Stephen Young was sentenced to life in prison for the 1993 double murder of newly weds Harry and Nicola Fuller.
However, the verdict of guilty was soon overruled, and a retrial called for, as a "material irregularity" had taken place - the verdict came from a Ouija Board...
However, the verdict of guilty was soon overruled, and a retrial called for, as a "material irregularity" had taken place - the verdict came from a Ouija Board...
Guilt by Ouija
A phone call is made to a United Kingdom emergency number but is not forwarded on to any services as the operator thinks its just children making a prank call. Unfortunately this was very much not the case – a crime was committed and a victim was calling for help.
Eventually the scene is found and a double murder is discovered in Wadhurst, East Sussex. The victims are the newly wed couple of six months Harry and Nicola Fuller. The suspected culprit was insurance broker Stephen Young, his motive – to rob the Fullers in order to pay off his substantial debts.
Mr Young met with the Fullers at their Wadhurst Cottage. Here, Young shot Mr Fuller in the back, killing him near instantly when the shot passed through his heart.
Nicola Fuller was shot four times, the final bullet passed through the back of her head, shattering her jaw, and it is for this reason that the emergency operator did not pass on the call... the sounds of Mrs Fullers shattered jaw clicking and grinding caused the operator to believe it was just kids playing around.
Eventually Stephen Young is arrested, charged and brought to trial for the double murder. A verdict of guilty is given after deliberations and Young is taken away.
Then a piece of information came out which turned the trial on its head, the verdict is quashed and a new trial is given. The reason for this... well...
While the jury was sequestered at a hotel during the double murder trial they decided to have a few drinks. Later in the night the jurors were sent to their rooms by the bailiffs but soon after, four members of that jury, including the foreman, met up in a room and soon a ouija board with empty wine glass planchette was made.
I am not certain whether the intention was to attempt contact with the two victims, Harry and Nicola Fuller, but soon Harry's name was spelt out to them. A conversation took place, freaking out all the participants who soon closed it down. However, before finishing up the session, the planchette did indicate the letters that spelt “vote guilty tomorrow”.
The following morning, over breakfast, the rest of the jury was told what had happened that previous night. That day they passed their guilty verdict and Stephen Young copped life in prison.
When the details of the jury's 'sordid' night got out, a retrial was called. Regardless of whether or not the four jurors who took part in the ouija session had in fact been speaking to the dead did not matter, they still may have been influenced in their decisions based on what took place in that 'experiment'.
At the retrial Young was promptly found guilty once again and given two life sentences.
Eventually the scene is found and a double murder is discovered in Wadhurst, East Sussex. The victims are the newly wed couple of six months Harry and Nicola Fuller. The suspected culprit was insurance broker Stephen Young, his motive – to rob the Fullers in order to pay off his substantial debts.
Mr Young met with the Fullers at their Wadhurst Cottage. Here, Young shot Mr Fuller in the back, killing him near instantly when the shot passed through his heart.
Nicola Fuller was shot four times, the final bullet passed through the back of her head, shattering her jaw, and it is for this reason that the emergency operator did not pass on the call... the sounds of Mrs Fullers shattered jaw clicking and grinding caused the operator to believe it was just kids playing around.
Eventually Stephen Young is arrested, charged and brought to trial for the double murder. A verdict of guilty is given after deliberations and Young is taken away.
Then a piece of information came out which turned the trial on its head, the verdict is quashed and a new trial is given. The reason for this... well...
While the jury was sequestered at a hotel during the double murder trial they decided to have a few drinks. Later in the night the jurors were sent to their rooms by the bailiffs but soon after, four members of that jury, including the foreman, met up in a room and soon a ouija board with empty wine glass planchette was made.
I am not certain whether the intention was to attempt contact with the two victims, Harry and Nicola Fuller, but soon Harry's name was spelt out to them. A conversation took place, freaking out all the participants who soon closed it down. However, before finishing up the session, the planchette did indicate the letters that spelt “vote guilty tomorrow”.
The following morning, over breakfast, the rest of the jury was told what had happened that previous night. That day they passed their guilty verdict and Stephen Young copped life in prison.
When the details of the jury's 'sordid' night got out, a retrial was called. Regardless of whether or not the four jurors who took part in the ouija session had in fact been speaking to the dead did not matter, they still may have been influenced in their decisions based on what took place in that 'experiment'.
At the retrial Young was promptly found guilty once again and given two life sentences.
By Ashley Hall 2014
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