News / Politics
British Police Charge Man in Prostitute Killings
British police have charged Steven Wright of Ipswich with five counts of murder, two days after arresting the 48-year-old on suspicion of the prostitute killings.
Wright will be held in custody and appear before the magistrate’s court in Ipswich on Friday. Senior prosecutor for the Suffolk Crown Prosecution Service said “This evening we have made the decision that there is sufficient evidence and authorized that Wright ... should be charged.”
The murders of five prostitutes around Ipswich gained international attention and brought back memories of Jack the Ripper. Residents of the rural town grew frightened of the prospect that they may fall victim to the serial killer, and a large scale police effort was undertaken to end the killing spree that began with the discovery of 25-year-old Gemma Adams on December 2.
Six days following the discovery of Adams, 19-year-old Tania Nicol was found in the same stream. Over the next four days the bodies of Anneli Alderton, Paula Clennell and Annette Nicholls were found.
Police had arrested a 37-year-old man on Monday and questioned his involvement in the crime. Local media outlets identified the man as Tom Stephens, a local supermarket worker. He was released after police filed the charges against Wright.
