It is a mystery that has existed for more than 130 years.
Now the descendants of Jack the Ripper’s victims hope to finally uncover the truth about one of the most infamous unsolved crimes of all time.
They are backing a legal application for a new investigation into the death of Catherine Eddowes after evidence emerged suggesting the killer was Aaron Kosminski.
The Polish hairdresser, who emigrated to Britain in the 1880s, was a suspect at the time of the five murders in Whitechapel, east London, in 1888. But he was never arrested because police had no evidence of his involvement – until now.
A bloodstained scarf allegedly found on Ms Eddowes’ body, which was bought at auction by author and Ripper researcher Russell Edwards in 2007, was later found to contain the DNA of both the victim and Kosminski.
In October, the Mail revealed that Mr Edwards had uncovered new evidence of Kosminski’s links to the highly secretive Freemasons, which may have motivated his sadistic killings and protected him from law enforcement, leading to him being locked up in an asylum, where he died.
Now Mr Edwards has hired a legal team to fight for an inquest, on the grounds that there is further evidence for a coroner to consider about the circumstances of the death and, crucially, who was responsible.
Karen Miller, from Barnard Castle, County Durham, who is a descendant of Jack the Ripper victim Catherine Eddowes, calls for a new investigation to establish that her killer was Ripper suspect Aaron Kosminski
Catherine Eddowes (pictured) was the fourth of the five canonical victims of the infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper
A bloodstained scarf allegedly found on Ms Eddowes’ body and bought at auction in 2007 was later found to contain the DNA of both the victim and Kosminski.
Aaron Kosminski was a Polish hairdresser who emigrated to Britain in the 1880s and was a suspect in the five murders in Whitechapel, east London, in 1888
The campaign is backed by the descendants of both Ms Eddowes and Kosminski, who say it is time to unmask the true killer and get justice for the women involved. The other four victims were Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride and Mary Jane Kelly.
Karen Miller, 53, three-time great-granddaughter of Ms Eddowes, provided her DNA, which matched her ancestor’s blood on the scarf.
She said: ‘The name Jack the Ripper has become sensational, he has gone down in history as this famous character.
“It was all about him, this iconic name, but people have forgotten the victims who had no justice at the time.
“What about the real name of the person who did this? If the real person is legally named in a court that can consider all the evidence, this would be a form of justice for the victims. We have the evidence, now we need this inquest to legally name the killer.
“It would mean a lot to me, my family and many people if this crime were finally solved.”
Karen Miller, 53, three-time great-granddaughter of Ms Eddowes, provided her DNA, which matched her ancestor’s blood on the scarf
Lucy Worsley on Lucy Worsley investigates Jack The Ripper on BBC
Lucy Worsley investigates some of Britain’s greatest unsolved mysteries: a dramatization of Jack the Ripper
Descendants of the Ripper’s other victims have also backed calls for a new investigation.
Sue Parlour, whose husband Andy is distantly related to Mary Ann Nichols, known as Polly, said: ‘There was no justice for these victims at the time. It was all so long ago. But it would mean a lot if we could finally find out the name of the killer, to be able to say something about this.
“These women have been dismissed as mere prostitutes, as if they didn’t matter, but they did.”
Kosminski’s descendants have also supported the move.
His three-time great-niece Amanda Poulos said: ‘I’m beyond happy to finally determine what really happened.’ When the original inquest was held on October 4, 1888, a verdict of ‘wilful murder’ was returned. But police were still looking for the serial killer at the time.
By law, the Attorney General must authorize any request to the Supreme Court for further investigation.
Two years ago, Sir Michael Ellis, then attorney general, refused permission, saying there was not enough new evidence.
But lawyer Dr Tim Sampson said this ‘sets a terrible precedent in relation to requests to reopen investigations into the violent deaths of women and gives the impression that such cases are better swept under the carpet or simply left to sensational reporting , rather than being exposed. to soften judicial control’.
Kosminski’s descendants have also supported the move – Karen Miller is pictured with a portrait of her Jack the Ripper victim Catherine Eddowes
Andy Noble depicted as a reporter in the Lucy Worsley Investigates series about Jack the Ripper
He has written to Attorney General Richard Hermer arguing that there is new evidence to consider that, had it been available at the time, “would have been justified for the coroner to file charges and then seek to have Aaron Kosminski prosecuted for both the murder of Mrs Eddowes and the other four victims’.
If permission were granted, the case would go to a High Court judge for hearing. Nadia Persaud, a coroner from east London, has signaled her willingness to chair any inquest if given the job.
She has previously written to Mr Edwards’ lawyer, saying: ‘I would not oppose your application… it seems to me that a new investigation would be unlikely to lead to a different outcome, the only new factor is the suggestion that the perpetrator may now be identified.’
Mr Edwards said: ‘A second investigation is the only way to confirm what happened. Now that we have identified the real killer with a wealth of evidence, bringing into focus the man we have called the Ripper, we want justice to be served.”