ALBERT GOOZEE, POOLE CHILD KILLER AND PAEDOPHILE, DIES IN LEICESTERSHIRE CARE HOME

In a somber development, Albert Goozee, a notorious child murderer and convicted paedophile from Poole, has passed away at the age of 86 while residing in an elderly care facility. His death marks the end of a dark chapter in criminal history that spanned over five decades.

Goozee was infamously known for the brutal murders of his landlady, Lydia Leakey, and her 14-year-old daughter, Norma, following a picnic outing in the New Forest. The tragic events took place on June 17, 1956, and shocked the local community and the nation alike. At the time, Goozee was a 26-year-old fitter’s mate and former serviceman, living at the home of Thomas Leakey, Lydia’s husband, on Alexandra Road in Parkstone, Poole. The household also included their daughter Norma.

The investigation revealed that Goozee was found on a forest road, suffering from stab wounds and leaning over the bonnet of a car. Blood trails led investigators directly to the bodies of Lydia and Norma, who had been brutally murdered. Prosecutors in court described how Lydia Leakey, who was 20 years older than Goozee, had been his lover. The prosecution argued that Goozee believed the only way to escape the complicated relationship was through murder, leading him to kill both women.

During the trial, Goozee claimed that Norma had gone to pick bluebells and, upon her return, found him with Lydia. He alleged that Norma then attacked her mother with an axe, which resulted in Lydia’s death. Goozee’s defense suggested that Norma’s actions were in self-defense after discovering the situation. However, the jury took less than four hours to convict him of Norma’s murder, while a second charge of Lydia’s murder remained on file, indicating the severity of the case.

Goozee’s criminal history extended beyond these murders. He was initially sentenced to death, but his execution was commuted to life imprisonment after intervention by the Home Secretary. He was subsequently detained at Broadmoor Hospital, a high-security psychiatric facility. Following his release in the 1970s, Goozee’s criminal activities persisted, and he was convicted of additional crimes, including sexual assaults on young girls aged 12 and 13.

Despite his notorious past, it was only recently revealed that Goozee was living in Cedar Court care home in Wigston, Leicestershire, where his dark history was not publicly known. Reports indicated that he had been refusing food and was found clutching rosary beads in bed, suggesting a decline in his health. It is believed that he died on a Wednesday, with sources noting his condition and the circumstances of his passing.

Goozee’s life and crimes have been the subject of media attention, including a depiction in the 1996 film "Intimate Relations," starring Julie Walters and Rupert Graves, which dramatized the events surrounding the murders and the subsequent trial. His death closes a chapter on one of the most infamous criminal cases in the history of Poole and the surrounding areas.