Descendants of Jack the Ripper’s Victims Push for New Inquest After DNA Find
Families of Jack the Ripper’s victims seek justice with a new inquest following a significant DNA discovery.
London, UK, Jack the Ripper, Catherine Eddowes, Aaron Kosminski, DNA, Inquest
London: The descendants of Jack the Ripper’s victims are rallying for a new inquest into one of the murders from 1888. They believe new DNA evidence could shed light on the case.
This infamous killer took the lives of at least five women in the Whitechapel area, and despite the years that have passed, the families are still searching for answers.
A shawl, reportedly found on Catherine Eddowes, has DNA from both her and Aaron Kosminski, a Polish barber who lived in the UK back then. This shawl was bought at auction in 2007 by Russell Edwards, a writer and Ripper researcher.
Back in the day, police had their suspicions about Kosminski, but they couldn’t arrest him due to a lack of evidence. Plus, DNA testing wasn’t a thing until much later.
Now, Edwards has brought in a legal team to push for an inquest, arguing that there’s new evidence that a coroner should look at regarding the death and who was behind it.
Descendants of both Eddowes and Kosminski are supporting this effort, feeling it’s time to reveal the true killer and bring justice to the victims, as reported by MailOnline.
Karen Miller, Eddowes’ great-granddaughter, even provided her DNA, which matched the blood on the shawl. She expressed how the focus has always been on Jack the Ripper, overshadowing the victims who never got justice.
She said, “It would mean a lot to me and my family to finally have this crime solved.”
Kosminski’s family is also on board, with his great-niece Amanda Poulos eager to uncover the truth about what really happened.
When the first inquest took place on October 4, 1888, it concluded with a verdict of “wilful murder.” At that time, police were still on the case, but many believe Kosminski was the one responsible.
For a new inquest to happen, the Attorney General needs to give the green light. Two years ago, the request was denied, citing insufficient evidence.
However, barrister Dr. Tim Sampson argues that this sets a bad example for reopening inquests into violent deaths of women, suggesting these matters are being swept under the rug.
He’s reached out to Attorney General Richard Hermer, stating that the new evidence could have led to Kosminski being charged for the murders of Eddowes and the other four victims.
The other victims included Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, and Mary Jane Kelly.