Ordeal for Chch woman

Press, 22 June 1981, Page 6

Ordeal for Chch woman

By KEN COATES in London I The ordeal of a Christchurch woman, Mrs June Godley, during a train trip in England was related in an Old Bailey-court last week. Mrs Godley, aged 62, of Wylies Road, West Melton, alone in a compartment of the midrtight inter-city express On December 9 waiting to pull :■ out • of Euston Station, London, for Manchester when a 198 cm (6ft 6in) tall ‘Stranger entered. He pulled down the blinds, told her not top be alarmed, but then grabbed her by the throat? an Old Bailey jury ■was told on Friday. The stranger, John Booth, a theatre technician, who had a history, of mental trouble.

took her with both hands by the neck and began to throttle her, slowly, powerfully, and deliberately, said Mr Michael Addison, prosecuting. . ' . ' Booth, aged ■ 26. from Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire, was convicted by the jury of attempting to murder Mrs Godley. Judge John Leonard. Q.C.) ordered Booth to be detained in maximum security conditions in . . .hospital without limit of time, saying that he was a danger to the public and/ heeded medical treatment. The court heard'that Booth had been In and out of a number of mental, institutions. A heavy drinker, he lived by theft.

Mrs Godle.v boarded the train to travel to Manchester and was waiting for it to depart when Booth got into the carriage. He seemed nervous and uneasy and had been drinking heavily, the court was told: He told her not to worry, but then pulled down the window blinds and -grabbed her, Mrs ;; Godley's screams were heard by a passenger in another compartment who rushed to her aid, Mr. Addison said. When the ..passenger appeared. Booth let Mrs Godley free and jumped from the train and ran down the platform. He was chased and, caught by two police officers. /