Ninety-two-year-old man charged with rape and murder of woman strangled to death 57 years ago

A ninety-two-year-old man has been taken into custody after appearing in court charged with the rape and murder of a woman 57 years ago.

Pensioner Ryland Headley, of Clarence Road, Ipswich, was arrested on Tuesday morning in connection with the 1967 murder of Louisa Dunne.

Mrs Dunne, 75, was found dead at her home in Britannia Road, Bristol, by a neighbor almost 60 years ago. An investigation into the death began last year.

She had been raped and strangled in her front room.

Headley, who was accompanied by his attorney, was not asked to enter pleas on the two charges against him.

He spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address, and that he understood the hearing was taking place as if he were physically present in the courtroom.

Concluding Ryland Headley’s appearance at Bristol Magistrates’ Court, District Judge Lynne Matthews told the defendant: ‘Two charges have been laid against you.

The man, from the Ipswich area of ​​Suffolk, has been taken into custody following forensic examination of items linked to the case. Pictured: Police outside Easton’s home in 1967

‘The first is that between June 26 and 29, 1967, in Easton, Bristol, you murdered Louisa Dunne.

‘The second allegation is that between the same dates in Bristol you raped the woman Louisa Dunne.’

The judge added: ‘The two cases will be sent to the Crown Court.

‘There will be a hearing at Bristol Crown Court tomorrow at or around 10am.

“I have no authority to consider the matter of your bail, and you will therefore be remanded in custody until tomorrow.”

Mrs Dunne is said to have kept to herself and lived alone in her home in Bristol.

In her earlier life she belonged to Bristol’s social class, having been married to city councilor Teddy Parker. He was on track to become mayor of the city before his death.

Neighbors said she had fallen into a state of disrepair after the death of her second husband, a night watchman, just years before her murder.

Mrs Dunne is said to have kept to herself and lived alone in her home in Bristol. Pictured: Britannia Road, Easton

She was only found dead in her front room after a local resident noticed her window was open.

They found her dressed in a black velvet coat and scarf with strangulation marks around her throat.

Police suspected that the killer broke into her home between 11:30 PM and 4:00 AM and found a handprint near the open window.

There were no signs of a struggle in her home.

After Headley was charged, Detective Inspector Dave Marchant said: “This development marks a hugely important moment in this investigation.

‘Now that criminal proceedings are underway, it is important to emphasize that the suspect has the right to a fair trial. Any speculation or misinformation about the circumstances of this case could harm these ongoing proceedings.

‘We have informed Louisa’s family of this decision and a specialist liaison officer will continue to support them in the coming days, weeks and months.’

The night before her horrific death, Mrs Dunne had spent the evening with one of her best friends, 79-year-old Alice Clarke.

“Sometimes she would only stay for a few minutes, but this time she stayed longer than normal,” Ms Clarke told police Bristol evening mail.

Police suspected that the killer broke into her home between 11:30 PM and 4:00 AM and found a handprint near the open window. Pictured: A police sergeant examines palm prints

“She came about 5:15 p.m. and left about 7:30 p.m.

‘We had a little custard and stewed gooseberries. When she left, she said, as always, “Good night.” God bless. I don’t know when I’ll see you.’

Officers also rounded up the city’s “bums and vagabonds” and brought them in for questioning, rounding up around 21 in one fell swoop in police patrol cars.

“We found them sleeping in the countryside, in empty houses and parks,” said a detective. “They got a free meal afterwards.” They were all eliminated from the study.

Police hunted for the killer and took palm prints from thousands of men between the ages of 16 and 60 in the Easton area.

Detective Chief Inspector Frederick Cross, who worked on the case, said: ‘We receive 100 percent cooperation from the public for this difficult job.

“People have come into the station, volunteered their prints and called us to tell us when they’ll be home.”

A team of eight would check and recheck the prints for up to 15 hours a day – with a stack of 5,000 to look at.

Once each print had been cleared it was put away and officers said that once the hunt for the killer was over the prints would be destroyed by throwing them in a bag before being burned at Bridewell police station.