10 People Who Were Probably Wrongly Executed

10. Derek William Bentley

Derek William Bentley was hanged for the murder of Police Constable Sidney Miles in 1952. Bentley (19), along with his friend Christopher Craig (16) attempted to break into a local warehouse, however they were soon spotted by a nine year old girl who informed her parents. When police arrived, Bentley and Craig attempted to hide, and while Bentley managed to escape, Craig allegedly opened fire, shooting Sergeant Fairfax in the shoulder.

When backup arrived, Bentley was arrested and the remaining officers climbed to the top of the building where Craig was hiding. Craig opened fire again, this time killing Police Constable Sidney Miles, before jumping thirty feet from the roof, fracturing his spine. Though it was Craig who shot both Sergeant Fairfax and Constable Miles, Bentley was convicted (despite the fact that he was actually in the presence of a police officer at the time) and was sentenced to death.

Craig meanwhile was sent to prison, but was released just ten years later. Bentley was hanged at Wandsworth Prison, London, on January 28th 1953. Forty years later, on 29th July 1993 Bentley was granted a royal pardon.