Francis Joseph Huchet

Who was Francis Joseph Huchet?

Francis Joseph Huchet was the last convicted criminal to be executed by hanging in the Channel Islands. He was 32 years old.

He was sentenced to death on 10 September 1959 by the Deputy Bailiff of Jersey for the capital murder of John Perrée on the night of 30 March 1959. Perrée, a 45-year-old unmarried labourer from St Brelade, Jersey, had been killed by a shotgun blast after spending an evening drinking with Huchet. Perrée’s body was recovered from a shallow grave on the sand dunes near Mont à la Brune on 4 April 1959.

Several incriminating pieces of evidence – including clothing belonging to both Huchet and his wife - were found near the crime scene. Furthermore, tracks in the sand at the crime scene pointed to an attempt to free Huchet’s car after it had become bogged down in the dunes.

Huchet’s trial began in September 1959 and a total of 44 witnesses gave evidence. Amongst other things, they testified that Perrée had been carrying a wallet containing a considerable amount of money on the night of his death. Additionally, the jury were presented with damning forensic evidence which tied Huchet to the crime scene. Finally, a bogus confession to the crime where Huchet was being held also came to light. The bogus confession had been accompanied by a covering note, written in Huchet's handwriting, which requested that the ‘confession’ be copied out in ink and forwarded to the police. Both items reached the hands of the investigating officers and were subsequently shown to the jury, helping to seal Huchet’s fate. On 10 September 1959, after deliberating for 85 minutes, the 24 members of the jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty. The guilty verdict immediately resulted in Huchet receiving a death sentence, because the law allowed for no other penalty.