CHRISTIE TRIAL OPENS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27073, 23 June 1953, Page 9

CHRISTIE TRIAL OPENS

SPECTATORS QUEUE OUTSIDE COURT

Rec. 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 22 Queues began forming early today n,!? Ba j.l ey ’ where John Reginald Halliday Christie, aged 55, is being tried on charges of murdering four women. The women concerned in the charges are Christie s wife, aged 54, Rita Elizabeth Nelson aged 24, Kathleen Maloney, aged 25, and Hectorina McKay MacLennan, aged 25. The crimes are alleged to have been committed between December 14, 1952, and February 27, 1953. rr TI JS Attorney-General (Sir Lionel Heald, Q.C.) is appearing for the Crown, and Christie is defended by Mr Derek Curtis-Bennett, Q.C. Christie arrived at the Old. Bailey m a closed police car about 90 l inutes before the trial opened. Police un!oaded from vans a number of exhibits, including a cupboard door and a deck chair.

After 32 persons from the queue had been allowed into the public gallery about 60 others stayed outside in th ® hop ® getting admittance later. Though he stands charged with four murders, including those of three prostitutes whose bodies were found in a cupboard at his home. Christie was charged today only with the murder of i wife, body was found bethe floorboards of the Notting Hill house.

Christie pleaded not guilty to the charge. Standing between two warders m the glass-enclosed dock, he showed no emotion as the Clerk of the Court read out the charge. Christie pleaded not guilty so quietly that the clerk did not hear, and asked him to repeat the plea. Christie wore tne same blue suit, blue shirt, and blue tie as he wore when he was arrested nearly three months ago