Quote: Moonstone @ November 11 2009, 7:00 PM GMTHmm, I'm not sure that was him. The bloke I'm thinking of shot a copper or summat.
Are you thinking the very famous case of Derek Bentley (as played by Christopher Ecclestone in the film Let Him Have It)? He was the accessory to the murder of a police officer, who was tried alongside his underage accomplice (who fired the shot and was spared death due to his age). The crux of the case hinged on whether Bentley having been heard to say "Let him have it, Chris" referred to an instruction to shoot the officer, or (as seems more likely) to hand over the gun when challenged. Bentley had quite severe learning difficulties also.
He was hanged in 1953, some 15 years before the death penalty was finally abolished. However, his case sparked a national outrage and played a significant part in the campaign that eventually led to abolishing capital punishment.