The merciless killing of a refugee when a friendship turned foul by the railway

Radomir Djorovic and Nenad Kovocevic
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


On October 9, 1950, a Alvar Haworth arrived at work to a grim discovery.

Lying face down on the cold floor of the plate layers hut, on the embankment of the East Lancs Railway, was the body of a 26-year-old Yugoslavian man. Mr Howarth ran for help from his boss, William Crook, who lived a short distance away. Mr Crook called for the police and officers from Ramsbottom made their way to the remote hut in Ewood Bridge

They were joined by forensic experts from Preston, who quickly secured the scene, as reporters from the local press caught wind of the grisly discovery. Chief Superintendent Lindsey told the newsmen: “We are making an extensive search to discover the man’s identity. His injuries suggest that he was the victim of foul play.”

READ MORE: The unsolved murder of a 'happy-go-lucky' Lancashire schoolgirl who went out to play and never came home

By midnight, the man had been identified as 26-year-old Yugoslavian refugee Radomir Djorovic. The migrant had arrived in Britain in 1948 and worked at the Sun Papermill in Feniscowles. He had spent the previous afternoon with his pal Nenad Kovacevic, enjoying lunch with fellow refugees - but that day, their friendship turned foul.

Police launched a manhunt to trace Kovacevic but he had already left the area. There was no sign of him at his home in Blackburn and officers learned he had been asking about bus times. The 32-year-old initially fled to Blackpool, but by October 10 he was on his way to London, after buying a ticket for a long-distance coach.

Kovacevic never made it to the capital. His name was circulated nationally and by the time he reached the Midlands, the fugitive was caught. Two officers boarded the coach in Cannock, Staffordshire, and quickly apprehended him. Kovacevic was taken to Cannock police station where officers from Lancashire made their way to meet him.

Radomir Djorovic
Radomir Djorovic

During hours of gruelling interviews, Kovacevic admitted: "I am sorry. I killed my friend." He returned to Lancashire and appeared at Bury Magistrates Court on October 11, charged with murder. During his trial, in December 1950, he told the jury how he and Radomir had travelled to Edenfield to meet Liza Seibert, a friend of his. It was raining heavily and the two men took shelter in the railways hut.

Inside, talk turned to the war, which was still a recent and traumatic memory. Kovacevic had lost his father, two brothers and three sisters, who had been shot by the enemy as they sought refuge in the mountains. As the pair took shelter, Radomir had taunted him about the deaths of his family, adding further insult by claiming he had been on 'the wrong side' during the conflict.

He grabbed Radomir by the arm and began to fight, he said. As Kovacevic got the better of Radomir, he noticed an axe in the corner of the cabin and swung it at his friend, striking him twice. As he looked at his friend's motionless body on the floor, he thought, 'my mother has lost everything and now she has lost me'.

Nenad Kovocevic
Nenad Kovocevic

"I am very sorry but I have to confess I did it," he told the jury. The prosecution said the murder was premeditated and deliberate, as Kavocevic had stolen Radomir's watch and wallet. He had also taken the dead man's coat, which they said was an attempt to conceal evidence - but the killer insisted he simply wanted to stay dry from the rain.

Kavocevic's barrister argued for a verdict of manslaughter, claiming the killer had acted under extreme provocation, but the jury would not be swayed. They delivered a verdict of murder and Kovacevic was a condemned man. The exiled King Peter of Yugoslavia send a letter pleading for mercy for his countryman, but it fell on deaf ears.

On Friday January 26, 1951, he was taken from his cell at Strangeways and dragged kicking and fighting to the gallows. He was hanged by Lancashire executioner Albert Pierrepoint.

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