Gordon Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gordon Park, born 1944, is a retired teacher from Leece, near Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, who was jailed for life in 2005 for the murder of his wife in 1976.
Park's wife, Carol, had disappeared in July 1976 and remained hidden in Coniston Water until she was discovered by divers in 1997. At the time the mother of three children had been 30 years old. She had been bludgeoned to death with an ice axe before her body was dumped.
Park was tried at Manchester Crown Court. The court heard if Mrs Park's body had been dumped just a few feet further from the shore it would never have been found. It had landed on an underwater ledge - a few more yards further and it would probably have sunk to the bottom.
Her body was trussed up in the foetal position. Several types of knots were used, but the knots were common in the Lake District and amongs tradesmen, sailors, climbers and scouts. The prosecution and defence knot experts agreed that it was impossible to determine the individual responsible for tying the knots. Knot experts also speculated on the possiility of there being two tiers.
Evidence about a rock allegedly found in the lake, and more than 90 metres away from the body, being similar to those from near Park's home was bitterly disputed. (The police diver denied that he had recovered the rock, and declared that if he had found it, he would have left it in the lake).
The court heard from two prisoners who claimed Park had confessed to them. This evidence is unreliable because the prison records of the time when Park was on remand in jail had gone missing by the time that the trial took place. One had a severe learning disability, and the other admitted in court that his memory was unreliable when not smoking cannabis, and that he heard voices telling him to do things. It seems doubtful whether this prisoner had in fact ever met Park.
Park was jailed for life and told he must serve at least 15 years.
He was originally arrested on suspicion of murder in 1997, but the case was later dropped due to lack of evidence.
Park continues to maintain his innocence, and is supported by his two children, family and friends.
Mrs Park was dubbed the "Lady in the Lake" by detectives, after the Raymond Chandler crime novel of the same name.
