DAVID BURGESS CAUGHT IN BEENHAM: BRUTAL MURDERER OF TEENAGER SENTENCED TO LIFE

In a landmark case that has spanned over five decades, David Burgess, a man with a notorious history of violent crimes in the sleepy Berkshire village of Beenham, has been convicted of the murder of 17-year-old Yolande Waddington. The tragic killing occurred in October 1966, just days after Yolande had arrived in the village to work as a children’s nurse, and her body was discovered two days later in a ditch, naked and bearing the marks of a violent struggle.

Yolande Waddington had been last seen leaving the Six Bells public house on the night of October 28, 1966, shortly before closing time. She had gone there to purchase a packet of cigarettes and was never seen alive again. Witnesses at the pub reported seeing her leave, but she vanished into the night, and her whereabouts remained unknown for nearly half a century. Her body was found in a ditch, with two stab wounds to her chest and back, though these injuries did not directly cause her death. The investigation into her murder was one of the most extensive in the area’s history, involving over 4,000 witness statements and blood testing of all 200 men in the village, a pioneering effort at the time.

At the scene, investigators recovered bloodstained items of Yolande’s clothing, including a beige jumper believed to belong to her, as well as blood-splattered articles. A bloodied penknife, similar to one owned by Burgess, was also found. During the investigation, Burgess was identified as a prime suspect due to his proximity to the scene and his status as one of the last people to see Yolande alive. Despite this, initial DNA testing in the 1960s did not conclusively link him to the crime, as his blood only partially matched the evidence found at the scene. Other suspects, including Burgess’s brother John, had blood types that matched some evidence, but none were definitive.

Remarkably, the case remained open, and in early 1967, the police continued to pursue leads. That same year, Burgess was implicated in the disappearance and murder of two nine-year-old girls, Jeanette Wigmore and Jacqueline Williams, who vanished from Beenham and were later found dead at Blake’s Pit, a disused gravel quarry. Burgess was convicted of their murders in July 1967, despite his persistent denials and claims that he saw another man, McNab, at the scene of the gravel pit.

Throughout his life, Burgess maintained his innocence regarding Yolande’s murder, although he confessed to prison officers while incarcerated in Durham Prison. His statements, however, were inconsistent, and he often challenged the police to prove his guilt. Burgess’s criminal record was extensive, including convictions for drowning two nine-year-old girls, wounding with intent, and making false benefit claims. He also escaped from an open prison near Bristol in September 1996 and was recaptured after an armed bank robbery in Hampshire in 1998.

It was only recently, with advances in DNA profiling, that the case against Burgess was conclusively strengthened. Re-examination of evidence in 2011 revealed that DNA found on a polythene fertiliser sack, a white hairband, and a comb matched Burgess’s profile. Notably, some items, including Yolande’s sweater, had been lost over the years, but the remaining evidence was sufficient to establish his guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Prosecutor John Price emphasized the significance of the DNA evidence, stating that the probability of the DNA matching an unrelated individual was less than one in a billion.

During the trial at Reading Crown Court, Burgess chose not to testify in his defense. The jury, composed of seven men and five women, deliberated for five days before reaching a verdict of guilty by an 11 to 1 majority. Burgess, now aged 64, showed no visible emotion as the verdict was read, standing with his arms folded in the dock. The public gallery was filled with sighs and expressions of relief, especially from Yolande’s family, including her younger brother Giles, who was only eight years old at the time of her death. Giles spoke emotionally about the “unimaginable pain” his family had endured over the years, as the case was finally brought to a close.

High Court Judge Mr. Justice Nicol indicated that Burgess’s history of violent crimes would be considered an aggravating factor during sentencing, which was scheduled for the following Monday. The case has not only brought justice for Yolande Waddington but also highlighted the importance of modern forensic techniques in solving cold cases that once seemed unsolvable.