Join me as I tell the story of Susan Shivers, a 27-year-old woman killed in Glasgow, Scotland, in March 2007.
00:00 Intro
00:11 Ice breakers
01:02 Location facts
02:24 The UK’s knife crime epidemic
06:24 Who was Joshua Hall?
09:42 The murder
15:20 The arrest of Harley Demmon
21:01 The trial
24:55 Outro
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Hello everyone and welcome to British murders the podcast focusing exclusively on British murder cases and serial killers I’m your host Stuart blues and this is the sixth episode of season 12 before we get into it let’s break the ice the Show’s first opening Icebreaker segment is this true facts it sound like
B did you know that despite being 115 times bigger than Bangladesh Russia has a lower population current estimates have Bangladesh as population has been just short of 173 million whereas Russ’s is around 144 and a half million now it’s time for the show’s final opening Icebreaker segment random Court of the
Day courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently that was said by Maya Angelou it was an anonymous listener that requested this case via the contact form at British murders. comom we’re in the village of Cam this week c located
Within the Southwest England County of gloustershire it’s located .8 mil north of dle 26 Mi west of swinden with a d not a t this time and 94 Mi west of London here are five quick fire facts about cam number one the first written record of Cam is in the Doomsday Book
1086 the original spelling was Kama c a m m a which is Celtic and pre-christian in origin possibly meaning River in the valley number two Cam’s history is closely associated with the Woolen industry with several Old Mills still in existence number three the cotswald way runs less than a mile from the village
And it’s proud to be the home of Cam and dersley station number four a battle was apparently fought in cam in the time of Edward the Elder so we’re talking the very late 9th or early 10th Century it was fought between the Danes and the Saxons and number five the Parish Church
Of St George is a grade one listed building in cam registered with historic England it was constructed primarily in the 14th century according to the 2021 census Cam’s estimated population is 8,520 given this story’s events I felt it only logical to open the episode by discussing knife crime
If you live outside of the UK you might not be aware that we Brits are currently living in the midst of what a lot of people are calling a knife crime epidemic it seems like every single day the news is reporting on the death of a youngster typically a teenage boy who’s
Been stabbed to death by one of his peers I had never heard of the term zombie knife until very recently but my God is it frightening when you see images of the weapons some of today’s youth feel the need to to carry around with them at all times the logic behind
Carrying such devastating weapons is supposedly for protection it seems like a vicious cycle someone gets threatened with a knife so they decide to carry a knife of their own then someone gets stabbed and killed leading to more people carrying knives to protect themselves and repeat around
A month ago I recall seeing actor Idris Elber on the news promoting his don’t stop your future campaign to highlight the issue a knife crime he was spoken to by various news outlets as he stood by a symbolic display at Parliament Square in Westminster London on a small patch of
Grass lay more than 200 perfectly folded bundles of clothing representing just some of the young lives lost to knife crime so each bundle was made up of clothes from a victim of knife crime and there was over 200 it was heroin if you get a chance to see an image of him
Standing by the cloth it’ll likely bring a tear I took the liberty of compiling some key stats around this Hot Topic which may shock you because this certainly did me the most recent report I could find was published on October 13th 2023 by the House of Commons Library between 2022
And 23 there were around 50 and a half thousand defenses involving a sharp instrument in England and Wales that’s excluding Devon and Cornwall that’s 4.7% higher than in 20212 to but also 7% lower than in 201920 the main offenses involving a knife or sharp instrument recorded in
2223 were assault with injury and intent to cause serious harm and robbery accounting for 48.4 and 41.5% respectively regarding homicides the latest data for the year ending march 2022 suggests there were 218 involving a knife or sharp instrument the highest number of homicides using a sharp instrument between 1977 and 2022 was
282 recorded in the year ending march 2022 that accounted for 41% of all homicides over the last decade 38% of homicides involved a sharp instrument males are typically the victims of homicide involving a knife or sharp instrument with 44% being killed by such a method the percentage of female victims is 3
2% perhaps what’s most concerning is the data about young people by which I mean teenagers in the year ending march 2018 which is the most recent data available 6.5% of 10 to 15 year olds so even younger than teenagers was said to know someone who carried a knife when it
Comes to charges for the possession of a knife or an offensive weapon children aged 10 to 17 were the offenders in 18% of cases W8 those within that age range referred to as juveniles in the report had a 7% custody rate and a 31% caution rate adults by comparison had a 35% custody
Rate and a 31% caution rate juveniles received a community sentence in 56% of cases the adult rate was 177% and it’s with that that we move on to this week’s story Joshua Hall was born in September 2003 and was affectionately known to those close to
Him as Josh welcomed to the World by his dating parents Kirsty and Michael Joshua would soon take on the role of Big Brother when little Elijah fondly referred to as Eli was born in the mid-2010s taken to the role like a duct to water Joshua was idolized by Elijah
And for good reason those fortunate enough to have known Joshua spoke of his ability to brighten any room he walked into regardless of the mood before he entered he had an innate ability to put a smile on people’s faces so much so that it was impossible to stay mad at
Him for more than a few seconds one look at his cheeky face and infectious smile would instantly make you forget what he’d just done moments earlier such was his Charisma and charm a funny lad Joshua was as far as I can tell the life and soul of the party one of his
Favorite pastimes was heading to the local skate park with his mates to try out new tricks on their scooters whether or not they landed the trick was irrelevant just being out together having a laugh and enjoying their youth that was the most important thing growing up Joshua shared a special bond
With his mom as he grew older and became more independent their relationship became less like parent and child and more like close friends they regularly walked the family dog together messaged frequently and even had a heartwarming nightly routine where they’d spend a dedicated 10 minutes of Oro together
Whilst Michael put Elijah to bed such tranquil moments will have meant the absolute world to kir and she no doubt used the thought of those Brief Encounters to help her get through some of the more difficult days she may have experienced it was Sumit to look forward
To a quality that stood out to me whilst researching Joshua’s background was his empathy in the aftermath of the tragic events which I’ll come on to shortly a wave of people contacted Kirsty and Michael to tell stories of how Joshua had helped them get through some dark
Times he had time for everyone and was happy to be an outlet for those who were struggling if anyone ever needed a shoulder to cry on he’d be there for them so many people’s lives were made better because Joshua was in them which makes this story all the more upsetting
At school Joshua was doing extremely well an intelligent lad he had plans to take his career down the Creative Media path the subject he chose to study at College 17 years old at the time of this story Joshua had begun to learn how to drive he also had a girlfriend with whom
He hoped to share his bright future kiry and Michael have said they were confident that Joshua would have excelled in any chosen career path and given how valuable he was to his peers as a teenager one can only imagine how much happiness he’d have brought to others as an adult sadly all those
Future prospects would be taken away from him within the space of 2 minutes during Easter of 2021 that year the 2 we Easter break for schools in England began on April 1st with schools reopening on Monday the 19th the Friday before April 16th was the day Joshua had agreed to meet up
With a 15-year-old lad to quote settle their differences it’s important to provide some context here but just be aware that the precise order in which these events occurred is known only by those in attendance based on the information I found this is what happened to the best
Of my knowledge in the months leading up to April 16th the two teenagers had a bit of beef which seems to have been based on a misunderstanding the 15-year-old was under the impression that Joshua had insulted him as well as made some derogatory insults about a girl possibly
The lad’s sister which doesn’t appear to be true it’s unclear whether Joshua was aware of the alleged beef because most sources indicate the aggressor and instigator was most certainly this 15-year-old I will name him at the end of the story but I want to keep things chronological and at this point in the
Reporting his name was kept out of the media due to his age contrary to what the 15-year-old would later say about Joshua being the bigger boy when they met he was in fact pretty much the same height as him minus a cimer and they had the same build they
Wer a mismatch is the point I’m getting at the following is a statement made by the 15-year-old after the events of April 16th in which he explains according to him at least why he and Joshua had agreed to meet that day it’s because of what Joshua had said
About a particular girl I wanted to talk to him and discuss it with him but he didn’t want to know in the runup to the incident with Joshua I’d heard that he and his friends had jumped a boy and that an alleged drug dealer had chased
Them off they came to me and I said I would try and sort it out with Joshua and his friends we spoke to them on the phone but this ended up with all of us shouting at each other in a big argument Joshua stated that he had anal sex with
A girl on the phone which made me feel angry I told him to shut up but I couldn’t hear what the others were saying as they were all shouting down the phone at the same time therein lies the supposed misunder understanding that phone call sounds like it was a hectic
One with several people talking all over each other the alleged insults thrown towards a girl again who some claim was the 15-year-old sister were completely taken out of context and led to the lad being angry with Joshua when he’ done nothing wrong it wasn’t even Joshua who’ said
The alleged comments by all accounts leading up to their meeting the 15-year-old had been posting concerning messages all over social media in which he explained in no uncertain terms what he planned to do to Joshua a couple of examples of said messages which as a warning include course language were as
Follows I’m [ __ ] going out there tonight and I’m going to [ __ ] murder the [ __ ] if I see him another was I’m going in the [ __ ] Pub tonight and I’m going to kick off and be like where the [ __ ] is he or else you’re all getting stabbed seeing those messages Joshua
Knew just how the lad felt about him and he fully expected a hated argument when they met and didn’t rule out the likelihood Ood of a potential fist fight he had no idea his adversary would bring a concealed weapon the concept of him doing so was likely a completely foreign
To someone like Joshua as the two exchanged messages around midday on April 16th they agreed the best place to meet would be near the Pavilion at the Cricket Club cam Sports Club is the home of Cam Bulldogs AFC cam Cricket Club and Cam and dersley Tennis
Club neither of the two wanted to turn up alone so each brought a couple of mates with him to ensure they were outnumbered agreeing to meet at the ground between 1: p.m. and half the 15-year-old arrived on the back of a truck driven by a local Builder
According to him as he walked up to the Pavilion steps he shouted what have you been saying about the girl Joshua then supposedly replied by asking him what he was on about before a pushing match turned into a fist fight little did Joshua know that concealed in his waistband the 15-year-old had an
Extremely sharp boning knife with a 5 in Blade the entire exchange lasted less than 2 minutes and ended abruptly when the knife was withdrawn and used to slasher and stab Joshua multiple times with those in attendance trying to comprehend what they just witnessed the severely wounded Joshua clutched his
Stomach and managed to walk a few yards around the Pavilion before collapsing on the plane field the Emergency Services were called by one of the other teenagers present during the attack who informed the call Handler that Joshua had been stabbed and was bleeding profusely they were told to place Joshua
Into the recovery position and the help was on the way both police and paramedics were sent to the scene with the latter doing their utmost to save Joshua’s life before transferring him to the nearest hospital one paramedic who arrived at the scene via air ambulance performed an operation
At the scene in attempt to restart Joshua’s heart such a procedure is only ever done as a last resort which shows just how critical his condition was after the stabbing he was eventually taken to South me hospital in Bristol to be operated on further meanwhile at the Cricut Pavilion officers began speaking
To Witnesses and search the surrounding areas the 15-year-old was later revealed to have sent or received over 70 messages on his phone including on the app Snapchat to various people he also messaged his girlfriend and informed her that he was going to prison that was sent at 1:24 p.m. just minutes
After he attacked Joshua eventually he called 112 one of the UK’s National emergency numbers and informed the call Handler during the two minutes they spoke that he’d stab someone he then repeatedly said he didn’t mean to do it around 30 minutes after Joshua was attacked officers found the 15-year-old boy responsible and
Arrested him when they asked where the knife was he informed them that he ditched it in a bush by an Alleyway just off the plane field it was swiftly recovered and taken in as evidence the arresting officers recalled the teenagers saying it was me I did it
Okay I did it I did it I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to honestly why did I do it as he was taken into custody the medical staff at South meid Hospital worked on saving Joshua’s life the list of injuries he sustained was astronomical the sheer volume of swipes made by the
15-year-old led to Joshua’s clothes being torn in various places attempting to defend himself from the onslaught Joshua raised his left hand during the attack which led to the burning knife causing a cut so deep it went through the muscle and to the bone in total he had six serious stab wounds
Including to his left arm and his abdomen the next 11 hours were agonizing for Kirsty and Michael who were praying for their eldest son’s survival as they sat by his bedside a group of doctors entered the room and informed them that nothing more could be done to save his
Life he was being kept alive only by a life support machine so his parents made the incredibly tough decision to turn it off they didn’t want to prolong his suffering Kirsty recalled saying to Joshua you are hurt so badly Josh and you will not come back back from this go
And be with your sister I promise I will be okay don’t worry about me I took from that Joshua must have had a sister who passed away previously but I struggled to find any more information about that the monitors stopped at 1:05 a.m. on April 17th Joshua passed away shortly
After a subsequent postmortem conducted by pathologist Dr Edward Williams confirmed these six serious stabbings although he was unable to tell in which order they’d been received Dr Williams said it was the horizontal stab that ultimately caused the Fatal injury the knife severed the main aorta to the
Heart as well as piercing through the liver and taking a notch out of the vertebrae the degree of force would have been moderate to have caused those injuries the 15-year-old was questioned for a total of 36 hours before being informed that he was going to be rearrested and this time charged with murdering
Joshua despite previously admitting to having killed Joshua albeit by saying he didn’t mean to the teen quickly changed his story so that it was more beneficial to his case wanting to appear as though the fight was instigated by Joshua and that he’ acted in self-defense the 15-year-old said the first thing Joshua
Said to me was a sexual reference to a girl that we both knew I told him to shut up it is clear he wanted a fight he came over to me and started punching ing me he hit me two or three times before I pulled the knife out of my waistband I
Held it out and told him to back off I had no intention of using the knife I merely wanted to frighten him he became agitated and even more aggressive he just kept on coming at me he punched me to my face and stomach At Close Quarters
I was trying to protect myself I had no intention of using the knife on him and I can only think his injuries were inflicted accidentally I merely wanted him to stop punching me I was defending myself he was much older and stronger than me as I mentioned earlier aside from
Being a couple of years younger although he turned 16 not long after the incident he and Joshua had pretty much identical Heights and builds there was also plenty of evidence that contradicted the lad’s statement CCTV footage showed him and his two mates arriving and leaving the club the time stamps indicated the incident
Couldn’t have lasted more than two minutes meaning it was highly unlikely that enough time had passed for self-defense to be believable detectives were confident that the attack was planned analysis of the burning knife revealed that the 15-year-old’s DNA was present on the handle whilst also confirming the blood on the other end was
Joshua’s initially four arrests were made in the aftermath of Joshua Hall being stabbed along with the boy who stabbed him another 15-year-old a 20-year-old and a 29-year-old were all taken in for questioning I suspect the 15 and 20-year-olds may have been the two who accompanied the boy charged with
Murder to the scene the 29-year-old was arrested on suspicion of murder and the supply of Class B drugs a Glouster police spokesperson said the arrest follows information that was developed about another individual who may have been involved in Friday’s fatal stabbing a 20-year-old man and a second 15-year-old boy who were arrested last
Week remain released under investigation I’m not quite sure what happened to the 29-year-old as well the 15-year-old’s murder trial was due to begin on October 11th 2021 at Gloucester Crown Court but the case prosecutor soon reported that he tested positive for covid-19 the judge Mr Justice Chamberlain decided the best thing to do
Would be to discharge the current jury made up of seven men and five women and set a new trial date for the following week with a new jury of eight men and four women being sworn in on October 18th the trial could now begin the defendant pleaded not guilty to Joshua’s
Murder and when asked about why he carried a knife he said to him it was no different than carrying a mobile phone it was an everyday object that he never left the house without he said if the knife is not in my bag it’s in my waistband between my joggers and my
Underwear with the handle poking out the top he claimed it had been given to him for his own protection in the aftermath of an incident which saw him confronted by a violent drug dealer who bundled him into a car and punched him in the face that was about 6 weeks before he stabbed
Joshua I just wanted the knife as a backup he said this was a stupid decision in hindsight I didn’t know that I had stabbed Joshua until he lifted his shirt and showed me that he had been stabbed during the trial an alternative charge of manslaughter was added to the
Indictment but he denied that too on November 4th the jury returned to the court after retiring for just over 3 hours they found the defendant guilty of murder Mr Justice Chamberlain said in just one minute the defendant and Joshua exchanged words got involved in pushing and shoving each other followed by the
Youth withdrawing his knife and stabbing his victim at least six times this was followed by another exchange of words after which the youth fled from the scene on February 4th 2022 the 15-year-old was sentenced to detention for life with with a minimum term of 14 years that was less the 291 days he’d
Already served in detention before the trial and while awaiting sentence his parole eligibility date is August 3rd 2035 upon hearing the defendant apologized to her and Michael during the trial Kirsty said after the sentencing I do not accept your apology and I will never find forgiveness for the action you took on that
Day on the same day he was sentenced a court application was granted meaning he could be publicly named Joshua Hall’s killer was Harley demon someone who reportedly had a good relationship with his family made up of his mom dad sister and brother not a fan of school demon was
Excluded no less than eight times four of those being for violence discussing his education demon said I didn’t really enjoy school I found it quite challenging when I didn’t go to school I obtained some work experience on building sites at weekends I would go out with the few friends I
Have and meet at the skate park or at the sports ground demon who had a side hustle of selling Vapes to his friends after buying them in bulk was once part of a group of youths who ganged up on a boy and assaulted him the incident was
Recorded on a mobile phone and shown to the jury during his trial on April 16th 2022 the first anniversary of Joshua’s death a tribute was held in memory of him at the skate park he so regularly visited with his mates organized by his close friend Jordan site the tribute at jubile skate
Park was followed by an evening Candlelight Memorial and the release of balloons into the night sky glou police released a moving video tribute in memory of the boy missed so dearly by not just his friends and family but by the entire local community too and that was the story of the murder
Of Joshua Hall thanks again Anonymous listener for requesting that case I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts on it we’ve covered quite a lot of controversial topics in that one please consider heading to patreon.com British murders and signing up for a membership if you choose my OB or CBE tier you’ll
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This week’s case did and that’s it for another episode I’ve been Stewart Blues this has been British murders thanks so much for listening until next time cheerio