Today we circle back to the challenges that have existed for 19th of October on This Day in True Crime History.
1216: 👑 The Mysterious End of King John: Poison and Betrayal? 🍐🍺
On this day in 1216, King John of England, notorious for the signing of the Magna Carta, met his end at Newark Castle. Rumours suggest that a monk from Swineshead Abbey, resentful of the demands placed upon the abbey by the King, poisoned either a batch of pears or a pot of ale. This act of vengeance supposedly sealed not only King John’s fate but also the monk’s own. 🤫📜
1973: 📼 Nixon’s Defiance in the Watergate Scandal 🏛🎙️
On this day in 1973, amidst the swirling controversy of the Watergate scandal, President Richard Nixon took a bold step 🚫 by rejecting an Appeals Court demand to release the infamous Watergate tapes 🎙️. These tapes, which held crucial evidence of conversations between Nixon and his aides, became the focal point of the investigation. Nixon’s refusal to release them intensified the crisis 🌪️ and risked putting himself in contempt of court. The event would eventually lead to Nixon’s resignation. ✍️
1982: 🌃 Mysterious Murder of Actress Christa Helm 🎬
On this day in 1982, Christa Helm, an aspiring actress and model, met a tragic end. Helm, best known for her roles in TV shows and her glamorous lifestyle, was found murdered in West Hollywood. The circumstances surrounding her death were shrouded in mystery, and rumours abounded about her supposed secret diaries detailing her relationships with various Hollywood elites. Despite investigations, her killer was never identified, leaving the murder of Christa Helm as one of Hollywood’s unsolved mysteries. 🎭🔍📖
1989: 🙌 Guildford Four’s Conviction Overturned 🏛️💥
On this day in 1989, the wrongful convictions of the Guildford Four were quashed by the British courts. Originally convicted in 1975 for their alleged involvement in the 1974 Guildford pub bombings, crucial evidence, which had been withheld during the original trial, came to light, including alibi evidence and original police interview notes that differed from the confessions presented in court. Moreover, the Balcombe Street Gang, an IRA unit, had admitted to the bombings whilst in custody, but this was initially dismissed by authorities. 🏛️🔍🇬🇧
2005: 🏛️ Saddam Hussein’s Trial Commences ⚖️🇮🇶
On this day in 2005, the trial of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein for crimes against humanity began in Baghdad. The world watched with bated breath 🌍👀 as Hussein, who once held an iron grip 🤚 over Iraq, faced charges related to the mass killings of Shiite Muslims and Kurds. The proceedings were marked by intense debates and confrontations, shining a light on Iraq’s tumultuous history during his regime.
2006: 🩸 Inmate on Death Row’s Final Claim of Innocence 🚔
On this day in 2006, just before his scheduled execution, a death row inmate, Michael Johnson, used his own blood to write “I did not shoot him” on the walls of his cell. The message served as his final plea of innocence. When he was 19 years old, Johnson, alongside his friend, was involved in a fatal incident at a gas station. The friend later testified against Johnson in exchange for a reduced sentence, although this information was not disclosed to Johnson’s defence legal team. 🕊🔒
2018: 📰 Disappearance and Death of Journalist Jamal Khashoggi 🖋️🇸🇦
On this day in 2018, the world’s attention was captivated by the case of Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi journalist. Khashoggi, known for his critical writings on Saudi Arabia’s government, vanished after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2. As days passed, evidence mounted, suggesting he had been brutally murdered inside the consulate. Despite global outcry and demands for a thorough investigation, the exact circumstances and individuals responsible for his death remain subjects of contention and intrigue. 🌍🔍✒️
Hope to see you on a Dark Stories True Crime Tour soon.