Police Constable Sidney Miles was shot by Christopher Craig on the night of November 2, 1952 when police caught Craig and Derek Bentley attempting to rob the Barlow & Parker company in Croydon. A little girl had seen the 16-year old Craig and 19-year old Bentley climbing the gate into the confectionery and called the constables (who were unarmed), who chased the teens (who had a a gun) to the roof. Officer Frederick Fairfax grabbed Bentley and told Craig to hand over the gun. Bentley said "Let him have it, Chris," the intent of this statement became the subject of much debate. Craig shot Fairfax and then Miles before jumping off the roof. The two young men would be charged with murder, even though there was a question as to Bentley's mental capacity (his IQ test when imprisoned tested at 77) and his guilt. The defense argued that Bentley meant "give the cop the gun" not "shoot him." In spite of those arguments, Bentley was sentenced to be hanged and Craig to be detained at her Majesty's Pleasure. After exhausting his appeals Bentley was hanged on January 28, 1953. After a lengthy campaign, he was posthumously pardoned by the Crown in 1993. Elvis Costello wrote "Let Him Dangle" about Derek Bentley's crime and punishment. The song was released in 1989 on his album Spike!
