John William Slater (Jail)

John William Slater was convicted of the murder of Norman Easton and sentenced to death but reprieved.

They were both prisoners in Durham Jail.

He later changed his name to John William Leeman under which he was convcited of the murder Stuart Dowson in 1988.

He murdered Stuart Dowson outside his house in Eglesfield Road in South Shields after they argued and he ordered Stuart Dowson out of his house. It was said that Stuart Dowson picked up a plank to protect himself but that John Slater stabbed him in the chest, piecing his heaart. He then dragged him across the pavement and propped him up against a flowerbed and left him lying there. He then returned with a bucket of water and rinsed the blood from the pavement and then went up an alleyway where he hid the murder weapons.and then telephoned for an ambulance. He then waited for the ambulance to arrive but then went into his house and refused to answer the door when the police arrived.

However, the argument had been overheard by a woman that lived above John Slater's flat.

After being convicted of the murder of Norman Easton, John Slater was sent to Broadmoor but was released in 1968 although he was recalled in 1970 for a matter not proceeded with.

Then, in 1975 he was convicted of indecently assaulting a 7-year-old boy, causing him actual bodily harm and jailed for 10 years.

He was then released in October 1981, being absolutely discharged from the Mental Health Act Order.