The Krays: All Fall Down

Even though much of the evidence collected by the police in relation to the Kray. twins needed further support by witnesses, Read felt it was time to move against the twins. A plan was put into effect that called for the twins and over twenty members of their gang to all be arrested at the same time. While such an effort would be difficult to coordinate, it would also make it difficult for gang members to meet with each other to put their stories into a common format. The theory was that only by putting the entire gang away would the fear that had kept so many people from telling what they knew also would be put away. The police strike took place as planned and the twins with all but two of their gang members were hauled off to jail. The remaining two members were picked up within a short period of time and the police went to work to loosen the tongues of those that could give testimony against the Krays and their gang. With threat of the Krays and their followers out of the way the police were able to convince a handful of people to deliver testimony, before the Krays were able to return to the streets. Enough evidence was collected that the police pending trial held the twins. The hearing on the evidence produced a decision that the twins should be put on trial for the crimes they had been accused of.

The most substantial evidence centered on two murders carried out by the twins. The decision was made to use this case as the one to seek conviction of the twins. After all the crime they had committed over so many years the only charges presented at the trial related to these two murders. This time the evidence held up and the twins were sentenced to life. At the very least it was decreed that the twins would serve thirty years. The influence and the power of the Krays had been eliminated and the organization lay in ruin. This time it appeared the twins had too much evidence against them to overcome the charges. The twins went their separate ways to different prisons to serve out their sentences. 1972 when assigned to the same prison would reunite the twins. The reunion did not last however, with Ronnie attacking another prisoner and increasing displays of mental illness was removed to a mental institution. Reggie would be permitted to visit his twin about twice a year.

Go To Page: 1 2