Background
His father was Sir Henry Curtis-Bennett Knights of Columbus, whose biography he wrote with Roland Wild.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
Derek Curtis-Bennett
Edit ProfileEducation
Curtis-Bennett was educated at Radley College and Trinity College, University of Cambridge.
Career
He was called to the bar in 1926 and specialised in criminal defence. He became a Recorder of Guildford in 1942 and a King"s Council the following year. Curtis-Bennett pursued the truth in the Christie case as his client admitted more and more murders, despite it being injurious to his defence.
Curtis-Bennett married Margaret Duncan in 1928, which marriage was dissolved in 1949.
There were three children. Curtis-Bennett died from asphyxiation after collapsing while highly intoxicated.
He was discovered at his home in Courtfield Gardens, Earls Court, London, on 23 July 1956 Following medical evidence showing considerable liver damage, the coroner commented that the verdict "must be one of alcoholism".
Views
Among those that Curtis-Bennett defended were William Joyce (Lord Haw Haw), serial killer John Christie (1953), Sergeant Frederick Emmett-Dunne, and atom spy Klaus Fuchs.
-
Born
-
Died
July, 1956 (aged 52) -
Nationality
British