Thursday 5 June 2014

The Raggalds Pub Murder

The Raggalds pub which resides in the Queensbury district of Bradford, was the scene of a bloody murder and woundings by two masked assailants, that left one man dead, and two others injured.  It all began on April 24th 1995, when two masked men burst into the pub with guns and shot dead Michael Briggs, from Abbey Park, Illingworth, Halifax.  The pub landlord, David Baines, a former professional wrestler known as "Dr Death" was wounded, along with customer John Paisley.

    Two local men were arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder.  The charges hung on the fact that David Baines identified the two gunmen by their voices.  Charged were John Spalding and Morgan Duffy.  Duffy, 29, was from Broomfield Street in Queensbury, but was resident in Tenerife, where he was extradited from.  Both were convicted in December 1996 of murder and sentenced to life, plus they received an additional 15 years for the shootings of the two other men. In setting lengthy prison sentences for the two, it was said in court that they carried out the murder on behalf of rivals of Mr Briggs.   Morgan Duffy has been fighting his conviction for a number of years, with the support of his family.  Investigative Author Steve Richards has claimed to have seen details of a deal allegedly worked out between a judge and Police that allowed a prosecution witness not to face firearm charges.  One local man, well known, told me that the word was that one was guilty and the other innocent.  But, none of this constitutes proof, it is only hearsay, so it cannot be presented as proof.  Are Duffy and Spalding innocent?  I have no idea, and this decision can only be taken by the Court of Appeal.  At the end of the day a man was cold bloodedly murdered and those responsible should be punished.

9 comments:

  1. A horrific incident that night which I witnessed, and helped the landlord who was shot 4 times. They are both guilty in my eyes, one had a pistol the other a shot gun and both assailants used them. When 1 goes upstairs for 6 pillowcases what goes through your mind, yes the end is coming.

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  2. A horrific incident that night which I witnessed, and helped the landlord who was shot 4 times. They are both guilty in my eyes, one had a pistol the other a shot gun and both assailants used them. When 1 goes upstairs for 6 pillowcases what goes through your mind, yes the end is coming.

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    1. Hello there. You were in a truly horrific situation which I can never even try to imagine the terror and fear. Yes, one is fighting his conviction and one man claimed to me that one of them was innocent but that is irrelevant as evidence convicts or exonerates, not hearsay. Plus you had to help the landlord with FOUR bullet wounds. Obviously you stood up and told what had happened, and in that I give you total respect. Thank you for contacting me. Respectfully Daryl

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  3. As the wife of Michael Briggs (though we were separated at the time of the incident) I have often thought of the Judges comments that no-one except the accused would ever know what happened, but they did not speak in court. I really would like to know the truth of what happened but think I never will. Elaine Briggs.

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  4. Hello Mrs Briggs. What can I say but it must have been very hard for you seeing this post, concerning the death of your husband. I came across this ase in a book, even though I have lived around here for over ten years, and have only been through Queensbury just the once. I know that one of the convicted has been fighting his conviction, and I put in my post that one person claimed that one of the two was innocent but that means nothing, it is only hearsay. My own personal belief is that if you are innocent then you will scream it from the rooftops but again, that does not imply guilt if you remain silent in court. I have received an email from one of the witnesses who says he believes they have the perpetrators. My deepest condolences, respectfully, Daryl

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  5. dearly missed bro edger thinks of u every day love always.x Andrew Clive Briggs X

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  6. dearly missed bro edger thinks of u every day love always.x Andrew Clive Briggs X

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  7. Hurt never goes away. Respect, Daryl

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  8. Let's be frank here, did anyone from that family ever care about the person they were selling their gear to, or the kids selling it, the family business of innocent looking ice cream vans, keep the kids coming back for more, as far as public safety in bradford and halifax is concerned for every br**gs no longer walking this earth is many kids saved from addiction.

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