Guenther Podola

Guenther Fritz Erwin Podola (8 February 1929 – 5 November 1959) was a German-born petty thief, and the last man to be hanged in Britain for killing a police officer.Rupert Furneaux, "Crime Documentary Series", Stevens & Sons, London 1960] His trial was notable and controversial because of his defence of amnesia and the use of expert witnesses to determine whether his illness was real. [The Modern Law Review, Vol. 24, No. 3, May 1961, pp. 413-415]

Life

Podola was born in Berlin, Germany. He was a fanatical member of the Hitler Youth movement. [http://www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/podola.htm Gunter Podola] ] Podola moved to Canada in August 1952. On 1 March 1957 he was sentenced to 10 days' imprisonment following a conviction for burglary in Montreal. Then on 26 March he was sentenced for another 11 counts of theft and burglary and imprisoned for 2 years. On 25 July 1958 Podola was released and deported back to West Germany.

London

Podola moved to London on 21 May 1959. He assumed the alias of "Mike Colato" and pretended to be a gangster [http://books.google.pl/books?id=JaUDhjsMdcEC&pg=PA451&lpg=PA451&dq=%22Verne+Schiffman%22&source=web&ots=9VLn5uwFfp&sig=Za8xbULUjRGg6xDAr1BP3qO6-Ds&hl=pl#PPA451,M1 Google books - "Villain's Paradise: A History of Britain's Underworld", p452] ] . He broke into the house of an American model [http://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/tv_programme/793/Infamous_Murders_Murdered_on_Duty.htm Infamous Murders: Murdered on Duty - Crime And Investigation Network] ] , Verne Schiffmann, and stole jewellery and furs worth £2,000. He tried to blackmail her in return for her possessions, asking for £500, but she notified the police who attempted to arrest Podola on 12 July 1959 in Kensington. [ [http://www.crimetime.co.uk/features/anthonyfrewin.php Crimetime] ] Podola shot one of the officers, Detective Sergeant Raymond Purdy, in the heart with a pistol. He was later apprehended and Podola claimed he was beaten up by the police [http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/heritage/munksroll/munk_details.asp?ID=5003 Royal College of Physicians] ] and that as a result he lost his memory of events. The police claimed that he was merely hit on the head when they broke down the door to his hotel room.

Trial

The start of the trial was delayed for 9 days while a jury heard evidence of whether Podola was medically fit to stand trial. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,894251,00.html Verdict on Podola - Time Magazine] ] After 3½ hours of deliberation, they decided he was. A fresh jury was called to hear the trial itself. When asked for his plea, he replied: "I do not remember the crime for which I stand accused ... I am unable to answer the charges." He was defended by Frederick Lawton QC. Neurologist Michael Ashby gave evidence as an expert medical witness at his trial, as did psychiatrist Archibald Leigh, who claimed Podola was feigning his illness.

The jury took 38 minutes to find Podola guilty, and he later confessed his guilt. He was sentenced to death and hanged at Wandsworth prison. Podola was buried in the prison graveyard (grave 59).

References

External links

* [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,894251,00.html Time Magazine's coverage of the trial]
* [http://www.shadyoldlady.com/location.php?loc=664 Photo of Podola including bruised eye, which he claimed occurred due to excessive police force during his arrest]
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=XyDdzU1CoCsC&pg=PA487&lpg=PA487&dq=%22gunther+podola%22&source=web&ots=vN89qityX4&sig=jco83T2sMOwTHYBrVjT1-YZY_L4#PPA487,M1 A discussion of the legal ramifications of the case for English law (p487-488)]