The Murder of Vera Page: A Case That Science Couldn't Solve

The Murder of Vera Page: A Case That Science Couldn't Solve
News of the Times | Episode 576 | 1931

In 1931, the disappearance of 10-year-old Vera Page sent shockwaves through Hammersmith, West London. When her body was discovered days later, concealed in a garden mere yards from her home, public outrage erupted — and police turned to their most famous forensic expert, Sir Bernard Spilsbury, to help secure a conviction.

Confident in his findings, Spilsbury offered precise testimony on time of death and fibre analysis. But despite his assertions, the case never led to a conviction. In later years, his conclusions were heavily criticised, with modern experts pointing to serious flaws in his methods — raising troubling questions about how justice was pursued, and at what cost.

Featuring:• The tragic death of Vera Page• Spilsbury’s courtroom dominance• Fibre and pathology claims that didn’t hold up• An enduring mystery, and a legacy of doubt

This week’s Further Particulars takes us back to 1893 Soho, where one envelope cutter discovered — too late — that not every conversation starter needs to be followed by demonstration.

What began as a night of friendly boasting at the Carlyle Arms quickly turned tragic when someone posed the eternal question:“Do you think a billiard ball would fit in my mouth?”
🎩Hosted by Robin Coles

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📚 Related cases from the archive:
1930: The Blazing Car Murderer | EP407
https://youtu.be/qqspUfNxmsA
1930: The Case of the Body in the Wall Murder | EP424
https://youtu.be/JgMZHtDud88
1933: The Morton Murder | EP452
https://youtu.be/u5mrp3tbB-Y

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