Two "Heads" Are Better Than One? Not Necessarily!

December 02, 2008

James and Stuart Head, 35-year-old British identical twins, were known by the Bromley football (soccer to us Yanks) team, of which they were fans, as rowdy, verbally abusive and disrespectful toward other fans.  It was not uncommon for the Head brothers to swear at other avid sports enthusiasts like themselves that had come to watch the team play against their various opponents.  The twins, who had reportedly been born with learning problems, were known by residents in the Orpington area-just southeast of London, where they lived—but not in a positive manner.  Some people characterized them as bullies who would resort to fighting to get whatever they wanted.

According to the details that came out at their trial late last month inside London's Old Bailey, the brothers apparently had a disagreement with Nigel Stemp, 54, a disabled photographer who used walking sticks to help him get around.  Stemp had apparently agreed to exchange homes with the Heads in April 2007, but without the knowledge and consent of the government housing agency responsible for administering housing regulations. 

After about a week of residing in each other's homes, government officials forced each of the residents to return to their own residences, but not before the Heads had allegedly caused approximately £150 worth of damage to Stemp's dwelling, including setting his sofa on fire.  Stemp had demanded that he be paid for the damage they had caused, which resulted in their disagreement.  In usual form taken to the extreme, the Heads literally took the matter into their own hands-the two brothers allegedly hit Stemp over the head with wood planks, possibly backed up that murderous effort with a hammer, and attempted to cut his throat before setting him on fire in his bedroom.  Firemen called to the scene to put out the fire discovered Stemp's charred body and realized that they had a serious problem for the police to investigate.

"They were known to be aggressive football fans who caused trouble," Detective Inspector Stewart Kingston said.  "Because they had learning difficulties, people were reluctant to deal with them...They were well known...and were often seen swearing, being abusive and using threatening behavior."

The fire, according to Prosecutor Brian Altman, had been set in an attempt to cover up the crime of murder.

"Mr. Stemp had been the victim of a brutal and savage murder," Altman said.  "While he was almost certainly dying, he was dragged into the bedroom, lifted onto the bed where, in an effort to avoid detection, an attempt was made to set Mr. Stemp's body alight."

The Head brothers denied killing Stemp and claimed that they were not at his flat when he was killed.  However, a film clip played at their trial depicted the Heads applauding at a football match between Bromley and Ashford Town on the day of the murder-one of the brothers was wearing a black Bromley shirt that, with the diligent work of a police blood analyst, later was shown to contain traces of Stemp's blood.

On Friday, November 28, 2008, the Heads were found guilty of murder in the slaying of Nigel Stemp before Judge Richard Hone, who sentenced each Head to life in prison, and ordered each to serve a minimum term of 16 years before becoming eligible for parole.

Comments

[SD Mittelsteadt]

In America, it's the football players committing crimes. In England, it's the football committing the crimes! Imagine if we could somehow bring both groups together?

I feel bad for the old guy, but he should have known better!

[Cheryl]

he should have known better? what does that mean.....i cant believe that someone would say that......he should have called the police before bringing the up the notion that the head brothers should pay for the burned couch....did he leave their house in its original way....im sure he did....the "bad boys" only did this cause stemp was handicapped....thats the only reason....if he had been able to ward off the blows, he may be alive today

[SD Mittelsteadt]

Yes! He should have known better! Trading apartments with two guys you hardly know?? Even if he didn't think he'd get assaulted and murdered, he had to known that the chances of something in his apartment being stolen or wrecked were pretty darn high! There is a difference between helping out a stranger and giving him the keys to your house!

Hell.....I have trouble lending things to my own brothers, much less some stranger down the block!

There's no excuse for what these guys did to this old man. God knows he should have been treated with more respect. But anyone who lets a couple of skunks into their house, has to expect that they're going to leave a stink!

[francisco cordero]

The subject it have been resolve, the problems is there are bunch of Head^s out there, who think they are mean and they should be feared.