A CRIME magazine has published details of the North- East’s own “let him have it” murder controversy.

The cry is said to have been made by William Appleby seconds before Vincent Ostler shot dead PC William Shiell, near Coxhoe, County Durham, on March 1, 1940.

The case, retold by Matthew Spicer in True Detective magazine, is similar to that of Derek Bentley, who allegedly made the shout shortly before Christopher Craig shot dead PC Sidney Miles, in London, in November 1952.

Bentley was hanged for murder, before being posthumously pardoned in 1998. The case was turned into the 1991 film Let Him Have It.

The Coxhoe murder story begins with PC Shiell, 29, being called to a Co-op shop by miner Jeffrey Smith, who thought he had seen a burglary.

When he arrived, two men crashed out of the shop’s front window and PC Shiell gave chase.

In a field on the village outskirts, Shiell heard the cry: “All right, let him have it. He’s all alone.”

Seconds later, a shot rang out and PC Shiell collapsed, clutching his stomach.

Despite attempts to revive him with water and a cigarette, a surgeon at Durham County Hospital told Superintendent JR Johnson his officer had hours to live.

The superintendent faced the task of telling PC Shiell he was going to die, but that it was his duty to first give a statement that would be admissible in court.

A magistrate was called and the constable gave a sworn account.

PC Shiell left a young widow and a three-year-old daughter. All of Coxhoe stopped work for his funeral, at which 200 of his fellow officers attended.

In the aftermath of his killing, all North-East police stations were alerted, roadblocks set up and a large reward offered in the hunt for his killer.

Police found an abandoned tool bag, a spent cartridge and a car reported stolen from a Chester-le-Street doctor.

Appleby, 27, and Ostler, 24, were arrested in Bradford, where they were from.

Appleby said he did not say: “Let him have it”, but rather “Give him a clout” and denied knowing that Ostler had a gun.

He told Yorkshire Assizes that the pair had driven to Coxhoe the morning before the killing to check out the Coop, before driving to Durham to have tea, go to the cinema trip and have a couple of drinks.

Both men were convicted of murder and on May 10, 1940, Mr Justice Hilbery sentenced them to death. Both unsuccessfully appealed and were dispatched by renowned hangman Thomas Pierrepoint, assisted by his nephew, Albert, on July 10.

The story is retold in the June 2009 edition of True Detective magazine. To order a copy, send a cheque or postal order for £3 made out to Forum Press, PO Box 735, London, SE26 5NQ.

Alternatively, go to truecrimelibrary.com