A WRITER who is researching the killing of a Finnish au pair in Jersey in 1966 is appealing for information relating to an attack and attempted rape from the 1970s in the belief that the two incidents may be connected.
Mark Bridgeman, who plans to publish a book on the unsolved murder of Tuula Höök next year ahead of the 60th anniversary of her death, said he is convinced Miss Höök’s killer must have committed other offences, and has identified an incident from 1977 that he thinks may provide “crucial clues”.
The au pair from Finland, who lived and worked as a waitress and au pair in summer 1965 and returned to the Island the following year, was discovered in a field in St Clement in December 1966, having been bludgeoned to death.
Mr Bridgeman, who has written a series of true-crime books, has been focusing on the case for the past year, with the support of Miss Höök’s family, and received several responses to appeals for Islanders who may have information that might enable the case to be solved.
Among those to come forward was a woman who was offered a lift home on the night of Saturday 25 June 1977 after leaving the Flamingo Disco in Colomberie. Shortly after midnight, the driver of the car, believed to be a Ford Escort, or possibly a Morris Marina or Austin Allegro, turned into Rue de la Retraite near St Saviour’s School and then pulled into the entrance of a field.
The victim was then subjected to a vicious assault, including an attempt to rape her, but managed to escape.
A police appeal for witnesses, including a photo-fit picture of the suspect, believed to be aged in his early 30s, was published in the JEP a week later but the crime remained unsolved. Now Mr Bridgeman hopes that computer-adjusted versions of the photo-fit picture, showing how the attacker may have looked in 1966 and also in later life, might yield further information.
“Discovering the identity of this man might, in turn, lead to uncovering Tuula’s killer,” he said. “I have always believed that the man who killed Tuula must have committed other serious offences – that level of uncontrollable violence and rage simply cannot boil to the surface only once in a lifetime.
“There are three crucial clues which might help someone identity the man responsible – firstly, he pulled his car into the entrance of a secluded field that I believe he must have known about in advance.
“Secondly, the young woman ran off to the west and hid behind some bushes, but he did not pass her which indicates he escaped towards the east, so may have lived in the St Clement, Grouville or Gorey areas.
“And lastly, the attacker boasted to his victim that he had ‘done this before’, and the occupants of a nearby house told the woman that she was not the first person to knock on their door and ask for help after an attack of this nature.”
Mr Bridgeman has made several trips to the Island as part of his research, and has obtained a picture of the site of the 1977 attack – the wooden gate has since been replaced with a metal one, while a road sign with chevrons is a more recent addition.
“I really hope anyone who thinks they might recognise this man, or remembers anything that now seems suspicious, to contact me,” he said. “And I’d also hope to hear from anyone who was been the victim of a similar attack during the late 1960s or 1970s, regardless of whether the incident was reported to the police or not.
“The bravery of those who come forward might make the difference in bringing this man to justice – if this is the same man who also attacked Tuula in 1966, then this is the first time we have seen his face and we might be one step closer to finding him.”
Mr Bridgeman can be contacted by email – mark@markbridgemanauthor.co.uk – or via the JEP.
Support
If you are affected by any of the content of this article, the following support services are available:
Jersey Domestic and Sexual Abuse Support (JDAS) offer specialist support and guidance in relation to domestic or sexual abuse incidents. Support is provided before, during and after any police investigation or court hearing. It is also available when police are not involved. Call: 01534 880505 or email JDAS@gov.je.
The SARC at Dewberry House provide expert independent and confidential support to victims of sexual abuse. The Centre comprises of a team of experts with a wealth of knowledge and experience in advising, supporting and treating anyone who has been raped or sexually assaulted. Call: 01534 888222.
Jersey Action Against Rape (JAAR) provide and maintain a supporting framework for survivors and their families. Tel: 01534 482801.
FREEDA (Freedom from Domestic Abuse) offer a 24-hour helpline, access to safe accommodation as well as help and support for victims of domestic abuse. Tel: 0800 7356836.
Victims First Jersey is a free and independent service offering confidential support to victims and witnesses of crime. Tel: 0800 7351612.
