The Day Before: A Warning Ignored

On the afternoon of 12 March 1981, tension erupted inside Joe Coral’s Betting Shop on Lodge Lane. A dispute over a dubious bet escalated quickly when two men demanded a payout they were not entitled to. Their behaviour became so aggressive that staff were forced to call the Police. Even with officers present, the men left without the cash they insisted was theirs.

As they walked away, their anger didn’t fade. Witnesses later recalled chilling threats — promises that they would return the next day to “sort” the young cashier out and get what they believed they were owed. One of the men was even heard saying that the victim would be “found dead one day.”

Less than twenty‑four hours later, that threat became a reality.