The victim made no attempt to conceal his location
On May 17, 1981, Preston made national headlines. The body of a Lancashire judge was found in his garage.
But despite his elite education and prominent career, Judge Openshaw was a man of the people. His family home was in the heart of the community and he made no attempt to conceal his location - even being listed in the telephone directory, against the advise of other senior judges. Sitting in Preston's Sessions House, on Lancaster Road, he handed down hefty sentences to murders and rapists, and took a hard line on criminals who used weapons.
That night, he made his way to Broughton and lay in wait for the target of his hatred, hunching in the rafters of the garage in Garstang Road. When Judge Openshaw left for work, Smith pounced, and launched a frenzied knife attack. Smith was already on his way. As he left the scene he flagged down a car, driven by a man from Goosnargh, who thought the man in the road had broken down. But still carrying the murder weapon, Smith told him, ‘drive! Just do as I say and you won’t get hurt.’
As news of Judge Openshaw’s murder spread, courts across the north of England were adjourned as a mark of respect for the eminent, but humble judge. His funeral, at St Wilfrid’s parish church, Ribchester, was attended by more than 30 senior judges as well as civic leaders and three bishops.
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