'Black panther' Donald Neilson inquest to be held

An inquest into the death of multiple murderer Donald Neilson, known as the Black Panther, is due to be held in Norwich.

The 75-year-old, who suffered from motor neurone disease, died in December 2011 from pneumonia after being taken from Norwich Prison to hospital.

Neilson, from Bradford, was convicted of four murders, including that of 17-year-old heiress Lesley Whittle.

He was given four life sentences in 1975.

He was one of a small group of notorious prisoners who were told they would spend the rest of their lives behind bars.

The jobbing builder kidnapped 17-year-old Lesley Whittle from her home in Shropshire, leaving a ransom demand for £50,000.

Her body was later found in an underground drainage system, hanging from the bottom of a ladder to which Neilson had secured her by the neck with wire.

He also shot dead three sub-postmasters during armed robberies between February and November 1974. Those victims were Donald Skepper, killed in Harrogate, North Yorkshire; Derek Astin, in Higher Baxenden, Lancashire; and Sidney Grayland, in Langley, West Midlands.

Also responsible for about 400 burglaries during a 10-year criminal career, the killer was dubbed "The Black Panther" as a result of witness descriptions of his dark clothing and powerful physique.