|
Kill Total: |
3 ? |
Kill place: |
Germany & Derbyshire |
|
Kill date: |
June 1961
Nov 1961
1963 |
Victim(s): |
William
Elliot, 60
Gunther
Helmbrecht, 16
Unknown |
|
Date of Birth: |
1940 |
Marital Status: |
|
|
AKA: |
|
Occupation: |
Soldier |
Copeland, a former
soldier committed his first murder when on active service
in Germany with the British army. His first victim was a
16 year male murdered near the barracks he was stationed
at.
His other two victims were gay men killed in Derbyshire.
It was unclear in court why Copeland had murdered (he
denied the charges). There was some suggestion that he
killed his last two victims because they were gay although
he denied this in court.
He was tried in March
1965.
Copeland was convicted
and sentenced to be executed. His sentence was later
commuted to life.
