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Wolverhampton Literature Festival review: Jack The Ripper remains a mystery, according to former murder detective

As literature festival events go, this talk was one of the more hard-hitting ones as former British murder detective Trevor Marriott tried to answer the elusive question: Who was Jack The Ripper?

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Trevor Marriott presenting an audio visual presentation on Jack the Ripper investigation into The Whitechapel Murders as part of The Wolverhampton Literature festival

He transported us back in time to Victorian London, in 1888, to try to solve what became known as the notorious Whitechapel Murders.

It was a gripping event. For conspiracy-theorists, his talk was packed with material to satisfy anyone's investigative taste buds.

Trevor brilliantly took the audience through his own analysis of who could be the real Jack The Ripper, and got the audience to engage along the way.

"Does anybody have their own idea as to who Jack The Ripper was?" he asked.

Those that are familiar with the subject eagerly shouted out their own suspects.

Trevor has given a lot of time to this subject, and channelled his investigative expert skills, learnt as a detective investigating murders, brilliantly. You can see his passion for the topic and it makes an enjoyable show.

He analysed a wide range of evidence, trying to say who could be Jack The Ripper, and who couldn't.

As an audience member, you feel as if you are working with Trevor on one of his murder investigations back in the day. He is like an old school cop from London. Black and white photographs of the victims and locations flash from a projector at the front.

Trevor Marriott at the Wolverhampton Literature Festival

Inside your head, you are going through the gears trying to follow his detailed analysis and make your own assumptions.

Jack The Ripper was brought back home,as one of his alleged victims was Catherine Eddowes, from Wolverhampton.

Trevor's talk started with the question 'who was Jack The Ripper?' - but at the end we have no real suspect. It could be more than one person who committed the murders. There are discrepancies in evidence from the police all those years ago.

Instead, we have another question that is: 'Was Jack The Ripper real or a myth?'

Trevor points out that there could be more than one suspect, in this legendary case.

He finishes his talk with an open conclusion, like a coroner looking into a mysterious death.

There is no way you can tell who Jack The Ripper was, given the lack of evidence and how long ago it was now.

It still remains a mystery.

But the interest in the case is still strong, as event by the 100-strong crowd at Wolverhampton Art Gallery.