A sensational new book on Lord Lucan has been pulled days before it was due to be published.
The book contained new evidence on the notorious 1974 murder and claimed Lucan was alive in Australia. But publisher the Little, Brown Book Group has pulled the plug, apparently due to legal concerns. The book – The Search For My Mother’s Murderer – is by Neil Berriman, the son of Sandra Rivett – the nanny murdered by Lucan.
It was co-written with former BBC journalist Glen Campbell. The publisher took its decision following the three-part BBC2 documentary, Lucan, which drew record viewing figures in November. Neil said: “We are both absolutely devastated and feel very let down. All that work and they pulled it on legal advice at the very last minute.
Lord Lucan mystery deepens as multiple ex-detectives come forward with new information
Lord Lucan, aristocrat and alleged murderer, on his wedding day
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Image:
Getty Images)
The book was pulled due to legal concerns
“I feel like I’ve been banned from telling the truth. We had already been invited to speak at the Oxford Literary Festival in March.” Glen added: “They originally wanted to get on sale before Christmas.” Stephanie Melrose, director of commercial publicity for the Little, Brown Book Group, said they would not be commenting on their decision.
Lucan murdered the family’s nanny in Belgravia in November 1974. He fled the scene and was never seen again. Police believe he committed suicide by throwing himself off a cross-Channel ferry. But many believe he was successfully helped to escape and then created a new life abroad.
Neil Berriman, son of Sandra Rivett, and the Mirror’s Andy Lines
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Daily Mirror)
Neil hosts a website Lord Lucan The Truth which has been inundated with e-mails full of information since the TV series. And the building contractor, from Milland, West Sussex, said he has tracked Lucan down to a remote house in Queensland, Australia.
The BBC also tracked down the elderly man Berriman believes to be Lucan for their documentary series. The mystery pensioner said: “If I am Lord Lucan what the f*** you going to do? Put me in prison?”
Neil Berriman holds a photo of mum Sandra Rivett
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Daily Mirror)
Some of the world’s leading facial recognition technique experts com-pared photos taken of Lucan before 1974 with pictures of the pensioner and said they were a definite match. Neil remains convinced that “the man in Australia is Lord Lucan”.
In November the Mirror published the first photo showing the lead piping used to bludgeon Sandra.