North-east law students could shed new light on one of history’s most infamous killers – 130 years on from the spree of murders which gained him notoriety.
Jack The Ripper killed five women within a three-month spell in London in 1888, but mystery still surrounds his true identity.
William Henry Bury lived in the Whitechapel area at the time, where the killings took place, and later moved to Dundee.
After being convicted and sentenced to death for the brutal slaying of his wife Ellen, in 1889, he supposedly told police that he was the real Ripper.
A group of Aberdeen students will now take part in a trial which could hold some serious ramifications regarding that claim.
The students, from Aberdeen University’s mooting society, will act as Bury’s defence while a Dundee University legal team takes on the role of prosectution.
The arguments will play out before a volunteer panel of 15 jurors and will be presided over by Lord Hugh Matthews, a judge of Scotland’s Supreme Courts.
Third year law student at Aberdeen, Anna Black, yesterday said that she and two colleagues were relishing getting to grips with history.
She said: “We never expected to be able to get involved in such a historic case.
“We decided to get involved because it sounded like a wonderful opportunity to learn valuable skills, such as dealing with expert witnesses, to present arguments in an actual court, and to work with professionals.”
During the original trial, the Crown alleged that Bury strangled his wife with a piece of rope, then cut her abdomen open and disembowelled her.
Claims that Bury could have been the Ripper spread due to his proximity to the slayings in London and the similar injuries he inflicted on his wife.
The 30-year-old was the last man to be hanged in Dundee.
His bones are kept in the Dundee office of Dame Sue Black, a celebrated forensic anthropologist.
She said: “We will now look at evidence again in the light of modern thinking, and see what the jury decides.”
Top forensic experts will be among the witnesses, a narrator will describe what is happening, actors will assume key roles and the entire trial will be filmed by broadcaster Dan Snow.
The trial will take place at Dundee Sheriff Court on Saturday, February 3.
