The third case in the sequence
Later accounts identify Emma Brookes as the woman killed after William Burkitt's release from prison in 1935. The Murder UK narrative reports that police found her dead at his home in March 1939 and records strangulation as the cause of death. [source]
The court outcome
The same account dates the proceedings at Leeds to 17 May 1939. It records a third manslaughter conviction and a sentence of penal servitude for life. This account is therefore labelled manslaughter, despite the 'serial killer' wording used in some descriptions of Burkitt. [source]
Date and address: what is unresolved
The page heading lists 1935, but the narrative gives 1939. We use the narrative year, with the precise date and street still unverified. [source]
Putting Emma back into the record
Emma's own biographical details remain sparse in the material identified so far. A fuller account requires the original 1939 inquest and trial coverage, an address supported by records, and reliable information about her family and burial. She remains a linked Hull research case until the local address is confirmed.
Follow the sequence
The timeline
The next chapter of research
What remains to be established
- Verify the date of death separately from the date of discovery.
- Establish the precise address and its relationship to the Hessle Road area.
- Obtain the original 1939 inquest and trial reports and Emma's biographical records.
These questions are part of the account. We will revise this page when reliable records resolve them.
Sources & references
Links identify the material used and the next places to look. Indexed newspaper text can contain OCR errors; full original pages should be checked before adding further details.
Help us learn more
Do you have a document or reference?
Tell us the source, date and how it relates to Emma Brookes. We check contributions before publication.
Share historical research ↗