Residents were finally allowed to return to their homes last night, and were let in and out as they pleased, escorted by officers. George Riley was taken to the police station at Shrewsbury where he was questioned by two officers, Detective Inspector William Brumpton and Detective Sergeant Phillips. By 6.55pm that same day he had written and signed a statement confessing to the murder. However, he was convicted and sentenced to hang. Changes to the different categories of murder enshrined in the 1957 Homicide Act meant that because of the element of "murder committed in the course or furtherance of theft" capital punishment was inevitable. The jury found him responsible for killing Ludlow antiques dealer Trevor Bradley, 53, and Brian Coles, 57 but acquitted him of the killing of Bernard Czyzewska, 36, whose body was found in the River Severn in Shrewsbury in November 1994. The former painter and decorator is already serving a life sentence for murdering pensioner Robert Young also in 1994.

I am satisfied that there has been no miscarriage of justice and that there is no ground for an inquiry." Ligus was judged mentally unfit to take part in his trial and the jury had to decide whether he was responsible for the unlawful killings rather than be judged guilty or not guilty. The jury decided he was responsible for the deaths of Mr Bradley and Mr Coles. On the night of Friday, 7 October 1960, George Riley and his friend set out for a night on the town and by closing time he had drunk 10 pints of beer. The pair went on to a dance at the local Rolls Royce canteen, where George Riley was involved in a scuffle with another man and the police were called. The body of the 53-year-old former antiques dealer from Ludlow was found lying behind the front seats of his burnt-out Vauxhall Nova, in remote farmland in Melverley, on April 26, 1994.

Ligus, a former painter and decorator, was detained in a secure hospital indefinitely following the jurors’ ruling. Died at home – Brian Coles The assaults happened late yesterday afternoon in Pride Hill. Members of the public were also threatened by the man who carried out the assaults. No arrests have been made yet in relation to the incident yesterday, police have said.

We would like to thank the police for conducting their investigation diligently and supporting us through this tough time". We would like to thank the police for conducting their investigation diligently and supporting us through this tough time.” We understand this incident may be concerning for the local community and I would like to offer my reassurance we will carry out a full and thorough investigation to establish the circumstances. Four people are in custody as our investigation continues. He said: “We understand this incident may be concerning for the local community and I would like to offer my reassurance we will carry out a full and thorough investigation to establish the circumstances. Four people are in custody as our investigation continues.

Sign me up to the mailing list

Residents will see an increase police presence in the area for the coming days as officers carry out enquiries and offer reassurance to anyone who may be concerned. On Monday afternoon, Mr Singh's DPD van could be seen from behind the cordon set up by West Mercia Police following the incident and by Tuesday morning there was a forensic tent, a police van and a police car at the scene.

The case of George Riley was controversial and views on the rights and wrongs of his death were mixed. I thought, ‘Liverpool next day to score’. I though ‘great’ and er, dragged him into the car. He was only a small bloke so I, I could, managed to lift him into the car, went in the boot. Got a can of petrol. The jury declined to view the body of the deceased and the prison medical officer told the coroner, Major R W E Crawford Clarke, that death had been instantaneous.

We believe those involved are known to each other and are not local to Shrewsbury or the wider West Mercia Police area. RA (Rab) Butler replied: "Before reaching my decision I gave the fullest consideration to the representations made to me by the hon. Member and others, as well as to all the information available to me from many sources.