Ripper researcher Russell Edwards claims Freemasons shielded the killer from police at the time and ensured that he was locked away in an asylum until his death
News Jerry Lawton 22:44, 21 Apr 2025
Relatives of Jack the Ripper’s victims want the Home Secretary to demand a new inquest into the Victorian murders that could finally unmask the monster.
They say fresh evidence has come to light which could snare the serial killer 137 years on. The DNA of Polish barber Aaron Kosminski - a suspect in the notorious crimes - has been identified on a bloodstained shawl said to belong to victim Catherine Eddowes due to technological advances.
Three months ago Catherine’s relatives applied to the Attorney General to reopen the inquest into her murder. Now Karen Miller, 53, Catherine’s three-times great-granddaughter, has written to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Minister for Violence against Women and Girls Jess Phillips urging them to back the bid.
Descendants of the Ripper’s four other victims and the suspect are all in favour of the new legal probe.
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Karen said: "We sent a letter to the Attorney General in January.
"We have yet to receive a response.
"The victims have been forgotten for too long.
"It is time this case is finally put to rest.’’
The letter cites a pledge made by Ms Cooper to "reopen historical investigations as it is crucial that where there is abuse prosecutions take place."
In his letter Karen’s barrister Dr Tim Sampson asked the Home Secretary: "Presumably you still stand behind those statements?’’
He said in "countering violence against women and girls" it was "important for the public to know that where justice can be obtained" it will be "however late’"
Catherine is believed to be the fourth of at least five women slain by the Whitechapel slasher in 1888.
Ripper researcher Russell Edwards claims Freemasons shielded the killer from police at the time - ensuring he was locked away in an asylum until his death.
Kosminski, then 23, emigrated to the UK shortly before the Ripper’s rampage.
But he was never arrested because police had no proof - until Edwards bought the shawl found on Catherine’s body at auction in 2007.
DNA found on it matched a family sample provided by Karen Miller and Kosminski.
Karen has said: "Having the real person legally named in a court which can consider all the evidence would be a form of justice for the victims.
"We have got the proof. Now we need this inquest to legally name the killer.
"It would mean a lot to me, to my family, to a lot of people to finally have this crime solved.’’
Sue Parlour, whose husband Andy is an ancestor of the Ripper’s first victim Mary Ann Nichols killed a month before Catherine, has said: "It would mean a lot to finally be able to name the killer to get some closure on this.
"These women have been dismissed as just prostitutes like they did not matter, but they did.’’
Kosminski’s three-times great-niece Amanda Poulos has said: "I’m more than happy to finally establish what really happened.’’
Catherine was the second of two women slain by the Ripper within 60 minutes in the early hours of September 30 1888.
A fortnight later a notorious letter addressed `From Hell’ - containing what the killer claimed was part of her left kidney - was sent to the chairman of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee George Lusk.
But the killer - who claimed he had fried and eaten the rest of the organ - remained at large and went on to murder at least one more victim in a slaughter spree some investigators believe could have extended to 11.
A verdict of 'wilful murder' was recorded at Catherine’s original inquest four days after her body was found.
Under the law the Attorney General has to grant permission for an application to a High Court judge to order a new hearing.
Two years ago permission was refused.
But East London coroner Nadia Persaud has suggested she would be willing to preside over a fresh inquest stating `the perpetrator might now be identified’.
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