348:
mum came to the door and said he’d gone to his nan’s". However, this also was known to be impossible as the mother had also been out that night, and when this was told to
Cheeseman he again changed his account, saying: "Oh yes, I knocked at his door but nobody answered, so I went". At this point Cheeseman then revealed that he had met two boys (believed to be Greenwood and Miller) but became angry with them as they smashed some bottles and one "gave me the f-word". He said that he'd pushed them onto the ground and, unexpectedly and unprompted, said "there wasn't a mattress". Even though the interviewers reminded him that he did not have to speak if he did not want to and that the evidence could be used in court, he then openly admitted there was a mattress and that he had hit the boys and thrown them onto the mattress. He went on to say that then he "saw a bloke coming" and so he walked away. Some hours later, Cheeseman's father came to accompany his son being interviewed and willingly observed as Cheeseman signed a confession statement, formally admitting to the murders. The statement said:
352:"There was only me, John and his mate there and they started to call me names … They started swearing at me. I then started to hit them. They carried on calling me the f-word and calling me names. So I started to hit them again. Then I thought one of them was dead, he wasn’t breathing. Then I listened to his heart, then I got a piece of rope and put it around his neck. I thought the other one was dead, he wasn’t breathing. He was unconscious. The rope I had put around one of the lad's neck, I threw away near the railings. John's mate said I was knocking a married woman off. When I hit them they fell on a mattress. When it was all over I left the mattress there, it was near them. When I left the boys I climbed over the railings and went through a tunnel and home. I hope the scoutmaster doesn't find out."
531:, hoping to be granted permission to re-charge Cheeseman under the 2003 double jeopardy laws, but this was turned down on the grounds that there was insufficient new and compelling evidence to meet the threshold. Merseyside Police stated that they had been told by the DPP that it "acknowledges that this is a tragic case and has said that in the event that the ongoing police investigation yields sufficient compelling new evidence, he would reconsider his decision". At the same time, Merseyside Police apologised for failings in the original investigation, saying that "it is fair to say that the investigation was not as thorough as it could have been, or in line with the investigation standards expected of policing today".
413:
236:
361:
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45:
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539:"We know it has to be carefully considered. We know the re-investigation of someone who has been acquitted at court is really important and we must obviously take into account a court's decision. But when we have further information and evidence, where we feel, with good reason and good grounds, there is a case to interview somebody, which could support the fact that there may well now be further compelling evidence to be considered, we would very, very much welcome a consideration and a change to the existing legislation."
339:
long, straggly hair which locals reported always appeared uncombed, and locals commented on his sightly dirty, unshaven appearance and dark moustache. This appeared to match the description given by the dog walker who had been the witness to the murders, who had described the crouched man as being a "scrappy" man in a brown jacket. Cheeseman was known to play cards on the street with young boys, and helped out each week at the local Scout hut. The attacks on the boys had occurred on the man's birthday, 16 August.
498:
the murders. A man who would then have been a boy between 10 and 15 named "Duffy" or "Cuffy" is also requested to come forward by
Merseyside Police, as he had been seen with another boy at the rear of the Labour club in Whiston on the day of the murders. In 2017, police appealed for those who were fellow pupils of the victims at Halsnead Junior School and anyone who attended the 28th St Helens (1st Whiston) Scout Group (latterly known as the 2nd Knowsley Scout Group) in 1980 to come forward.
448:, allowing re-trials of suspects previously acquitted if 'new and compelling' evidence emerged. The families of the victims, therefore, asked for a reinvestigation, but it was only 2008 before Merseyside Police looked at the case again, even though regulations stated that cold case reviews should be undertaken every two years. The 2008 review duly found that much of the evidence in the case had been lost or destroyed in the years since.
463:
intervened and asked the father of
Cheeseman to stop him hanging around with his son. This had upset Cheeseman and a local man recounted how he came crying to his door about it only three days before Greenwood and Miller were killed, with Cheeseman saying he would 'get the family back' and 'make sure something would happen'. However, because of the laws that existed at the time (before the
34:
493:
believed to be important was of a man with three young boys between the ages of 12 and 14 near to the local church hall on Dragon Lane, at around the time or just before the boys died, between 6:45 and 7:20pm. Two of the boys were standing on the wall of the church hall, while the other was in the grounds.
544:
also enable them to potentially solve other cases, with
Critchley explaining: "We believe being able to re-question suspects could potentially lead to being able to demonstrate the new and compelling evidence needed to reopen particular cases, including the murders of John Greenwood and Gary Miller".
543:
Merseyside Police said that only a change in the law that would allow them to re-question a suspect would allow them to get new evidence to reopen the
Greenwood and Miller case, and that only a change in the law could allow them to re-interview Cheeseman. The force said that a change in the law would
373:
During the interviews, Cheeseman had replied to police asking him if he understood that
Greenwood died as a result of his actions by saying "Yes, I'm sorry". His father was invited to be present in the interviews by police, who said at trial they wanted to be fair to the defendant, and Cheeseman told
347:
for the murder as he said he was at a friend's house all evening, but the family of the friend revealed that this was untrue. As soon as interviewers put this to
Cheeseman and revealed that the friend in question was not at home that night, Cheeseman changed his story, saying "Oh, I remember now, his
314:
The boys had been seen alive only fifteen minutes before they were found, with another youth having seen them walking towards the rubbish tip. They were discovered by the dog walker after he had seen a man crouching down "banging something", and when he saw this man walk away the witness went over to
534:
Under the 2003 double jeopardy legislation, a previously acquitted suspect can only be interviewed again with a high threshold of new evidence and permission from the
Director of Public Prosecutions. In 2019 police asked to be granted permission from the DPP to question Cheeseman again, but were not
555:
page on the case and starting an online petition to get the law changed, saying: "This law is in place to prevent possible harassment of a suspect, but we are going through real pain. Real pain. And there is no law in place to help us". She added: "There should always be systems in place to protect
487:
Police have appealed for information from three young boys aged 12-14 seen between 6:45 and 7:20pm on the evening of the murder with a man by the local church hall on Dragon Lane (now a nursery). Police have also appealed for anyone who saw the man to come forward, and also for information on a boy
497:
continue to appeal for the boys, or anyone who saw the man, to come forward. Two other boys (who would now be men) that police have been unable to trace were a boy aged around 10 and a boy aged around 15 who were seen being assaulted by an adult male outside
Whiston Health Centre some weeks before
462:
led to the unearthing of new evidence, resulting in
Merseyside Police re-opening the investigation. It emerged that a number of families had become disturbed at the time by 20-year-old Cheeseman hanging around with the young boys he knew from helping with the Scouts, and Greenwood's own father had
338:
Investigators quickly suspected a 20-year-old man named John Cheeseman, who was often seen wandering around the village of Whiston alone and who was described by locals as invariably dressed in baggy jeans and a brown jacket that was several sizes too big for him. He had a scruffy appearance, with
492:
In 2016, with Cheeseman still the only suspect, Merseyside Police said that they had new evidence but needed more, commenting "we need more information to take this investigation forward". In 2017, police revealed there were "new leads" in the case. One of the witness sightings that investigators
196:. They had received serious head injuries from having their heads bashed against the ground, and although alive, later died in hospital. They had not been sexually assaulted, indicating that there was no sexual motive. The case has been described as "the community's worst crime in living memory".
377:
At trial in 1981, however, the defence claimed Cheeseman had an alibi and pointed to how no witnesses apparently saw blood on him, although the judge highlighted that he had already given the police a false alibi and had the knowledge of the rope that only the killer would know. The defence also
356:
The confession was found to be particularly damning as no one had yet reported a rope had been used and this had not yet been revealed by the pathologist, meaning that Cheeseman had knowledge that only the killer would know. Furthermore, the police then went to search for the rope he said he had
470:
It also emerged that two boys had been with Greenwood and Miller on the afternoon of the murder, goading and insulting Cheeseman until he "snapped" and began chasing them around the estate. The two boys said that they had all been bullying Cheeseman for weeks beforehand. Furthermore, the
512:
to question him, even as a witness. So we're not saying 'this person's guilty, drag him back to court', all we are asking is that the police are allowed to do their jobs. If they feel they need to speak to someone in a double-trial murder case, they should be allowed to speak to them."
368:
group. Police continue to appeal for those who attended the 28th St Helens (1st Whiston) Scout Group (later known as the 2nd Knowsley Scout Group) in 1980 to come forward. The Scout group is based at the pictured George Howard Centre on Lickers Lane,
302:
At 7:20pm on Saturday 16 August 1980, a local dog walker found the two boys, who were schoolfriends, badly beaten and having been hidden under a mattress at a local rubbish tip off Pottery Lane. At that time the site was a disused colliery and is now
479:
went to interview Cheeseman, still alive in 2016 and still living in Whiston, and found that some of his family members suspected him of involvement, with his older brother disowning him and his two nieces not allowing him to see their children.
387:
investigation found that a witness had actually reported seeing "what looked to be red paint" on Cheeseman's clothes when he came to see her that evening. Police would also later apologise for their 'blunders' in the initial investigation.
374:
his father when he arrived that "it was me that done the two lads on the tip". The father apparently refused to believe it but Cheeseman got out of his chair, held his father's arm and said "no dad, no. I did do it".
535:
allowed. This led Merseyside Police, in a rare move, to call in 2020 for a change in the law so as to allow suspects like Cheeseman to be questioned again, with Assistant Chief Constable Ian Critchley saying:
342:
Cheeseman immediately aroused suspicion when being questioned by police the day after the murders by stating a number of things that investigators found to be completely false. At first he claimed to have an
222:
in the case, and has always been the only suspect, but police say that only being allowed to question the suspect could get the 'new' evidence needed to reopen the case.
1104:
961:
311:
but died of what was later discovered to be head injuries. There was no evidence of any sexual assault, indicating the murders were not sexually motivated.
1099:
1114:
871:
184:
in 1980 which were said to have "shocked the nation". On Saturday 16 August 1980, the two boys were found beaten and hidden underneath a mattress on a
412:
235:
762:
1119:
437:
case, with the parents of Greenwood and Miller, fellow parents of child murder victims in the area, offering their condolences to Bulger's parents.
401:
218:
that new evidence found did not meet the high threshold for a double jeopardy prosecution of the original suspect. The acquitted man remains the
119:
1129:
330:
902:
360:
203:
at trial in 1981. However, the unsolved case has continued to receive publicity since, becoming the focus of a rare and unusual campaign by
1109:
214:
law so that previously acquitted suspects like the man in this case can be questioned again. This had followed a decision in 2019 by the
1134:
255:
44:
284:
483:
528:
264:
215:
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discarded by railings and indeed found it where he said he had thrown it, and the rope matched the marks on Greenwood's neck.
1124:
378:
concentrated on police failings in the case. The jury then found Cheeseman not guilty after only 45 minutes deliberation.
154:
Head injuries from having heads bashed against the ground, additionally strangulation with a rope in the case of Greenwood
1089:
319:
found that one of the boys had been strangled with a rope, and that both had had their heads bashed against the ground.
112:
731:
430:
The police revealed that they still thought Cheeseman was responsible and that they weren't looking for anybody else.
422:
275:
33:
244:
475:
found that a woman had recounted seeing Cheeseman with "what looked like red paint" on his trousers that evening.
464:
445:
315:
the spot to hear a boy moaning underneath the mattress and discovered Greenwood and Miller, heavily injured. The
1094:
488:
aged between 10 and 15 at the time named "Duffy" or "Cuffy" seen to the rear of the Labour Club only yards away
199:
A local man who confessed to the murders and revealed knowledge that apparently only the killer would know was
434:
1084:
547:
The family of Greenwood and Miller supported Merseyside Police's campaign as reported nationally on
189:
97:
575:
The case and the associated double jeopardy campaign was featured on a broadcast of the national
494:
204:
1052:
935:
830:
797:
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364:
The suspect, John Cheeseman, knew both the victims from his time helping out with the local
308:
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57:
584:
441:
211:
1078:
219:
1022:
Williamson, Amanda (16 February 1993). "They're locked away in our hearts forever".
456:
In September 2016 there was renewed publicity for the case when an investigation by
527:
In 2019, Merseyside Police sent a file with the new evidence they had found to the
383:
763:"Murder case of friends John Greenwood and Gary Miller re-opened after 36 years"
565:
316:
208:
185:
467:), this evidence was not admissible in court in 1981 as it was deemed hearsay.
903:"Parents mark heartbreaking anniversary of brutal double murder of schoolboys"
177:
101:
134:
121:
200:
556:
people from harassment but this goes way too far in the other direction".
872:"Families still seeking justice for two boys murdered nearly 40-years-ago"
293:
The rubbish tip where Greenwood and Miller were attacked and found is now
54:
Top: Miller (left) and Greenwood (right) shortly before they were murdered
576:
552:
548:
519:
564:
On 27 January 1991, the parents of Greenwood and Miller appeared on the
322:
The case was reportedly the "community's worst crime in living memory".
1053:"Murdered Whiston boy's mum 'running out of time' to see killer caught"
831:"Whiston boys' 1980 murder: Police investigation 'lacked thoroughness'"
181:
105:
365:
176:, are the unsolved child murders of two 11-year-old schoolfriends in
482:
359:
344:
329:
798:"Whiston boys' murder: New leads in 1980 cold case investigation"
440:
There was renewed interest in the case in 2003 after the law on '
433:
In 1993 the case returned to the news at the time of the nearby
508:"This crazy, crazy 800-year-old Medieval law means they're not
207:– supported by the victim's families – for reform of Britain's
518:—Sister of victim John Greenwood Debbie Lewis, speaking on
168:(1968 or 1969 – 16 August 1980), also referred to as the '
936:"Whiston boys' murders: 'Double jeopardy reform needed'"
962:"Murder hunt after boys are attacked at rubbish dump"
551:
in February 2020, with Greenwood's sister running a
150:
111:
88:
80:
65:
421:Greenwood and Miller are both buried at the local
334:An entrance to Stadt Moers Park from Pottery Lane
537:
506:
350:
92:Local rubbish tip on the site of present-day
8:
625:"Case of boys' 1980 Whiston murder reopened"
21:
732:"Two unsolved mysteries: Justice at last?"
20:
930:
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22:Murders of John Greenwood and Gary Miller
1105:August 1980 events in the United Kingdom
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1007:"Pals made fun of me, claims accused".
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572:, which was on the subject of revenge.
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7:
987:"Murder case man on second charge".
164:(1968 or 1969 – 16 August 1980) and
60:, where the murders occurred in 1980
1100:1980 murders in the United Kingdom
14:
1115:Incidents of violence against men
1037:"Murder parent rejects revenge".
452:Continuing publicity and campaign
69:Saturday 16 August 1980
16:1980 notable unsolved murder case
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1120:People from Whiston, Merseyside
529:Director of Public Prosecutions
216:Director of Public Prosecutions
1041:. 26 January 1991. p. 17.
1:
1130:People murdered in Merseyside
991:. 27 August 1980. p. 17.
1110:Unsolved murders in England
423:St Nicholas Church, Whiston
307:. They were both rushed to
1151:
1135:People acquitted of murder
502:'Double jeopardy' question
465:Criminal Justice Act 2003
446:Criminal Justice Act 2003
26:
1011:. 6 May 1981. p. 6.
1009:Aberdeen Evening Express
989:Leicester Daily Mercury
444:' was changed with the
541:
515:
489:
370:
354:
335:
582:The case featured on
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363:
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174:Whiston boys' murder'
1125:Murder in Merseyside
1024:Liverpool Daily Post
326:Acquittal of suspect
135:53.41019°N 2.80889°W
56:Bottom: What is now
1090:1980s in Merseyside
1059:. 23 September 2020
588:in September 2020.
131: /
23:
942:. 18 February 2020
878:. 18 February 2020
579:in February 2020.
560:In popular culture
490:
371:
336:
140:53.41019; -2.80889
84:About 7:20 pm
769:. 17 October 2016
738:. 16 October 2016
631:. 16 October 2016
570:Close to the Edge
495:Merseyside Police
471:investigation by
205:Merseyside Police
192:, on what is now
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968:. 18 August 1980
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909:. 29 August 2021
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477:The Sunday Times
473:The Sunday Times
459:The Sunday Times
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309:Whiston Hospital
305:Stadt Moers Park
295:Stadt Moers Park
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194:Stadt Moers Park
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94:Stadt Moers Park
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58:Stadt Moers Park
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24:
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1095:1980 in England
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804:. 20 April 2017
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585:Crimewatch Live
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442:double jeopardy
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212:double jeopardy
170:Whiston murder'
160:The murders of
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162:John Greenwood
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1026:. p. 16.
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837:. 10 May 2019
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220:prime suspect
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1061:. Retrieved
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1085:1980 crimes
381:In 2016, a
317:pathologist
209:Middle Ages
186:rubbish tip
166:Gary Miller
138: /
113:Coordinates
1079:Categories
592:References
568:programme
566:Granada TV
178:Merseyside
123:53°24′37″N
102:Merseyside
73:1980-08-16
736:The Times
392:Aftermath
201:acquitted
126:2°48′32″W
1057:BBC News
940:BBC News
876:ITV News
835:BBC News
802:BBC News
767:Sky News
629:BBC News
577:ITV News
553:Facebook
549:ITV News
520:ITV News
172:or the '
89:Location
510:allowed
369:Whiston
226:Murders
190:Whiston
182:England
106:England
98:Whiston
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635:8 July
522:, 2020
366:Scout
345:alibi
151:Cause
1065:2023
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915:2023
884:2023
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81:Time
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