The relatives of Jack the Ripper’s victims are calling for a fresh inquest after DNA evidence emerged that may finally identify the killer.
At least five women were murdered by an unidentified serial killer during the autumn of 1888 in the Whitechapel district of London’s East End in a case that has remained unsolved for 130 years.
But the victims’ descendants are now calling for a fresh inquest after a bloodstained shawl was shown to contain the DNA of someone thought to be the notorious killer.
Aaron Kosminski, who was a Polish barber, was a suspect at the time but was never arrested because police had no evidence linking him to the brutal crimes.
But the shawl, said to have been found on the body of Catherine Eddowes, the killer’s fourth victim, was found to contain both her DNA and that of Kosminski’s.
A computer generated image of Aaron Kosminski whose DNA was found on the shawl
It was purchased at auction by Russell Edwards, an author and Ripper researcher, who said “justice can be served” by finally naming the killer and has hired a legal team to try and secure another inquest.
Karen Miller, 53, is three times great granddaughter of Eddowes and provided her DNA that was a match to the sample on the shawl.
“The name Jack the Ripper has become sensationalised, it has gone down in history as this famous character,” she told the Daily Mail.
“It has all been about him, this iconic name, but people have forgotten about the victims who did not have justice at the time.
“What about the real name of the person who did this? Having the real person legally named in a court which can consider all the evidence would be a form of justice for the victims.
“We have got the proof, now we need this inquest to legally name the killer.
“It would mean a lot to me, to my family, to a lot of people to finally have this crime solved.”
Dr Jari Louhelainen, senior lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University, tested the Catherine Eddowes shawl for DNA in September – JARI LOHELAINEN/AFP
Descendants of the Ripper’s other victims – Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride and Mary Jane Kelly – have also backed the campaign.
Sue Parlour, whose husband Andy is distantly related to Ms Nichols, said: “There was no justice for these victims at the time. It was all such a long time ago.
“But it would mean a lot to finally be able to name the killer, to get some closure on this.
“These women have been dismissed as just prostitutes like they did not matter, but they did.”
Kosminski’s descendants have also supported the move.
Amanda Poulos, his three-times great-niece, said: “I’m more than happy to finally establish what really happened.”
The coroner in the original 1888 inquest returned a verdict of “wilful murder”.
Aaron Kosminski was suspected of being Jack the Ripper but was never arrested by police at the time
If granted permission by the Attorney General, which Sir Michael Ellie refused two years ago, an inquest could go ahead.
Barrister Dr Tim Sampson has written to Richard Hermer, the Attorney General. He stated that had the shawl been available at the time it “would have been justifiable for the coroner to charge and then seek to have Aaron Kosminski prosecuted for both the murder of Ms Eddowes and the other four victims”.
The case would go to a High Court judge to consider if permission were granted.
Mr Edwards said: “A second inquest is the only way of confirming what happened.
“As we now have identified the true murderer with a wealth of evidence putting the man we named as the Ripper in the frame, we want justice to be served.”