Friday, 28 June 2024

Christine Keeler to be Cleared of Perjury Charge?


Inside the new dossier of evidence that could finally clear Profumo affair icon Christine Keeler of her perjury conviction and win her family the posthumous pardon they have been fighting for for decades

Investigators have passed on a dossier of evidence that could clear model Christine Keeler of perjury 60 years after she was jailed. 

Ms Keeler, who passed away in 2017 at the age of 75, was at the heart of Britain's most infamous sex scandal after she and war minister John Profumo had an extra-marital affair when she was 19 years old.

Her family has maintained that unrelated charges brought against her were trumped up to discredit her amid the sex scandal which ultimately contributed to the downfall of Harold Macmillan's Tory Government.

They could now finally receive justice after investigators from the Criminal Case Review Commission passed on more than 200 pages that could prove her innocence. 

Seymour Platt, 51, told The Mirror that he wants to 'fulfil a promise to my mum' by overturning her conviction and telling the truth about her life.

Model Christine Keeler (pictured in 1964) was at the heart of Britain's most infamous sex scandal after she and John Profumo had an extra-marital affair when she was 19 years old

Model Christine Keeler (pictured in 1964) was at the heart of Britain's most infamous sex scandal after she and John Profumo had an extra-marital affair when she was 19 years old

The model (pictured in 1963) had unrelated charges brought against her which were trumped up to discredit her amid the sex scandal, her family claims

The model (pictured in 1963) had unrelated charges brought against her which were trumped up to discredit her amid the sex scandal, her family claims 

Profumo (pictured in 1962) was forced to resign as Secretary of State for War over his affair with Christine Keeler

Profumo (pictured in 1962) was forced to resign as Secretary of State for War over his affair with Christine Keeler 

Mr Platt said: 'Calling my mother a liar in this way changes her place in history, and alters our understanding of her motivation through the scandal.

'If she is a liar, capable of sending an innocent man to prison, then it makes all the men in the scandal a victim of her lies and deceit. 

'But she wasn't a liar – Gordon even admitted at his own trial that he had slapped my mother that night.

'My mother was the victim of a stalker and her motivation through the scandal was by honourable, truthful means to get away from him or seek help for those around her.' 

A CCRC spokesman told The Mirror: 'We have received an application for a review of this conviction, and the review process is under way. No decision has been reached.'

Ms Keeler was handed a nine-month prison sentence for perjury in December 1963.

She said had been attacked by a stalker, Aloysius 'Lucky' Gordon in April 1963, but he won an appeal after it was discovered that she told the court two witnesses were not there.

However, her son's legal team, which is led by top human rights barrister Felicity Gerry, say this was not relevant as the court had been told there was no was 'no doubt' that he assaulted her and that she lived in fear of him.

Christine Keeler pictured in 2006 carrying a newspaper under her arm

Christine Keeler pictured in 2006 carrying a newspaper under her arm

Seymour Platt with a portrait of his mother, Christine Keeler, painted by Fionn Wilson

Seymour Platt with a portrait of his mother, Christine Keeler, painted by Fionn Wilson

Cliveden House,in Buckinghamshire (pictured in 1963)  where Ms Keeler caught Profumo's eye when she swam naked

Cliveden House,in Buckinghamshire (pictured in 1963)  where Ms Keeler caught Profumo's eye when she swam naked

Ms Keeler is pictured standing outside the cottage where she used to stay in the grounds of Cliveden

Ms Keeler is pictured standing outside the cottage where she used to stay in the grounds of Cliveden

It was also alleged that Ms Keeler was pressured by the two witnesses who went on to admit they had seen Gordon attack her.

Ms Keeler was branded a 'prostitute' in the press and as a 'harlot' by then-Prime Minister Harold Wilson after her affair with Profumo and Soviet attache Yevgeny Ivanov in the midst of the Cold War.

He said the men she was with in 1963 all saw her as 'their property' and exploited her.

Mr Platt said the documents prove that his mother was 'beaten up in the street and she went to prison'.

He also slammed the accusations of her being a prostitute as 'ridiculous' as she was 'broke' and he went into poverty as she found it impossible to earn money.

The dutiful son revealed that his mother wrote in her will that she wanted him to share the truth about her life.

She was a dancer based in Soho, London when she met osteopath Stephen Ward, who introduced her into high society.

He took her to a gathering at Cliveden House in Buckinghamshire in July 1961 where she caught Profumo's eye when she swam naked. 

Crowds outside the Old Bailey surge forward as Christine Keeler leaves court on July 23, 1963

Crowds outside the Old Bailey surge forward as Christine Keeler leaves court on July 23, 1963

Christine Keeler poses in a swimsuit on a sun lounger on a beach in Cannes in May 1963

Christine Keeler poses in a swimsuit on a sun lounger on a beach in Cannes in May 1963

After emerged the then 19-year-old Keeler had been sleeping with former Secretary of State for War John Profumo, then 48, at the same time a handsome Russian spy Evgeny Ivanov, Profumo lied to the House of Commons about his affair.

He was soon found out and Keeler sold her story to the News of The World for £23,000.

In June 1963, he quit in disgrace, amid allegations Keeler had been asked by Ivanov to discover from the War Minister when the West Germans might receive U.S. nuclear missiles to be stationed on their soil.

Profumo had been a rising star of the Tory Party, close to Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, a favoured visitor at Buckingham Palace, a war hero and the dashing husband of actress Valerie Hobson, one of the great beauties of her day.

Model Christine Keeler pictured in 1964 in a bathing suit, after she served a stint in prison

Model Christine Keeler pictured in 1964 in a bathing suit, after she served a stint in prison

Who was Christine Keeler and what was the Profumo affair?

Born in Middlesex, Christine Keeler moved to London as a teenager and began working at Murray's Cabaret Club in Soho. 

It was there she met Dr Stephen Ward, a high-flying London osteopath and fixer who ‘procured women’ for leading members of the Establishment, who introduced her to Conservative Minister John Profumo while at a party thrown by Lord and Lady Astor in 1961.

The pair hit the headlines after seven shots were fired at Ward's house in a quiet Marylebone mews by a jilted boyfriend of Keeler a year later in December 1962.

Ms Keeler's other lovers have included A-Team actor George Peppard, legendary womaniser Warren Beatty and Prisoner of Zenda star Douglas Fairbanks Jr

Ms Keeler's other lovers have included A-Team actor George Peppard, legendary womaniser Warren Beatty and Prisoner of Zenda star Douglas Fairbanks Jr

Ms Keeler, pictured, met Conservative minister Profumo - 27 years her senior - after leaving her home in Middlesex and working at Murray's Cabaret Club in Soho

Ms Keeler, pictured, met Conservative minister Profumo - 27 years her senior - after leaving her home in Middlesex and working at Murray's Cabaret Club in Soho

Ms Keeler, pictured right, in a vehicle with her friend Mandy Rice-Davies, who was also implicated in the scandal surrounding the affair

Ms Keeler, pictured right, in a vehicle with her friend Mandy Rice-Davies, who was also implicated in the scandal surrounding the affair

It emerged the then 19-year-old Keeler had been sleeping with former Secretary of State for War John Profumo, then 48, and at the same time a handsome Russian spy Evgeny Ivanov.

But when the news broke, Profumo lied to the House of Commons about his affair. He was soon found out and Keeler sold her story to the News of The World for £23,000.

In June 1963, he quit in disgrace, amid allegations Keeler had been asked by Ivanov to discover from the War Minister when the West Germans might receive U.S. nuclear missiles to be stationed on their soil.

Profumo had been a rising star of the Tory Party, close to Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, a favoured visitor at Buckingham Palace, a war hero and the dashing husband of actress Valerie Hobson, one of the great beauties of her day.

Ms Keeler, whose other lovers have included A-Team actor George Peppard, legendary womaniser Warren Beatty and Prisoner of Zenda star Douglas Fairbanks Jr, said in an interview years later that the Establishment was far more interested in painting it as a sex scandal and chose to ignore whispered claims of a widespread spying network. 

Christine died aged 75 in December 2017.

John Profumo pictured dancing with his wife Valerie Hobson during the Conservative Party annual conference in Scarborough in October 1960

John Profumo pictured dancing with his wife Valerie Hobson during the Conservative Party annual conference in Scarborough in October 1960

John Profumo is pictured with his wife, actress Valerie Hobson, in 1958. The pair remained married after his affair with Keeler emerged

John Profumo is pictured with his wife, actress Valerie Hobson, in 1958. The pair remained married after his affair with Keeler emerged

Original: The real Christine Keeler was photographed wearing a swimsuit as she relaxed on a sun lounger in 1963

Christine Keeler wearing a swimsuit as she relaxed on a sun lounger in 1963

Former showgirl and model Christine Keeler (pictured in 1963) has died at the age of 75

Former showgirl and model Christine Keeler (pictured in 1963)

Rarely-seen photos of Profumo scandal mistress Christine Keeler have emerged for sale at auction. Above: The model is seen posing in a sleeveless white dress with a glass of champagne next to her

Christine Keeler posing in a sleeveless white dress with a glass of champagne next to her

Miss Keeler, pictured here in a patterned cream halter-neck shift dress, went to the grave a national outcast.

Miss Keeler, pictured here in a patterned cream halter-neck shift dress

One photo shows Keeler topless with her arms crossed, shortly before she embarked on a sordid affair with the war minister John Profumo

Keeler topless with her arms crossed, shortly before she embarked on her affair with the war minister John Profumo

Another of the colour images shows Keeler sitting with a glass of champagne between her legs. All the photographs are being sold with Sworders of Stansted Mountfitchet, in Essex

Keeler sitting with a glass of champagne between her legs.

The snaps include one of the model wearing a sleeveless dress and getting into her Mini car after her release from prison for perjury in 1964

Christine wearing a sleeveless dress and getting into her Mini car after her release from prison for perjury in 1964

Ms Keeler's other lovers have included A-Team actor George Peppard, legendary womaniser Warren Beatty and Prisoner of Zenda star Douglas Fairbanks Jr

Ms Keeler's other lovers have included A-Team actor George Peppard, legendary womaniser Warren Beatty and Prisoner of Zenda star Douglas Fairbanks Jr

Stephen Ward, pictured with Christine Keeler, right, stood trial for living off immoral earnings

Stephen Ward, pictured with Christine Keeler, right, stood trial for living off immoral earnings 

Keeler is pictured with a friend Mandy Rice-Davies leaving the Old Bailey in London after the first day of Stephen Ward's trial 

Keeler is pictured with a friend Mandy Rice-Davies leaving the Old Bailey in London after the first day of Stephen Ward's trial 

Mandy Rice-Davies, left, and Ms Keeler, right, are pictured together

Mandy Rice-Davies, left, and Ms Keeler, right, are pictured together

Other members of the Establishment were also implicated in the fallout of the scandal. Lord Astor, pictured left, who hosted the party where Keeler and Profumo originally met, was accused of having an affair with Keeler's friend Mandy Rice-Davies

Other members of the Establishment were also implicated in the fallout of the scandal. Lord Astor, pictured left, who hosted the party where Keeler and Profumo originally met, was accused of having an affair with Keeler's friend Mandy Rice-Davies

Ward, pictured, a high-flying London osteopath and fixer who ‘procured women’ for leading members of the Establishment, introduced the young dancer to Profumo while at a party thrown by Lord and Lady Astor

Ward, pictured, a high-flying London osteopath and fixer who ‘procured women’ for leading members of the Establishment, introduced the young dancer to Profumo while at a party thrown by Lord and Lady Astor

Ward, who was a society osteopath, pictured second right, was concerned about the jury in his trial at the Old Bailey and decided to take his own life

Ward, who was a society osteopath, pictured second right, was concerned about the jury in his trial at the Old Bailey and decided to take his own life

Ward, pictured being rushed to St Stephen's Hospital in July 31, 1963, had taken a large dose of barbiturates which he had prescribed for himself

Ward, pictured being rushed to St Stephen's Hospital in July 31, 1963, had taken a large dose of barbiturates which he had prescribed for himself 


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