she
00:57:31
was trusting you repeatedly stabbed her he left her for dead drove back to Rochdale and carried on with the rest of
00:57:40
your life as if nothing had happened it was a pretense you kept up for 32 years your past has now caught up with you you
00:57:50
then kept quiet while an entirely innocent man was arrested tried convicted and sentenced for her murder
00:57:57
he served 16 years before his conviction was set aside living only a couple of years after his release I am surely
00:58:07
entitled to take into account not only the effect on mr. Kish GAO's family but also the effect on the family of your
00:58:13
victim they have had to endure a long years of uncertainty and after his release come to terms with the knowledge
00:58:21
that the guilty man was still at large I have no doubt that the memory of this dreadful murder is and always will be a
00:58:28
burden they must endure for the rest of their lives as Castries was taken from the court he attempted to address the
00:58:37
judge who snapped back no you have had your say Lesley's mother rape rule rent a
00:58:46
statement outside of court quote we are relieved that after so long our quest for justice for Leslie is now over it
00:58:56
has been a long and harrowing ordeal and our gratitude to the friends family and
00:59:01
strangers throughout the world who have given us their support is immense solicitor Campbell Malone spent most of
00:59:09
the 1980s working to have Stefan kishka released from prison he had this to say regarding the outcome of Ronald castries
00:59:16
trial I welcome with some relief the conviction of Ronald Castro for the murder of Leslie Moll seed as bringing
00:59:25
to a proper end to over 32 years of tragedy I hope that it will bring some much-deserved peace of mind to Leslie's
00:59:32
family and I applaud their determination to seek justice on her behalf after Stefan's early death some 18 months
00:59:41
after his release from prison his mother's last words to me were not to let the public forget his name and what
00:59:47
had happened to him and I have no doubt she would be quietly pleased with the outcome of this trial so appalling was
00:59:55
Stefan's ordeal that I suspect he would have been made physically sick by having
00:59:59
to relive those experiences but I am sure he too would have been pleased to have seen a just conclusion so what was
01:00:07
one of the worst ever miscarriages of justice the case is a reminder of why such miscarriages although rare are
01:00:14
important to us all not only is grief prolonged for the victim of the crime and their families but the perpetrators
01:00:22
can be free to commit further offences thereby ruining other lives those of the wrongly convicted are also in my
01:00:30
experience permanently damaged and as in Stefan's case often cut short at last the person responsible for this brutal
01:00:41
murder has been identified and Castries is guilty of not just the murder of Leslie mal seed but of causing the
01:00:48
prolonged misery of her family into the simple destruction of the life of Stefan
01:00:53
Kisco others involved in the arrest and prosecution of Stephon may also have had
01:00:59
a share in the latter but at least in helping clear his name and in securing this verdict West Yorkshire Police have
01:01:06
shown a commitment to saying that justice is done at last April mal Sayed stated the greatest thing for her since
01:01:15
castries conviction was the fact she was finally able to sleep through the night
01:01:19
without having bad dreams after the conviction the mal seeds heard a private get-together with supporters at the
01:01:27
local pub they put on music by Leslie's idols Scottish pop band the Bay City Rollers they turned up the song byebye
01:01:36
baby and her family took to the dance floor the circle around the family widened as more people stepped in they
01:01:45
hold each other and sang the words loud to say goodbye to their baby [Music] [Music]
01:02:14
you [Music]