Ex-murder cop rubbishes Jack the Ripper was Aaron Kosminski DNA claims

Leavesden Asylum Cemetery (Image: Archant)

Trevor Marriott, whose own research into the 1888 serial killing spree attributed to the mysterious Jack the Ripper led him to the archives at Hatfield House has poured cold water on the revelations.

The claim made by another author, Russell Edwards, in his book Naming Jack the Ripper, centres around a shawl, which he says contains DNA from Ripper victim Catherine Eddowes, who was slain and eviscerated in the early hours of September 30 1888 in Mitre Square, London, and one of the prime suspects, Polish Jew Aaron Kosminski.

The shawl was said to have undergone DNA testing by Finnish academic Dr Jari Louhelainen.

Kosminski died in Hertfordshire, at the then Leavesden Asylum, later Leavesden Hospital, the only trace of which left standing is a hospital cemetery in Leavesden Country Park, in Abbots Langley.

Trevor Marriott (Image: Archant)

But ex-murder detective Mr Marriott has called the research findings “inconclusive and unsafe”.

* For the full exclusive interview with Trevor Marriott buy this week’s Welwyn Hatfield Times, on sale tomorrow (Wednesday).

Face of 'Jack the Ripper'? A sketch of Aaron Kosminski (Image: Archant)

Catherine Eddowes, who was killed in the early hours of September 30, 1888 in Mitre Square, London. (Image: Archant)