Killer Donald Neilson - who murdered an East Lancashire postmaster - told doctors he didn't want to live

Killer Donald Neilson (left) and Baxenden postmaster Derek Astin Killer Donald Neilson (left) and Baxenden postmaster Derek Astin

Serial killer Donald Neilson, who murdered an East Lancashire postmaster, had asked prison staff not to keep him alive if his health deteriorated, an inquest has heard.

The 75-year-old, known as the Black Panther after his 1970s murder spree, was suffering from the irreversible muscle-wasting condition motor neurone disease.

He died on December 18 after being transferred from Norwich Prison to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, suffering from a chest infection and pneumonia.

The inquest in Norwich heard Neilson had been a “challenging and uncooperative” patient who had asked medics not to resuscitate him should he ever suffer a cardiac arrest.

A jury then returned a verdict that Neilson died of natural causes. The inquest heard that motor neurone sufferers are particularly vulnerable to chest conditions.

Neilson had been moved to Norwich Prison from Full Sutton in East Yorkshire, after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2009.

He was given four life sentences in 1975 and was one of a small group of notorious prisoners who were told they would spend the rest of their lives behind bars.

The jobbing builder kidnapped 17-year-old Lesley Whittle from her home in Shropshire, with a ransom demand for £50,000.

Her body was later found in an underground drain.

Neilson also shot three sub-postmasters dead in armed robberies between February and November 1974.

Those victims included Derek Astin, in Baxenden. He was also responsible for about 400 burglaries during a 10-year criminal career and was dubbed ‘The Black Panther’ as a result of of his dark clothing and powerful physique.

Comments(19)

happycyclist says...
10:47am Tue 14 Aug 12

His life should have ended in 1975. What a waste of money keeping him alive for the past 37 years.

RUinsane says...
11:11am Tue 14 Aug 12

happycyclist wrote:
His life should have ended in 1975. What a waste of money keeping him alive for the past 37 years.
Agreed, total waste of oxygen and other resources.

Redbike says...
1:56pm Tue 14 Aug 12

I hope he suffered a long and painful death. Good riddance.

Angry Bob says...
4:31pm Tue 14 Aug 12

I challenge anybody to justify keeping this individual alive all this time.

Even the do-gooders of this world would have struggled to argue against the death penalty on this occasion.

makaveli96 says...
4:40pm Tue 14 Aug 12

happycyclist wrote:
His life should have ended in 1975. What a waste of money keeping him alive for the past 37 years.
Why do we even need prisons?

All CRIMINALS should be recycled!

The meat could be used as food, and the bones and hair for glue and clothing.

We would blood a perfect "good" society for our children to live in.

mikebuk says...
5:36pm Tue 14 Aug 12

Who was that chap who suggested similar ?, er Adolf summat.

happycyclist says...
5:51pm Tue 14 Aug 12

makaveli96 wrote:
happycyclist wrote:
His life should have ended in 1975. What a waste of money keeping him alive for the past 37 years.
Why do we even need prisons?

All CRIMINALS should be recycled!

The meat could be used as food, and the bones and hair for glue and clothing.

We would blood a perfect "good" society for our children to live in.
Tell that to Derek Astin's family.

Michael@ClitheroeSince58 says...
6:10pm Tue 14 Aug 12

No one has the right to take a Life, not even one like this. It's pretty clear he hates the life he has and no longer wants it to continue it, so in my opinion justice is doing an excellent job.

Chris P Bacon says...
7:36pm Tue 14 Aug 12

Angry Bob wrote:
I challenge anybody to justify keeping this individual alive all this time.

Even the do-gooders of this world would have struggled to argue against the death penalty on this occasion.
He needs to be kept alive because otherwise, we pander to the wishes of vermin.

He wants a way out, so we give it to him? Grow up.

Brady wants a way out but he won't be given it. Fred West escaped justice by carking himself as did Harold Shipman. The best way to deal with vermin is to make them confront the enormity of their evil, not giving them an easy way out when they're caught.

And only the feeble-minded call for our country to ally with some of the worst, most evil regimes on the planet and kill people in the name of the state so please don't assume anyone going against your blood-**** is a 'do-gooder'.

makaveli96 says...
8:42pm Tue 14 Aug 12

Chris P Bacon wrote:
Angry Bob wrote:
I challenge anybody to justify keeping this individual alive all this time.

Even the do-gooders of this world would have struggled to argue against the death penalty on this occasion.
He needs to be kept alive because otherwise, we pander to the wishes of vermin.

He wants a way out, so we give it to him? Grow up.

Brady wants a way out but he won't be given it. Fred West escaped justice by carking himself as did Harold Shipman. The best way to deal with vermin is to make them confront the enormity of their evil, not giving them an easy way out when they're caught.

And only the feeble-minded call for our country to ally with some of the worst, most evil regimes on the planet and kill people in the name of the state so please don't assume anyone going against your blood-**** is a 'do-gooder'.
I agree. Why don't we punish him though. I don't mean prison I mean pain! This country's to soft and to politically correct. Torture of vermin would work and should be the way forward. Removal of bodily parts, water torture, lack of sleep, etc etc...

Chris P Bacon says...
8:56pm Tue 14 Aug 12

makaveli96 wrote:
Chris P Bacon wrote:
Angry Bob wrote:
I challenge anybody to justify keeping this individual alive all this time.

Even the do-gooders of this world would have struggled to argue against the death penalty on this occasion.
He needs to be kept alive because otherwise, we pander to the wishes of vermin.

He wants a way out, so we give it to him? Grow up.

Brady wants a way out but he won't be given it. Fred West escaped justice by carking himself as did Harold Shipman. The best way to deal with vermin is to make them confront the enormity of their evil, not giving them an easy way out when they're caught.

And only the feeble-minded call for our country to ally with some of the worst, most evil regimes on the planet and kill people in the name of the state so please don't assume anyone going against your blood-**** is a 'do-gooder'.
I agree. Why don't we punish him though. I don't mean prison I mean pain! This country's to soft and to politically correct. Torture of vermin would work and should be the way forward. Removal of bodily parts, water torture, lack of sleep, etc etc...
It's been considered but once the European Court of Human Rights legislation committee got wind of the inhuman suggestion of making them go to Ewok Park EVERY HOME GAME, it was booted out. All the other things on your list are up for ratification though, apparently!

Babbar Divino says...
9:02pm Tue 14 Aug 12

Michael@ClitheroeSin
ce58
wrote:
No one has the right to take a Life, not even one like this. It's pretty clear he hates the life he has and no longer wants it to continue it, so in my opinion justice is doing an excellent job.
Just wanted to point out that he's actually dead chief, died last year. I'm sure it says somthing to that effect in the article.

Michael@ClitheroeSince58 says...
9:52pm Tue 14 Aug 12

Babbar Divino wrote:
Michael@ClitheroeSin

ce58
wrote:
No one has the right to take a Life, not even one like this. It's pretty clear he hates the life he has and no longer wants it to continue it, so in my opinion justice is doing an excellent job.
Just wanted to point out that he's actually dead chief, died last year. I'm sure it says somthing to that effect in the article.
Yeah he died last year.

RUinsane says...
11:14pm Tue 14 Aug 12

Chris P Bacon wrote:
makaveli96 wrote:
Chris P Bacon wrote:
Angry Bob wrote:
I challenge anybody to justify keeping this individual alive all this time.

Even the do-gooders of this world would have struggled to argue against the death penalty on this occasion.
He needs to be kept alive because otherwise, we pander to the wishes of vermin.

He wants a way out, so we give it to him? Grow up.

Brady wants a way out but he won't be given it. Fred West escaped justice by carking himself as did Harold Shipman. The best way to deal with vermin is to make them confront the enormity of their evil, not giving them an easy way out when they're caught.

And only the feeble-minded call for our country to ally with some of the worst, most evil regimes on the planet and kill people in the name of the state so please don't assume anyone going against your blood-**** is a 'do-gooder'.
I agree. Why don't we punish him though. I don't mean prison I mean pain! This country's to soft and to politically correct. Torture of vermin would work and should be the way forward. Removal of bodily parts, water torture, lack of sleep, etc etc...
It's been considered but once the European Court of Human Rights legislation committee got wind of the inhuman suggestion of making them go to Ewok Park EVERY HOME GAME, it was booted out. All the other things on your list are up for ratification though, apparently!
Some suggested shaving their legs, but that was deemed to be denying them their masculinity. It was decided this is only done by weirdos who want to go faster and grow sideburns.

RUinsane says...
11:17pm Tue 14 Aug 12

Michael@ClitheroeSin
ce58
wrote:
Babbar Divino wrote:
Michael@ClitheroeSin


ce58
wrote:
No one has the right to take a Life, not even one like this. It's pretty clear he hates the life he has and no longer wants it to continue it, so in my opinion justice is doing an excellent job.
Just wanted to point out that he's actually dead chief, died last year. I'm sure it says somthing to that effect in the article.
Yeah he died last year.
Then he should be dug up, set on fire, dragged behind a toyota landcruiser and hit with shoes, then set on fire again, then dragged behind the pickup again.
Theres nothing like a good send off.

Angry Bob says...
1:12am Wed 15 Aug 12

RUinsane wrote:
Michael@ClitheroeSin

ce58
wrote:
Babbar Divino wrote:
Michael@ClitheroeSin



ce58
wrote:
No one has the right to take a Life, not even one like this. It's pretty clear he hates the life he has and no longer wants it to continue it, so in my opinion justice is doing an excellent job.
Just wanted to point out that he's actually dead chief, died last year. I'm sure it says somthing to that effect in the article.
Yeah he died last year.
Then he should be dug up, set on fire, dragged behind a toyota landcruiser and hit with shoes, then set on fire again, then dragged behind the pickup again.
Theres nothing like a good send off.
Quality!

Angry Bob says...
6:49am Wed 15 Aug 12

Chris P Bacon wrote:
Angry Bob wrote:
I challenge anybody to justify keeping this individual alive all this time.

Even the do-gooders of this world would have struggled to argue against the death penalty on this occasion.
He needs to be kept alive because otherwise, we pander to the wishes of vermin.

He wants a way out, so we give it to him? Grow up.

Brady wants a way out but he won't be given it. Fred West escaped justice by carking himself as did Harold Shipman. The best way to deal with vermin is to make them confront the enormity of their evil, not giving them an easy way out when they're caught.

And only the feeble-minded call for our country to ally with some of the worst, most evil regimes on the planet and kill people in the name of the state so please don't assume anyone going against your blood-**** is a 'do-gooder'.
It's a matter of opinion Chris, personally I don't see why the taxpayer should have to fork out £50 K plus per prisoner per year to sustain these individuals who have committed atrocious crimes and will never put anything back into society.

And I'm not in any way suggesting that we take a leaf out of Syria's book when it comes to this topic. There's absolutely nothing feeble minded about wanting to see people like Ian Huntley and Roy Whiting permanently removed from the world, they may be limited in what they can do for the rest of their lives and have to reflect on their bidding but they still ultimately enjoy the gift that they have callously taken away from others.

I'm not assuming that everybody who opposes capital punishment is a do gooder but there are too many people out there who simply give credit to the human rights of people like Huntley for example without weighing it up against the horrific crimes they have committed.

Chris P Bacon says...
7:25am Wed 15 Aug 12

Angry Bob wrote:
Chris P Bacon wrote:
Angry Bob wrote:
I challenge anybody to justify keeping this individual alive all this time.

Even the do-gooders of this world would have struggled to argue against the death penalty on this occasion.
He needs to be kept alive because otherwise, we pander to the wishes of vermin.

He wants a way out, so we give it to him? Grow up.

Brady wants a way out but he won't be given it. Fred West escaped justice by carking himself as did Harold Shipman. The best way to deal with vermin is to make them confront the enormity of their evil, not giving them an easy way out when they're caught.

And only the feeble-minded call for our country to ally with some of the worst, most evil regimes on the planet and kill people in the name of the state so please don't assume anyone going against your blood-**** is a 'do-gooder'.
It's a matter of opinion Chris, personally I don't see why the taxpayer should have to fork out £50 K plus per prisoner per year to sustain these individuals who have committed atrocious crimes and will never put anything back into society.

And I'm not in any way suggesting that we take a leaf out of Syria's book when it comes to this topic. There's absolutely nothing feeble minded about wanting to see people like Ian Huntley and Roy Whiting permanently removed from the world, they may be limited in what they can do for the rest of their lives and have to reflect on their bidding but they still ultimately enjoy the gift that they have callously taken away from others.

I'm not assuming that everybody who opposes capital punishment is a do gooder but there are too many people out there who simply give credit to the human rights of people like Huntley for example without weighing it up against the horrific crimes they have committed.
But you can't have capital punishment. There's no point arguing for it, it won't happen in your great-great grandchildren's lifetimes. I found this http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Howard_Hugh
es_(murderer) looking it up and when you get vile organisations like the BNP (see down page) wanting to bring it back, even they are being told it's a vote loser.

The fact is, we can all be grateful society hasn't sunk to the levels of these vermin and glorify killing. It was the chief hangman, Albert Pierpoint who was instrumental in getting it abolished. It was also illuminating to see schoolyards and workplaces divided when people were being hanged; some celebrated it while others were repulsed. Obviously, I've no experience of that, just what I've been told by older colleagues and workmates.

happycyclist says...
8:51am Wed 15 Aug 12

The £50K plus it costs keeping people like him alive could be spent giving others (children) a better start in life so that they don't end up in a life of crime.

Strange how many are content to see their hard-earned taxpayers' money spent on keeping scum like that alive for decades but begrudge their taxes supporting law-abiding people who are in the unfortunate position of just not having a job.

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