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The trial of David Copeland

Three people were killed in a bomb attack last April in the Admiral Duncan pub in Soho, central London. Engineer David Copeland, 23, has been found guilty of their murders and been given six life sentences.

Latest on Copeland verdict


Nail bomber trapped by fake penpal
2 July: Lovely Belinda Cannon, a curvy blonde with 'shining blue eyes', a 'perfect' wide smile and a bright, bubbly personality, couldn't help it. She had fallen madly in love with the Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe. She sent a torrent of letters, each signed off with 'big juicy hugs', to his secure ward in Broadmoor Hospital. Sutcliffe replied with equal enthusiasm, detailing what he would love to do if only he and Belinda could be alone together.

Bomber gets six life terms
David Copeland hailed the nail-bombing campaign which killed three people and injured 139 others as the start of a race and homophobic war, and he declared he was a righteous messenger from God. But yesterday afternoon as he was led from the dock of the Old Bailey to begin life sentences for murder, the truth about this 24-year-old engineer became clear. The jury decided he was bad, not mad.

Celebration that ended in deaths of three friends
They were five friends having a drink in the pub before a night out at the theatre. Moments later David Copeland's bomb tore through the Admiral Duncan and ripped apart their lives.

Festering hate that turned quiet son into a murderer
Family and friends detected no aggression or racism in killer who sought fame and morbid glory

I can't forgive him, but he's still my son, my baby
David Copeland's parents admitted yesterday they were bewildered how their "special and sweet-natured son" had been capable of such atrocities.

Copeland verdict


Nail bomber convicted of murder
30 June: Nail bomber David Copeland has been found guilty of the murders of Andrea Dykes, John Light and Nik Moore in a attack on a Soho pub in April last year.

David Copeland: a quiet introvert, obsessed with Hitler and bombs
Background: Nick Hopkins and Sarah Hall examine the events leading to the capture of London nail bomber David Copeland.

Audio: Nick Hopkins outside the Old Bailey (1mins 50)

Graphic


Photogallery: The case in pictures

What happened where?

The net's role


Deadly net Terror websites easy to access
1 July: For as long as it has been a public network, the internet has offered detailed information on every aspect of bomb-making. But the revelation at Copeland's trial that he learned his deadly techniques from the web was a disturbing confirmation of what is available online.

The net is not to blame for the Soho nail bomber, we are
Comment: We should not pin the blame on the world wide web, says Online deputy editor Neil McIntosh.

5 June: Nailbomber 'used net to build bombs'

Court reports


16 June: Bomber's Nazi dreams
From the age of 16, nail bomber David Copeland dreamed of being an SS commander with female sex slaves.

15 June: Nail bomber 'was sent by God to start race wars'

13 June: Bomber 'exhilarated' by media spotlight

10 June: I believe in death penalty, says bomber

9 June: Bomber paused for survey

8 June: Soho bomb victims tell of devastation as pub torn apart

7 June: Bomb killer 'wanted to be famous'

More court reports...

The far right


Target: England
Cranks and fascists populate its ranks, but has it any chance of transforming itself into a serious political force and win votes?

Combat 18 profiled





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