§ Mr. Patonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to state for 1953 and 1954, respectively, for England and Wales, the number of murders known to the police; the number of murders in which the suspected murderer committed suicide; the number of murders in which the supposed murderer was found unfit to plead or, on pleading, was found guilty but insane; the number of persons charged with murder and acquitted; the number of persons found guilty of murder and sentenced to death; the number of those sentenced to death who were subsequently found to be insane; the number of those sentenced to death who were reprieved; and the number of those sentenced to death who were executed.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeThe number of murders known to the police in England and Wales in 1953, excluding cases ultimately dealt with as manslaughter or infanticide, was 141. In 53 of those cases, the suspected murderer died before trial,51 of them by suicide. In 36 cases the supposed murderer was either found insane on arraignment and unfit to plead, or guilty but insane. Two persons were handed over to the United States authorities for trial; in respect of one person the Attorney-General entered anolle prosequi: and seven persons were acquitted. The number of persons convicted and sentenced to death was 28. Of these, one had his conviction quashed on appeal; one was subsequently certified insane; 10 were reprieved and had their sentences commuted to imprisonment for life; and 16 were executed. Similar information for 1954 is not yet available.