Pickering, George Thomas

Deaf at age 4 from meningitis; attended the Royal School for the Deaf, Margate. Worked for Kodak as a carpenter. He had a serious drinking problem, which led to several alcohol-fueled convictions for assault and disorderly behavior. On October 3, 1963, he got drunk again, then decided to visit a prostitute he had used before. For reasons known only to himself, he first bought a large knife. He then went to the brothel and promptly stabbed the victim. The next day, with no recollection of his actions, he read of the murder in the newspaper and realized that the police were looking for him. At first he attempted suicide with an aspirin overdose, but then turned himself in to the police, who immediately had his stomach pumped. He was tried in November 1963 and found not guilty of murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility, but Guilty of manslaughter. He was sentenced to life in jail. However, in 1967, he died in jail from drinking illicit jail-made alcohol or "hooch".