The Murder of Kelso Cochrane

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BBC Radio 4 - The Murder of Kelso Cochrane

Why is one of Britain’s first post-war racist killings still unsolved?

Why is one of Britain’s first post-war racist killings still unsolved? Kelso Cochrane’s family prepare for legal action to open the 1950s police files.

When a gang of youths attacked and killed an Antiguan man in 1959, it sparked uproar in the local community, in the press, and even drew the attention of politicians. Like Stephen Lawrence, Kelso Cochrane was a black man stabbed to death by a white gang on a London street. His death brought the local community together, black and white - it helped lead to laws against discrimination, and the annual Carnival in the streets of Notting Hill. But no-one was ever prosecuted for the murder, and questions linger about the approach of the Metropolitan Police. Their investigation files have been sent to the National Archives but are closed for another 30 years. As Sanchia Berg discovers, Kelso Cochrane’s family are embarking on legal action to try to get them open.

Producer: Charlotte McDonald
Researcher: Paige Neal-Holder
Production Co-ordinators: Debbie Richford, Sophie Hill and Maria Ogundele
Editor: Clare Fordham

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