Cardiff Taxi Driver Murder Review
1979 Murder Investigation Revisited
Cardiff Taxi Driver John "Jack" Jackson Murdered
South Wales police have decided to re-open a 1979 murder investigation into the killing of taxi-driver John "Jack" Jackson.
Fifty-eight-year-old Mr Jackson's body was found some three days after his taxi was found abandoned in Treoses lane, Treoes, close to Waterton Industrial Estate, Bridgend, Cardiff on 5th October 1979. The inside of the cab was badly bloodstained, making it apparent to police that something untoward had happened to Jack.
The cabbie's body was discovered three days later, some eleven miles away from where the taxi was abandoned. The area of Cowbridge Common was immediately sealed off and a thorough search made. Jack had suffered horrific head injuries which had ultimately led to his death. It seems that he was most likely killed for just a few pounds from his takings as a cab driver.
The last customer that "Jack" picked up had called for a taxi from outside The Fairwater Hotel in Cardiff and stating his destination as Cowbridge. The customer who had given his name as Williams apparently robbed and murdered Jack then vanished without a trace.
The radio controller at Castle Cabs took the call from "Williams" at around 1.30 pm and dispatched Jack to collect the fare. Jack then called on the radio to say he had picked up his passenger and went silent, he was never heard again.
Just four hours later the taxi was found abandoned in a lane, it was in a real mess with blood everywhere so of course, South Wales police set up a search for the driver. They searched local woodlands and fields throughout the weekend before the bloodied body was discovered, partially hidden in undergrowth on Monday 8th October 1979.
He had been beaten about the head with a blunt instrument, thought to most likely have been a hammer. The murder seems to have been almost completely motiveless except for less than twenty pounds that were missing from Jack's wallet.
Detectives of the time had a good description of the suspected killer; described as white, 6 feet tall, aged around 30 years. He was reportedly seen walking by the A48 road after abandoning the taxi and then jumped on a bus travelling toward the town of Pontypridd.
It seems a little odd to me that the killer managed to get away so easily. The taxi was said to have been heavily bloodstained and in "a right mess", so it stands to reason that the assailant must have had a fair amount of blood on his clothes and hands, did no one not attempt to stop him or call the police?
Many questions were asked with 197 suspects interviewed and hundreds of other statements taken but the killer has never been identified
Evelyn Jackson, Jack's widow made a public appeal to find the killer, saying that she wanted the person responsible identified for the sake of the community and other tazi drivers. Sadly the then chief of South Wales CID, Viv Brook said "it was a complete lack of help from local cabbies which contributed to officers failure to find the murderer".
She said that "several drivers that may well have held vital clues did not come forward because they were moonlighting"
Now the case is being re-examined by detectives in hope that with the advancement of DNA and forensic science, some of the exhibits from the time of the murder may bring evidence to light.
Detective Chief Inspector, Patrick Catto who is heading up the review team said "I am hopeful with the passage of time there could be new investigative opportunities which could help bring the family closure on this long outstanding murder".
DCI Catto went on to say; "No case is ever closed and we remain committed to periodically reviewing unsolved cases in the hope that something new will come to light. The 1979 investigation was thorough and this review is in no way a reflection on our colleagues who were involved at the time. We do however owe it to the victim and his family to ensure that we exploit scientific advance available to us to try to secure the breakthrough we need".
I feel that this case should have been solved a long time ago as I fail to understand how a man could force a taxi driver to drive to a location where he would ultimately be murdered then the assailant drive the car eleven miles back from the scene of the crime and dump it.
The car was covered in blood inside, probably had some blood on the outside so anyone who rode in it must have been covered in blood. This guy then leaves the car, walks along the main road, rides on a bus with other passengers yet no one took action, why? In my opinion, these are the questions that need to be asked.
I somehow feel that there is something more to the killing than a simple £2o out of a wallet, was "Jack" perhaps targetted? Was he may be sent to that fare deliberately? Bear in mind that there was a massive amount of brutal beating, with a weapon, in this case, most likely a hammer so this suggests that the killer set out to murder someone. I mean is a hammer a weapon of robbery? Not easily concealed the way that something like a knife could be.
Get to the reason for the murder, that will identify the killer in my opinion. I realise that there are some pretty sick and evil individuals out there who will kill for much lesser amounts of money but something doesn't sit right with me on this one.
I shall certainly be keeping an eye on the case review and I shall revisit the story if and when there are developments. I will leave it there for now and will be back with the hunt for Kevin Parle by retired Scotland Yard detective, Peter Bleksley in the coming days, so I will see you again very soon.
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