20th April 1946
Inquiry opens into naked, burned motorist
News of a curious death in Jersey quickly spread to the mainland papers. George Dreux had been found naked and seriously burned close to St Mary’s Lane. His car, which was close by, was still on fire when police arrived and a petrol cap, but not the accompanying can, was later found in his house.
Dreux, who was 31 and unmarried, died on his way to hospital, but an examination of the scene of the burning – and his position when he was found – suggested to police that he had been trying to reach a nearby stream, indicating that this was not a suicide case.
There were very few clues for them to go on, aside from a petrol-soaked singlet at his house and a note on which someone – presumably Dreux – had written three names.
The coroner recorded an open verdict at the subsequent inquest, declaring that the victim had died of shock following burns, but the significance of the three names was never revealed.
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Other events that occured in April
Man tried on priest porn charges
- When pornographic pictures of a Jersey priest started circulating, a man with whom he'd had a long running feud was the natural suspect.
- Read more…
The Durrells debuts on ITV
- ITV serialised the stories of Gerald Durrell's childhood in Corfu in The Durrells, which debuted in April 2016.
- Read more…
Condor’s first crossing between the mainland and Channel Islands
- Condor Ferries first service between the mainland and the Channel Islands set off from Weymouth with Captain Martin Dumont on the bridge.
- Read more…
The St Saviour wireless case show trial
- By 1943, the war was turning against Germany, and its forces realised they needed to control the flow of information. They banned radios.
- Read more…